1 Topic by NPB_EST.1979 (edited by NPB_EST.1979 2009-10-13 20:11:12)

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Topic: I finally splurged on my amp

So I got some JJ EL34L's coming and and some JJ preamp tubes
and also an Eminence "The Governor" speaker (Made in the US)
and a Weber Beam blocker... all coming in this weekend.
Getting new reverb tank for my amp as well (current is broken)

I was deciding between a Celestion V30, The Hellatone 60 (broken in v30), the Warehouse V30 clone, and the Eminence. I just wanted to be 'different' than the stereotypical V30 and when I heard the v30 was made overseas, it helped knowing the Eminence was made in US. Speakers are easy enough to swap out - so consider me in the new speaker toy market!  Good riddance to pickup shopping and swapping, I'm on to bigger and better things! cool

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: N. Little Rock, AR.
  • Registered: 2007-03-02
  • Posts: 463

Re: I finally splurged on my amp

Can't wait to hear how all the changes sound!

    Let us know!

    P.S.

    It'll take awhile for the Speaker to break in, and the Tubes to Burn In. But, that just means you'll have to play a lot.
    big_smile

Early 80's 1957 U.S. Vintage Reissue Stratocaster (Surf Green)-Warmouth Soloist  Pearly Gates Neck, Pearly Gates Bridge- Larrivee D-03 (Mahogany/ Spruce)
Carmen Ghia Head- Marshall 112 Cab W/G12H 30  or  Custom 4 X 6v6 Head  or  Budda Twinmaster Plus Head-Traynor 212 Cab w/Eminence Texas Heats. 
Mo'D-Eternity-Blues Pro- Timmy-BYOC Chorus/Vibrato- TC SCF- Korg DT 10 Pedal Tuner
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: I finally splurged on my amp

I might play an ipod through the amp or something like that for around 8 hours... will that break in the speakers?

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: N. Little Rock, AR.
  • Registered: 2007-03-02
  • Posts: 463

Re: I finally splurged on my amp

There are way to do that. But, I'm not sure which works best. The Gear Page Forums have a few long Threads all about that, though. You may want to check there for some tips, etc.

Early 80's 1957 U.S. Vintage Reissue Stratocaster (Surf Green)-Warmouth Soloist  Pearly Gates Neck, Pearly Gates Bridge- Larrivee D-03 (Mahogany/ Spruce)
Carmen Ghia Head- Marshall 112 Cab W/G12H 30  or  Custom 4 X 6v6 Head  or  Budda Twinmaster Plus Head-Traynor 212 Cab w/Eminence Texas Heats. 
Mo'D-Eternity-Blues Pro- Timmy-BYOC Chorus/Vibrato- TC SCF- Korg DT 10 Pedal Tuner
  • From: Las Vegas
  • Registered: 2008-05-21
  • Posts: 857

Re: I finally splurged on my amp

I just received the new tube kits that I ordered from Eurotube Eddie recomended the JJ EL34's and JJ ECC83S standard & one balanced for the Jubilee. For Plexi he recomended JJ EL34's and the JJ ECC83s standard & balanced along with a JJ ECC803S standard to get that vintage Marshall tone.

Take care,
Bill

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: I finally splurged on my amp

Eddie Van Halen used to turn the amp up all the way and hit a note on the guitar and leave it wide open for exactly one month.  If the amp still worked that would be the one out on the road with him.

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: I finally splurged on my amp

AD3THREE wrote:

Eddie Van Halen used to turn the amp up all the way and hit a note on the guitar and leave it wide open for exactly one month.  If the amp still worked that would be the one out on the road with him.


Wow that's crazy I hope you are kidding!  It wouldn't really surprise me though.  In some interview about his "new" 5150III amp he mentioned that they were really rugged...to the point that Ed left one on and disconnected the head from the speaker cabinet for over an hour!  He said it still worked and sounded great...could be a bunch of BS though.

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: I finally splurged on my amp

Rik Emmett Fan wrote:

I just received the new tube kits that I ordered from Eurotube Eddie recomended the JJ EL34's and JJ ECC83S standard & one balanced for the Jubilee. For Plexi he recomended JJ EL34's and the JJ ECC83s standard & balanced along with a JJ ECC803S standard to get that vintage Marshall tone.

Take care,
Bill

That's pretty much what I got for my Rivera amp. My new Eminence Governor speaker and beam blocker came in today. My tubes should be in tomorrow.

Looking for clever ways to break in the speaker.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool

9 Reply by NPB_EST.1979 (edited by NPB_EST.1979 2009-10-20 20:40:50)

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: I finally splurged on my amp

UPDATE:

Just put the eminence governor speaker in and took out the G12-85. The Celestion had a lot of movement (since it has been used since 2001) and the new gov'r speaker was really stiff (since it was new). I thought it would have an impact on the sounds, but I think it sounds great so far. And if it will only get better over time (break it in) so be it!

Installed the Weber Beam blocker. Now when i crank it up, it sounds as if the sound is more dispersed and not directional. I'm not dropping my jaw here, but it does what they are meant to do and I like it alot definitely worth the money.

Replaced tubes and rebiased. It had winged C Svetlana EL-34 power tubes and Groove Tube 12 AX7A's. I replaced them with JJ ECC83S preamp tubes and JJ EL-34L power tubes. The Volt Meter was supposed to read 42.5 or so and it was reading 49.5 (too hot). The tubes were a nice orange and not red so I twisted the microadjuster just enough to where it read 42.5. Different than biasing a Marshall but very easy on the Rivera. But it's nice to know if I ever need to put my backup tubes in, it will be running cooler than hotter because I had to dial it back.

When I first plugged it in, a fuse blew after about 5 minutes. I've had problems in previous amps (Peavey Classic 100) with the 2 quartets of EL84's cracking near the pins and blowing a fuse and needing replacement tubes. So I checked all my tubes to make sure they 1. weren't broken and 2. were seated properly. I replaced the fuse... and its been working great ever since.

I had the chance to compare the eminence Governor to a 4x12 Vintage 30 Marshall Cabinet, and I thought it was pretty close. I consider that a compliment to the Eminence Gov'r because A. it was cheaper, and B. it was made in the US. One thing I'd add is the V30 has an ear piercing knife edge shrill tone that needed to be dialed back, while the Gov'r it was not necessary to dial back anything on the amp.

SUCCESS! Will post to youtube whenever I get a chance.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool