The Steel Guitar Forum

I'm getting my old BF Dual Showman spiffed up. What tubes would YOU put in this to make it a great pedal steel amp? Thanks in advance!

I like TAD short bottle 6L6 power tubes, and their 7025S tubes in positions V1 and V2. The amp tech I've been using swears by JJ 12AT7s for V3 and V6, and Electromonix 12AX7s for V4 and V5. That's what's in my Twin right now and it's pretty impressive sounding to me.

If you are interested in more clean head room, try the Tung Sol 7581a power tube..
It's a direct swap for your 6L6.

I have a quad of JJ 6L6GC's in my Blackface Showman and it sounds great. To me the JJ's have a nice glass-y, spacious, scooped sound that works for steel and they're pretty cheap.

Another vote for the TAD 6L6WGC-STR power tubes.

12ax7 and 12at7 RCA short grey plates are my go-to for preamps. They're consistent, not terribly expensive in the NOS/ANOS market, and they last forever. I've tried some long plate sylvanias, GE, telefunken in V1/V2 and V4 that were a little bit fatter/richer, but these hold their own.

If you need to use the amp reverb, the Mullard 12AT7WA (CV4024) seems to make it a little less bright and more useable. I would stick with your Blue Sky, though

I've rolled RCA, JAN-Philips and Mullard 12at7's through the phase inverter and I can't tell any difference. YMMV.

Best of luck! Can't wait to hear it.
Pat

I don't use my 1966 much, but I put a set of Svetlana 6L6's in it a few years ago I really like the tone of those. I have not tried the TAD's in that amp though.
I used the TAD EL-34's in my Matchless and they sound great though. I believe both are a little better than the JJ's. I do like the JJ's as they are priced affordably.
Lefty

Had my 1964 Dual Showman gone through late last year and replaced everything, and this was the tech put in... 6L6GCCZ/JJ’s .... sounds AWESOME!!!