tsp17

When i wanted to experiment with a heavier gauge to get a bigger sound on my SKB, i intended to go from 12s to 13s. But Thomastik doesn’t make a 13 in the GB line. So i skipped to 14s. Had them on my SKB now for a few years. I would have stuck with 12s on the 550 but didn’t have any left in the house. It was an adjustment at first- definitely, but once i got used to it, it was not a big deal. Going from one guitar strung with 12 to another with 14 you can feel it for sure, but it just takes a minute to remind yourself to give it a little extra oomph all around. On the other side- i tried heavier gauges on my Martin 000-18 and didn’t really like it. I found it much harder to get what i wanted out of heavy gauge on acoustic.

Since we are sharing H550 pics....My 550.

Right. Very little bending in my playing. Slides, and hammer on, yes, but almost no bends.

I’ve had 14s on my Super KB for years. No problem. But, your point is well taken.

Nope. Plays like a dream.

For years I’ve strung my H550 with Thomastik GB Flatwound 12s. They are expensive but last 3-4 times other strings and sound great, always. Very easy playing, consistent and great tone. I use 14s on my Super KB, but have never tried 14s on the 550 because the 12s sound so good, warm, round but also a little sweet. Very 60’-70’s jazz archtop. The band digs it. I went to change out the old 12s for a new set today….But…i was out of the 12s. Never thought to put 14s on the 550; that was all i had and the old strings were already half off. So….14s went on the 550. Wow. What a difference! The guitar sounds bigger in every way. A little darker, fuller and just more. I was really surprised that it made that big a change in fullness and voice of the guitar. Not as effortless to play, but not a huge change in fretting or picking force required, just takes a little more oomph all around. 14s will stay on and maybe be the norm for this 550 from now on. Gig on Friday, so we’ll see…

Nice!

ANOS? Almost NOS?

good thinking. lots of good folks on this forum ready to help…it has always been a good place that way.

yeah, the Tube Shop was solid. So far I have had very limited success with NOS tubes. maybe it is user error but I find they fail at a much higher rate than my experience with new production tubes - both preamp and power sections. I've not liked JJs at all until they came in this 3rd Power amp. they sound great in this amp. they sound a little different but as good as TAD 6L6GC and Telefunken 6L6GC.

didn't measure, but manual says 395 plate voltage. ended up with TAD 6L6gc. surprisingly the OEM JJs were just as good. I might put them back in. happy about that as they are cheaper and easier to get. I did also like the Telefunken 6L6GC a lot. really good. Most high-def of the bunch.

Really nice! A lot like the ones you used to spec @skydog52,

well- the JAN 6L6wgb were disappointing. kind of dull and lifeless even after rebias. then when removing them the center plug with the notch on it snapped off of one. Fortunately it did not get stuck in the socket. So, I put in some telefunken 6L6gcs. really good. very hi-def. TAD6L6WGC-STRs also very very good. I'll leave the TADs in for a while. They came as a matched pair but are a good 5 mv apart. Sounding good so far. I might go back to the JJs. They sounded great, so if its not broke, don't fix it.

Primary purpose: 3rd Power Wooly Coats Extra Spanky . Plate voltage 390 per the manual. It came with JJs which are not usually my favorite, but in this amp they sound pretty darn good. I’ve got a box of other 6L6’s that I’m going to swap in and out to see what I like best. TAD, Tungsol, Mesa Boogie 5881 (I like those a lot in my Mesa Boogie Express 5:50+) Im really impressed with this amp. Best 1x12 combo amp I’ve ever had.

just realized that my thread title is subject to another interpretation. LOL. 🤦‍♂️

New New Old Stock Tube Day Looking forward to trying out these JAN 6L6WGBs. Got them second hand. Look to be in good shape.

Very very nice guitar. Congratulations.

yep- they are really well made quality instruments. I've tried a bunch and bought and sold a couple. I did play one once at an old store called Buffalo Brothers here in San Diego County that I almost bought and probably should have (there's one that got away). I just haven't found one that I connected with like a Heritage, Guild or my Commons.

they seem like quality instruments to me. especially for the money. I've got a Korean made Comins that is one of the best made guitars I've ever played. Eastmans (Chinese made) on the other hand - are quality, but I've yet to play one that I thought had soul. Hopefully these Ascent H's will prove worthy of the brand.

with you there my friend. my list of things that I wish I'd kept, or should have snagged, lives in my head rent free. very happy with what I have now, but there a few items that in hindsight ....

the best part was this old English Bulldog snoring away on the tattered old couch while folks came in and out and played guitars. People were talking so you can barely hear him snoring due to the chatter in the room (if you listen closely at the end), but trust me- it was classic.

seems like a nice product for the money for sure, and yes- SOP now. makes me a little sad, but gotta remember: "Its not personal Sonny, its strictly business." I was in London recently and I always go down to Denmark Street and Soho when there to check out the old historic (and new) guitar shops and studios. Dawsons had both US and Ch. made Heritages. They told me that they are owned by the same company that owns Heritage Kalamazoo, so they are the London distributor for both factories. The Chinese ones were downstairs in the main showroom. The good stuff was upstairs in the “private” room that was roped off. Some very nice new production instruments from both places.

thanks guys. I knew i was asking the right crew. much appreciated.

i’ve always heard that amp wattage and speaker wattage capacity “shouldn’t” be too far apart. For a rough example and rule of thumb (subject to what you like to hear) a 35 watt tube amp would call for a speaker capable of 50-75 watts. just my non-tech understanding of the prevailing view. I have multiple amps mated to speakers (either in combo or cabinet) that will take up to 250 watts. I have a 2x12 cabinet with a pair of 250 watt 8 ohm speakers that sounds amazing with a 50 watt amp. So what am i not understanding here? I just put the same 250 watt rated speaker in a 35 watt combo amp (3rd Power Wooly Coats Extra Spanky). Sounds pretty good so far (needs to break in). Very touch sensitive, but really good first five or so hours on it. Thinking about experimenting with something lower wattage. I’m a big believer in Duke Ellington’s saying that “if it sounds good, it is good”, but curious about what difference it might make to more closely match the amp wattage to speaker capacity, e.g., try a 60-70 watt similar speaker. thanks, Tad