Typical 6V6 Bias Settings?

[Flying V]

I'm about to retube my only 6V6 based amp....and have never installed 6V6's before. All the documentation I've found shows "Maximum Dissipation" for 6V6's, which is fine.

I'm more interested in a "typical" range, rather than the maximum.

What would a typical range be for your basic class A/B amp--solid low end and average breakup?

Any 6V6 users who'd care to comment? How hot or cold do you run your 6V6's?

Thanks in advance!

Mike

[Lord Valve]

"Rick N. Backer" wrote:

> I just received a matched pair of JJs from Tube Depot (tubedepot.com)
> and the bias point they gave me was 28 mA. Definitely lower than any
> maximum you've read. Ultimately it depends on the tube and will be
> fussier if your tubes aren't matched.

ROFLMBFAO!

[Flying V]

On Monday, February 10, 2014 3:29:23 PM UTC-6, Thors Hammer wrote:
> On Mon, 10 Feb 2014 11:12:32 -0800 (PST), Flying V
>
> <mik...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>

> Why don`t you ask LV?
>
> LOL!
>
>
>
>
>
> # Der Gott, der Eisen wachsen ließ, der wollte keine Knechte, drum gab er Saebel, Speer und Spieß dem Mann in seine Rechte #
>
>
>
> --- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ne...@netfront.net ---



You know---there was a time when I would have done so & he would have replied with decent information. But, that was before he went off the deep end, etc.

These days, I wouldn't ask him for a recommendation on anything....tubes...toilet paper....you name it.

<laughing>

Mike

[Flying V]

On Monday, February 10, 2014 3:28:00 PM UTC-6, Thors Hammer wrote:
> On Mon, 10 Feb 2014 12:34:00 -0800, Rick N. Backer

>
> <ken.w...@shawNO.caSPAM> wrote:
>
>
>
> >On Mon, 10 Feb 2014 11:12:32 -0800 (PST), Flying V
>
> ><mik...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >
>

> >I just received a matched pair of JJs from Tube Depot (tubedepot.com)
>
> >and the bias point they gave me was 28 mA. Definitely lower than any
>
> >maximum you've read. Ultimately it depends on the tube and will be
>
> >fussier if your tubes aren't matched.
>
>
>

> Experts at work. LOL!

>
>
>
>
>
> # Der Gott, der Eisen wachsen ließ, der wollte keine Knechte, drum gab er Saebel, Speer und Spieß dem Mann in seine Rechte #
>
>
>
> --- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ne...@netfront.net ---

Yeah....heaven forbid we might use this forum for it's intended purpose, eh....?

<shrug>

Mike

[RichL]

"Thors Hammer" <n...@no.net> wrote in message
news:c2hif99nmg4osjlnv...@4ax.com...

> On Mon, 10 Feb 2014 12:34:00 -0800, Rick N. Backer
> <ken.w...@shawNO.caSPAM> wrote:
>
>>On Mon, 10 Feb 2014 11:12:32 -0800 (PST), Flying V
>><mik...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>

>>I just received a matched pair of JJs from Tube Depot (tubedepot.com)
>>and the bias point they gave me was 28 mA. Definitely lower than any
>>maximum you've read. Ultimately it depends on the tube and will be
>>fussier if your tubes aren't matched.
>
> Experts at work. LOL!

Yeah, we see how helpful the so-called "experts" have been in this thread!

[jh]

Mike,

what's the B+?

regards

Jochen

[Les Cargill]

Flying V wrote:
> I'm about to retube my only 6V6 based amp....and have never installed
> 6V6's before. All the documentation I've found shows "Maximum
> Dissipation" for 6V6's, which is fine.
>
> I'm more interested in a "typical" range, rather than the maximum.
>
> What would a typical range be for your basic class A/B amp--solid low
> end and average breakup?
>

I dunno from typical. Does that mean a Fender Deluxe Reverb?

The SCXD uses a nominal figure of 40 mA as a bias point. the SCXD is not
an amp that uses the power tubes for anything but basically gain;
being a modeller, they run the output a bit clean.

It gives the impression of breakup, but that might be all the DSP.

> Any 6V6 users who'd care to comment? How hot or cold do you run your
> 6V6's?
>

It depends on the intent of the amp's designer.

> Thanks in advance!
>
> Mike
>

--
Les Cargill

[not...@but.net]

On Mon, 10 Feb 2014 11:12:32 -0800 (PST), Flying V
<mik...@hotmail.com> wrote:

There really is no such thing as a typical bias setting across many
amplifiers. All of the documentation you have read that references max
dissipation does so for a good reason - that's the key piece of
information. Two amplifiers - one with a plate volatge of 350VDC and
another with a plate voltage of 425VDC will require different bias
voltage to achieve the same power dissipation.

