Amps that run near 100% dissipation like the Cameron CCV?

[Nigel]

I'm looking for one that does that. Any others besides the CCV? (which apparently is like the crazy HB 9/10 that knocks your socks off but drives you insane).

No class A or cathode bias either. I need AB.

 

[FourT6and2]

Why?

 

[Nigel]

Toanz, of course.

 

[glip22]

Very confused by what you mean. A CCV does not run tubes at 100% mpd more than any other amp if you have the bias range to do it, but why would anyone want to? A CCV is a Jose variant. Three gain stages, cathode follower. Gets it's gain mostly from the clipping diodes. What exactly are you looking for?

 

[Nigel]

Something I can run JJ KT77's in at nearly 100% bias without them redplating and dying. I saw that CCV owners were running their tubes at 45ma+ at 550v and loving it. So, it looks like it's the only Class AB amp I could do that with.

 

[godgrinder]

I think that depends on how durable your tubes are than the amp.

 

[glip22]

Something I can run JJ KT77's in at nearly 100% bias without them redplating and dying. I saw that CCV owners were running their tubes at 45ma+ at 550v and loving it. So, it looks like it's the only Class AB amp I could do that with.

People were doing it but there was nothing special as to why. The only possibility is that the screen voltage was much lower but I think Mark told me that was not the case. Go for it. By A Bogner which has high PV and max out your bias. Just make sure you have a new set to swap in pretty often and maybe a transformer set or two.

 

[Nigel]

Well yeah that's why the CCV seemed to be the way because you could run tubes like that for a good long while.

 

[LP Freak]

 

[psychodave]

Something I can run JJ KT77's in at nearly 100% bias without them redplating and dying. I saw that CCV owners were running their tubes at 45ma+ at 550v and loving it. So, it looks like it's the only Class AB amp I could do that with.

I never run mine that hot. In fact I run it at 65-70% with low power and 60-65% on high power. Winged C EL 34's. I rarely use high power though.

 

[gtrwun]

Something I can run JJ KT77's in at nearly 100% bias without them redplating and dying. I saw that CCV owners were running their tubes at 45ma+ at 550v and loving it. So, it looks like it's the only Class AB amp I could do that with.

I never run mine that hot. In fact I run it at 65-70% with low power and 60-65% on high power. Winged C EL 34's. I rarely use high power though.

Well there you go.......not necessary for good tone.

 

[gtrwun]

Well yeah that's why the CCV seemed to be the way because you could run tubes like that for a good long while.

I think what the guys are saying is that the CCV didn't have anything special about it that enabled it to make the tubes last longer with the MPD being utilized/biased hot. Im not even sure that possible to do. The tubes are the tubes and if you run them hot, they are going to burn up.

 

[lespaul6]

somebody's a victim of bro science

 

[scottosan]

Something I can run JJ KT77's in at nearly 100% bias without them redplating and dying. I saw that CCV owners were running their tubes at 45ma+ at 550v and loving it. So, it looks like it's the only Class AB amp I could do that with.

So much wrong with your understanding of tubes. Class A/B is still supposed to be 70% and Class A up to 90 but expect a shorter tube life. If you want to run a $3K amp at 100% that's up to you, but i suggest that you base the decision to do so, outside of knucklehead's internet boasting. I don't know if anyone has told you yet, but not everything you read on the internet is true or necessarily the best idea. neither the amp nor the tubes are designed or capable of running reliably or safely in such a manner.

 

[steve_k]

Can anyone really tell the fucking difference on their 2016 Bedroom to Living Room Tour?

Do what you want man. There's nothing inherently special about the CCV, other than it is the way Mark sets them up. Turn the MV up, run the bias up until you hear a bit of hiss, then roll it back a little and see where you are currently biased. It will be in the 80-90% range. Play until you have a tube failure. Buy new tubes. They aren't that expensive.

 

[stephen sawall]

You could do this with any amp by any builder. In general the more you crank the amp the lower you would set the bias. There is nothing magical about where the bias is set. Tubes only sound good in a certain range. Too cold and it sounds harsh..... Too hot sounds like mush. The cooler you run it the longer tubes are going to last. Same as anything else electrical. The normal range of 65/70 in most amps is based on playing at normal band volumes and normal wear on tubes.
Bias shifts all the time on tubes as you use them..... You get much above 80 no matter what volume you play at your probably not going to have very good tone and horrible definition. If you completely dime a amp as in 10 on a NMV amp you might find running as cold as 50 is going to get the sound you want.

 

[rcm78]

The way I understand it is the Bogner Ecstasy Class A mode simply bumps the bias up to about 89ma. Thats what my Classic runs at in Class A mode. I've got Gold Lion KT77's in it now and they are holding up very well...

In Class AB mine is biased in the mid 30's. I can def hear a difference. Class A is faster and has more chime...

 

[stephen sawall]

Running in Class A is going to be different than running Class AB. Class A has a slower attack, less punch and more harmonics if everything else is equal.

 

[Nigel]

Folks said the CCV had lower screen current and a higher Z primary OT to keep things under control.

I swear to god, I had KT77's biased near 100% in a Zinky with 2K screen resistors and about 550 B+ and I heard the voice of God.

I cannot get that sound out of my head, it has to be heard to be believed. I've only seen one other report of this in countless hours of searching.

This is not for just "bedroom tone." I gig all over town, and have a solo record to do.

No negative feedback is also a big part of it. I got close with my Rivera (M60, Focus on 1) by reducing the 1K screens to 470 and cranking it (440v B+), but tubes lasted all of a half an hour. This gets close, but the higher plate voltage seems to be a big part of the equation. The Zinky OT was spec'd for the sovtek 5881, like a Soldano, more 6L6'ish, whereas the Rivera is 3K5 for EL34's. Seems you need the higher Z to keep the plate dissipation in line. I've noticed that the higher Z will keep the bias from going too high when volumes go up.

I may have to chalk it up to short-term operation to get takes in the studio.

What we do for le Toanz™

 

[Nigel]

See also these threads:

viewtopic.php?f=25&t=102473

viewtopic.php?f=25&t=170367

viewtopic.php?f=25&t=146039