Amp idea help – slightly modified 5E9a tremolux

[kwijabo]

I think I’m set on the 5E9 tremolux for my next build. Some people like the heavy sag of these tweeds, but I don’t. The one tweed-style I tried had a narrow sweet-spot and really sagged when turned up.

Goals: Tighten up the lower end and maybe add some volume. For me, I think 6V6’s could work if the lower end was good and no mush, but 6L6 volume on tap if needed could also be nice.

I’ve thought about just replacing the 5Y3 with either GZ34 or diodes. Up the first two filter caps to 40uF and leave it a 6V6. Though with diode rec’d in this circuit I’d suspect it would be getting close to the max plate voltage for the 6V6’s.

Or, is there anything out there that says I can’t change this to a 6L6 amp? I’m thinking up the PT voltage from 300AC to 315-325AC. GZ34 instead of 5Y3. Choke. 6L6’s. Additional dropping resistor and cap. between inverter and the 12AY7. Up the first two filter caps to 40uF.

[martin manning]

Or, is there anything out there that says I can’t change this to a 6L6 amp? I’m thinking up the PT voltage from 300AC to 315-325AC. GZ34 instead of 5Y3. Choke. 6L6’s. Additional dropping resistor and cap. between inverter and the 12AY7. Up the first two filter caps to 40uF.

At that point you'd be pretty close to a 6G9-A Tremolux.

[tubeswell]

Or a 5G9: - fixed bias 6V6s, LTP inverter, bias-vary trem

[kwijabo]

yeah thanks for the recommendations. i may end up trying one of them. but i wanted to try a paraphase for a change. but now that you brought it up i'm reading some positive things about the 6G9.

[BarryW]

I did a 5e9a, it's a great amp. Basically sounds like a 5e3 but has that great trem. I'm definitely going to do a 5f9 one day for a little more headroom, but I have a bunch of other things to get to first

[LeeMo]

I have a '55 5e9. It will sag at high volume with the 5y3. It sags less with a 5u4. I hope that helps. It's a great blues amp, by the way.

LeeMo

[Structo]

Here is a great 5E9A schematic.

[johnnyreece]

One other thought if you change rectifiers is using JJ 6v6's. Although, I've been told they sound more like 6l6 in a smaller bottle, if you're okay with that, they're much more rugged than a standard 6v6.