I run them on the hot side in some amps and on the colder side in
others. Clean amp. Distorted amp. It's all apples and oranges. The
only thing that really matters is max dissipation.

[Flying V]

Sure, I understand....which is why I'm asking about "typical" static dissipation settings--watts. Naturally, the voltage and current settings will vary--depending on the design--to achieve the same output in watts.

I may not have made that clear in my original post....

Thanks,

Mike

[Les Cargill]

not...@but.net wrote:
> On Mon, 10 Feb 2014 11:12:32 -0800 (PST), Flying V
> <mik...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I'm about to retube my only 6V6 based amp....and have never installed 6V6's before. All the documentation I've found shows "Maximum Dissipation" for 6V6's, which is fine.
>>
>> I'm more interested in a "typical" range, rather than the maximum.
>>
>> What would a typical range be for your basic class A/B amp--solid low end and average breakup?
>>
>> Any 6V6 users who'd care to comment? How hot or cold do you run your 6V6's?
>>
>> Thanks in advance!
>>
>> Mike
>
> There really is no such thing as a typical bias setting across many
> amplifiers. All of the documentation you have read that references max
> dissipation does so for a good reason - that's the key piece of
> information. Two amplifiers - one with a plate volatge of 350VDC and
> another with a plate voltage of 425VDC will require different bias
> voltage

... current... :) although frequently measured as voltage drop
across a 1 ohm resistor...

> to achieve the same power dissipation.
>
> I run them on the hot side in some amps and on the colder side in
> others. Clean amp. Distorted amp. It's all apples and oranges. The
> only thing that really matters is max dissipation.
>

--
Les Cargill

[jh]

Hi mike,


The 6V6 is still a regular power tube, so 70-80% should be quite "normal".
Although especially the JJ6V6-S takes more beating. So you could exceed
the limits a bit...

I've always experienced good results with about 28mA of cathode current
in typical Deluxe Reverbs (~420V plate voltage)

regards

Jochen

[not...@but.net]

On Tue, 11 Feb 2014 15:16:42 -0600, Les Cargill
<lcarg...@comcast.com> wrote:

>not...@but.net wrote:
>
>> There really is no such thing as a typical bias setting across many
>> amplifiers. All of the documentation you have read that references max
>> dissipation does so for a good reason - that's the key piece of

>> information. Two amplifiers - one with a plate voltage of 350VDC and

>> another with a plate voltage of 425VDC will require different bias
>> voltage
>
>
>... current... :) although frequently measured as voltage drop
>across a 1 ohm resistor...

No. Voltage. Bias Voltage is applied to pin 5. It is a negative
voltage - not current. Bias circuits draw very little current.

This illustrates the difference between a technician and a player who
has learned enough to tinker with his amplifiers.

[Lord Valve]

...

They're all rocket scientists. Been to college an' shit. Voted
for O'Buttplug. They don't give a shit what you know - they
know better.

You'll see.

Lord Valve
Expert (and fuck anyone who doesn't like it)

[Flying V]

Yup....and I've never, ever claimed to be more than a player, who has just enough knowledge to tinker with my amps, etc. But, every time I tinker, I learn something new.

This forum used to be a good way for hacks like me to learn more about the gear we use. These days however.....not so much.

<shrug>

Mike

[Les Cargill]

not...@but.net wrote:
> On Tue, 11 Feb 2014 15:16:42 -0600, Les Cargill
> <lcarg...@comcast.com> wrote:
>
>> not...@but.net wrote:
>>
>>> There really is no such thing as a typical bias setting across many
>>> amplifiers. All of the documentation you have read that references max
>>> dissipation does so for a good reason - that's the key piece of
>>> information. Two amplifiers - one with a plate voltage of 350VDC and
>>> another with a plate voltage of 425VDC will require different bias
>>> voltage
>>
>>
>> ... current... :) although frequently measured as voltage drop
>> across a 1 ohm resistor...
>
> No. Voltage. Bias Voltage is applied to pin 5. It is a negative
> voltage - not current. Bias circuits draw very little current.
>

So this is different from setting the idle current, then? When somebody
says "bias a tube amp" or "set the bias on a tube amp", my mind leaps to
the operation of setting the idle current.

> This illustrates the difference between a technician and a player who
> has learned enough to tinker with his amplifiers.
>

Not a bad assessment at all. For small values of "enough" :) - I
have notes on what to do when I change tubes out so I don't have
to carry an amp in somewhere.

My day trade is as a software & systems engineer*, and I lean *heavily*
on techs. NO class war here; the techs keep us engineers outta trouble.

*one who finds out "why ain't that light blinkin'? Ain't that light
s'posed to be blinkin?"

--
Les Cargill