Mesa Tubes - yes or no

[Newysurfer]

I've had my first Mesa amp for about 4 months now (the Express 5:50) and am wanting to pick up some spare tubes. My amp is fixed biasing and I've read the Mesa Corp stuff about only using their tubes. How they test every single one etc and why you should only buy there's. But in Australia Mesa tubes are like $60 each and other good brands are $20. So......

1) Is this Mesa propaganda true ?
2) Is it safe to use Sovtek or Electro Harmonic tubes instead of Mesa's without damaging the amp ?
3) If I use foreign tubes will this void my warranty ?

thanks in advance

 

[domct203]

1) Is this Mesa propaganda true ?

Yes to a degree. Mesa screens tubes and selects the ones that will work to their specs. Their current STR440 6L6 is from a chinese supplier, and their 12AX7 Mesa Russian 2 is from EH.

2) Is it safe to use Sovtek or Electro Harmonic tubes instead of Mesa's without damaging the amp ?

You can use any brand tube that is selected to run in your Mesa. I use Doug's tubes http://www.dougstubes.com for my supplier and have SED =C= 6L6GC in my Roadster drawing about the same idle current as my STR440's did. For stricly JJ tubes you could also use EuroTubes http://www.eurotubes.com. I'm not sure if they ship international.

3) If I use foreign tubes will this void my warranty ?

Only if something goes wrong because of a bad tube. Use a good supplier and pick up a bias probe as insurance.
I believe the use of Groove Tubes rated 4-7 WILL NOT void your warrenty.

Dom

 

[Newysurfer]

Thanks Domct203

I checked out Doug's. Looks good & cheap. I'll order from them.

To get some more distortion from my Express 5:50 can you maybe recommend some long lasting high gain tubes ??

 

[disassembled]

That's a good question for doug. He's pretty good at setting people up for their tonal needs.



Greg

 

[jamme61]

Just found this info, if you want to use groovetubes
http://www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/Rating.html

Mesa scale Groove Tubes scale
Red 4
Yellow 4
Green 5
Gray 5
Blue 6
White 6