Matched tubes?

[mouthwash27]

I have any egnater tweaker 15 head and my tubes recently died on me.
Is it a necessity to get matched tubes for it to work properly, or is two tubes of the same type (I order tungsol 6v6gt) going to be good?

Thanks

[Paul]

there is a good chance that unmatched tubes can cause damage to the amp circuitry.

It will work, how long it will work for I don't know, could last a few minuets and then something could fry or it could last years. Either way there is a good chance it will do some damage.

get a pair of matched tubes, or, have a tech check and test the tubes you have.

[tazzboy]

Power tubes should always be match

Preamp tubes on the other hand don't.

[CyanideJunkie]

Originally Posted by tazzboy

Preamp tubes on the other hand don't.

Well they don't HAVE to be, but a balanced set is always a plus!

[tazzboy]

Most tube amps are not balance either.

[Wraptail]

Originally Posted by CyanideJunkie

Well they don't HAVE to be, but a balanced set is always a plus!

Really, How so? I've never heard that before.

Just swap them around until you get the tone you want - each has its own thing going on and you can tweak the way your amp sounds by swapping around different preamp tubes. different brands of 12AX7s, types - 5751s, 12AY7s.

Cheap and easy way to tweak your tone baby!

I've tried a few pairs of mismatched power tubes and it sounded like $hit. So I see no reason to do it.

[Dr.Distortion]

Well...
Back in the '40's, 50's 60's and 70's you'd buy the tubes at the drug store tv tube tester thing.

They weren't matched back then...

Matching was for hifi guys...

[gypsyseven]

Originally Posted by tazzboy

Power tubes should always be match

Preamp tubes on the other hand don't.

[Wraptail]

Originally Posted by Dr.Distortion

Well...
Back in the '40's, 50's 60's and 70's you'd buy the tubes at the drug store tv tube tester thing.

They weren't matched back then...

Matching was for hifi guys...

Is this based on personal experience, or something else? Did your amps sound like $hit? Not trying to be an ass - just want to know.

And if that's true, but it is also true that amps sound better and tube life is extended with matched power tubes where do you stand?

Here's another question: When did amp manufacturers start using matched power tubes? Pretty early on or what? How could they not, ya know? Just 'cause Johnny gets mismatched tubes at the 5 n dime doesn't mean and amp manufacturer does the same.

[Dr.Distortion]

Originally Posted by Rude Dog

Is this based on personal experience, or something else? Did your amps sound like $hit? Not trying to be an ass - just want to know.

And if that's true, but it is also true that amps sound better and tube life is extended with matched power tubes where do you stand?

Here's another question: When did amp manufacturers start using matched power tubes? Pretty early on or what? How could they not, ya know? Just 'cause Johnny gets mismatched tubes at the 5 n dime doesn't mean and amp manufacturer does the same.

Personal experience...

Amp manufactures, Fender, Marshall, Vox, all of 'em bought tubes by the pallet load. Plug 'em in and go.

Aspen Pittman brought the tube matching to guitar amps in the late '70's. Even then amp manufactures didn't start matching till the '90's
These weren't special... They were just amps. Not as cool as a TV you'd throw away...

I've seen sh!t all over the place in new amps.
I actually like a bit of mis-match better...

Oh' and most folks thought my amps sounded pretty good...
Short list...

All "real"
'52 Fender Super
'58 Bassman
'59 Deluxe
'63 Vox AC15
'64 Champ "tweed style" with black tolex
'64 Deluxe Reverb
'64 Super Reverb
'64 Supro Thunderbolt
'66 Marshall Mdl 1962 "Blues Breaker"

[River]

They don't call him "Dr. Distortion" for nothing.

Man, the mythology that's arisen around glorified light bulbs, I'm tellin' ya.

Doc D tells me how it was, I know he's speaking truth from experience.

There's a vouch for ya, Doc.

[Dr.Distortion]

Yer a righteous dude Riv... I appreciate the kind words...

[Romaious116]

Dr. D is right! ...also, a matched set today doesn't equal a matched set after several hours of use. Indivdual tubes wear/drift at different rates from one another. IMO matched sets aren't critical, however you must have tubes that operate within their design specs.

[Wraptail]

Good info and perspective. Thanks for sharing

Alright so up until the late 70s no matching.
A little mismatch might be preferred.
What was the reasoning behind the push for matched tubes?

Do they in fact last longer if they're matched or close to matching - or is that an internet myth?

Does that mean people should not / need not buy matched sets of output tubes?
Again, I tried a few times and didn't get good results - but maybe something else was causing that though.

*One more question does anyone know if matched output tubes were used in other application - like military equipment?

[chrisuk]

In theory they are better matched and would then share the load equally lasting longer.

But has been said it wasn't always done this way and tube drift can be different in an originally matched pair.

The very latest amp designs monitor the tubes and adjust each valve in real time to avoid this - orange do an upgrade plug in version.

[martin H]

The need for "matching" only comes into play with a Class 'B' output stages, and it's only the power tubes that need to be reasonably matched. This is because, in a class 'B' power stage with, say 2 tubes, one tube amplifies the positive part of the output, while the other amplifies the negative part. Obviously the gain characteristics of these two tubes need to be similar, or strange effects can result, such a clipping on one half cycle only, or problems at the "crossover point" where one tube takes over from the other. However, note that I say "reasonably" matched. The two tubes have to get pretty far apart in terms of gain before the effect becomes audiable in a guitar amp.
I have never seen or heard of unmatched power tubes causing damge to an amp. Don't confuse matching between the power tubes with setting the proper bias point for a given set/brand of tube. A bias error can fry stuff pretty quick.

[12watt]

99 times out of 100, hi-fi philosophy has no place in guitar amps.

[michaelinokc]

I put matched JJ 6V6's in my Egnater Tweaker and couldn't be happier. Spend the few extra bucks and do it.