Mesa Boogie branded tubes

[StrikeoftheBeast]

About a month ago my Badlander 100 Red plated two power tubes during band practice. Had the same stock tubes for almost 2 years and was pushing it pretty hard every week for a few hours at a time so it was bound to happen. Started getting random squeals and feedback leading up to it too so I knew it was coming....(didnt help that I cranked the hell out of it for science right before it happened *DUMBASS MOVE*)

Obviously needed to buy new tubes to replace and went with Mesa Branded 6l6's this time around.

My question for all the Mesa guys on here:

Do you really HAVE to buy Mesa power tubes? I know its a warranty issue and all that but have you had any issues if you put other matched tube sets from other manufacturers in there? Looking to save money in the future as the Mesa tubes are steep compared to most other brands and Im broke these days.

 

[Emg77]

You can use any tube you want just have to figure out what the tube rating you will need to keep you in the bias range. It’s been awhile but for some reason 36 for the tube rating is what it is?

 

[BABMusic]

I never buy Mesa power tubes. There's many other options out that that can offer matched tubes within the Mesa bias range. Euro tubes, Doug's tubes, etc.

 

[mesaboogieE34L]

Eurotubes

 

[shar-vell Dan]

You can use whatever brand you want. Whether they will work w/o redplating is another story.
Most Mesa amps are cathode bias and fairly easy to work with.

 

[StrikeoftheBeast]

Thanks for the feedback. Guess next time around I’ll give one of these other places a shot. I usually order tubes from The Tube Depot for my Marshall (I bias it myself) but this is the first time with my Mesa and there fixed bias style so I wasn’t sure.

 

[shar-vell Dan]

Watch the new tubes closely the first few minutes for signs of redplating. If they do shut off the amp and try other tubes.

 

[skoora]

You can use whatever brand you want. Whether they will work w/o redplating is another story.
Most Mesa amps are cathode bias and fairly easy to work with.

Most Mesa amps are NOT cathode bias. They are fixed bias but they just don’t let you adjust it via the trim pot vs. a fixed resistor value. So you definitely want to find tubes that will be in range. As always consult your amps manual to double check what is required.

 

[skoora]

Mesa amps with multiple settings like rectifier choices and bold spongy etc go though wild swings in bias, so if the tubes aren’t right, the amp may be fine in some setting and way too low or high in others. My Stiletto can go from 39ma draw down to the teens depending on settings. I did get it bias modded (made it adjustable) so I can actually use different branded 34’s.
Ironically enough, after recently trying 3 different branded (one being Mesa) tubes with the Stiletto, the Mesa tubes won out on the tone I wanted.

 

[BesaMoogie]

Look at the reading of the Mesa tube, it should say „red, yel (ow) or green“.
That‘s the Mesa code that tells you, how hot the tubes will run with the fixed Mesa biss.

Use that Information, when ordering tubes from a non Mesa dealer

 

[PDC]

Mesa amps with multiple settings like rectifier choices and bold spongy etc go though wild swings in bias, so if the tubes aren’t right, the amp may be fine in some setting and way too low or high in others. My Stiletto can go from 39ma draw down to the teens depending on settings. I did get it bias modded (made it adjustable) so I can actually use different branded 34’s.
Ironically enough, after recently trying 3 different branded (one being Mesa) tubes with the Stiletto, the Mesa tubes won out on the tone I wanted.

The Stiletto is such a great sounding and versatile amp. I love Mesa, but most of their amps have a 'sameness' to the sound that cannot be dialed out no matter how much one turns the knobs. Not so with the Stiletto - genuinely 'different' flavors in that amp. I am betting adding a trim pot to the bias circuit is hands down the best mod you can do to a Stiletto.

 

[JDs Couch]

This is why my IIC+ has a bias pot mod.

 

[cobrahead1030]

I’ve used “Mesa” tubes in their amps for years, because they are a solid choice. They also cost twice as much as they once did, so I’ll use something else next time I need a set.

 

[shar-vell Dan]

Jina / Russia / Slovak [JJ] is what Mesa tubes are. All the same shit.
Don't trip over the koolaid.

 

[skoora]

Jina / Russia / Slovak [JJ] is what Mesa tubes are. All the same shit.
Don't trip over the koolaid.

Yes, I wouldn’t choose Mesa because I perceive them to be better than others, but their circuits are designed around the tubes they have, so it may lend itself to where their amps generally sound best, or as intended, with their tubes. I’ve learnt you just don’t know what tubes will sound best in a particular amp until you actually use them in the amp.
Wouldn’t be surprised if some folks finally spent big bucks on NOS glass to find the amp sounded different but not “better”.

 

[shar-vell Dan]

Yes, I wouldn’t choose Mesa because I perceive them to be better than others, but their circuits are designed around the tubes they have, so it may lend itself to where their amps generally sound best, or as intended, with their tubes. I’ve learnt you just don’t know what tubes will sound best in a particular amp until you actually use them in the amp.
Wouldn’t be surprised if some folks finally spent big bucks on NOS glass to find the amp sounded different but not “better”.

For 15 yrs i ran Russian power tubes with NOS pre. The tube crisis with Ukraine war made me go full NOS Pre / power and glad i did.
They sound better, last longer and im not going thru tubes.
I sold my Mesa's when i heard Gibson bought them and nobody here would work on them.







End of an era.