Members vidnotlaw Posted January 11, 2009 Members Share Posted January 11, 2009 I have just recently, over past couple of months, acquired a couple of 'older' amps, one of them being a RedBear MK60 and the other a Laney Pro Tube 50 MV (6 knob version series I). I have a couple of concerns with both amps. I'll start with the RedBear MK60 first: I was hoping that anybody with a RedBear MK60 could help out. The amp currently has Mesa 6L6GC tubes in it and I just biased the amp. The plate voltage was right about 465V, so I biased it just a little under 70%... right around 40ma. 30/465 * .7 = 45.2ma, but I did not want to go that hot. The volume does not seem to 'increase' properly, IMHO? Let me describe: After right about 3-4 on the volume it starts sounding good/okay.... right around 4.5 to 5 it starts to shine.... but from 5 to about 8 it just sounds like it gets 'girthier' and not much else... then around 8.5 to 10 it starts to add a little more high end sparkle not a whole lot though. After 5, the bass is so powerful that I almost set it as low as it will go and the volume never really increases so to speak... hard to describe... it just gets heavier if you will! Does this sound right? I was wondering if other RedBear users experience this as well? Do most users have the bass set REALLY low because of this as well? This things is hard on cabinets with it's low end!!!! Next the Laney Pro Tube 50 MV... I just opened her up and noticed that the bias trim pot is broken! I need to find the part number or at least get a replacement for it. Also, I looked at some gut shots of the circuit board on line but the pictures are for the Laney Pro Tube 50 MV 8 Knob version. The circuit board for the 8 knob version has more components than mine. I was hoping this is correct and that mine was not 'raped' of some parts! I was hoping that somebody with a 6 knob version could post a picture of the circuit board? The pictures need to be specifically for a Laney Pro Tube 50 MV 6 Knob version Series I (you will no it's a series I, because a series II has series II written on it and series I does not have anything written on it). I will post pics of mine tomorrow (camera needs to charge). Thanks for your time and sorry for the long post. Take care, Vid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EdgeOfDarkness Posted January 11, 2009 Members Share Posted January 11, 2009 the Redbear eats Mesa REC's etc with the lows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members murch33 Posted January 11, 2009 Members Share Posted January 11, 2009 The volume does not seem to 'increase' properly, IMHO? Let me describe: After right about 3-4 on the volume it starts sounding good/okay.... right around 4.5 to 5 it starts to shine.... but from 5 to about 8 it just sounds like it gets 'girthier' and not much else... then around 8.5 to 10 it starts to add a little more high end sparkle not a whole lot though.That doesn't sound "wrong", necessarily. Not every amp is going to have a perfectly linear taper to the volume. I was just talking to a buddy of mine about his vintage Model T and he mentioned that it gets to its max volume somewhere around 4, then everything after that is just more saturation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rushtallica Posted January 11, 2009 Members Share Posted January 11, 2009 That doesn't sound "wrong", necessarily. Not every amp is going to have a perfectly linear taper to the volume. I was just talking to a buddy of mine about his vintage Model T and he mentioned that it gets to its max volume somewhere around 4, then everything after that is just more saturation. Yeah; the Laney AOR 100 I had for a bit would sound kind of harsh and thin until about 2.5-3 on the volume, and then it would open up to the point of vibrating $hit around the room. And the Ultra Plus I had seemed to reach a max volume point before the volume was turned up completely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members silverfacechamp Posted January 11, 2009 Members Share Posted January 11, 2009 I have a RedBear MK60.... What you're describing sounds about right....mine does something very similar. Like somebody else said, those volumes don't necessarily 'taper' like some amps. I wouldn't worry about it. As far as the lows, they're a very 'low' heavy amp. That said, mine LOVES my 1936 Marshall cab, which is fairly dark sounding. You just have to dial it it to compensate for the cab's inherent properties. There's nothing wrong with your amp. As far as the Laney, I have a 30w ProTube, but mine's a series II, I believe, so I can't help you there. Hold on to that RedBear. One of these days the word is going to get out (more than it already has) and those things are gonna skyrocket in price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members getglockd Posted January 11, 2009 Members Share Posted January 11, 2009 I have a RedBear MK60....What you're describing sounds about right....mine does something very similar. Like somebody else said, those volumes don't necessarily 'taper' like some amps. I wouldn't worry about it. As far as the lows, they're a very 'low' heavy amp. That said, mine LOVES my 1936 Marshall cab, which is fairly dark sounding. You just have to dial it it to compensate for the cab's inherent properties. There's nothing wrong with your amp.As far as the Laney, I have a 30w ProTube, but mine's a series II, I believe, so I can't help you there. Hold on to that RedBear. One of these days the word is going to get out (more than it already has) and those things are gonna skyrocket in price. i had a change to buy a MK120 on the cheap, and i didn't. they're increidble amps and i've been looking to buy one ever since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vidnotlaw Posted January 11, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 11, 2009 I have a RedBear MK60.... What you're describing sounds about right....mine does something very similar. Like somebody else said, those volumes don't necessarily 'taper' like some amps. I wouldn't worry about it. As far as the lows, they're a very 'low' heavy amp. That said, mine LOVES my 1936 Marshall cab, which is fairly dark sounding. You just have to dial it it to compensate for the cab's inherent properties. There's nothing wrong with your amp. As far as the Laney, I have a 30w ProTube, but mine's a series II, I believe, so I can't help you there. Hold on to that RedBear. One of these days the word is going to get out (more than it already has) and those things are gonna skyrocket in price. Thanks for the post, I really appreciate it! I don't plan on getting rid of this amp any time soon... I just wanted to make sure that what I was experiencing was okay for this amp. I want to start up a stoner/doom/drone band this year, and this WILL be the amp I use. When I plug in my guitar that is tuned to C, and put a tiny bit of overdrive with my MI Audio Blues Boy... it sounds KILLER! I love it! STONER DOOM HEAVEN!!! Thanks to all for your replies! Enjoy, Vid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mr Roboto Posted January 11, 2009 Members Share Posted January 11, 2009 I have a 6 knob Pro Tube, but it's a series II. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sixtonoize Posted January 11, 2009 Members Share Posted January 11, 2009 The volume does not seem to 'increase' properly, IMHO? Let me describe: After right about 3-4 on the volume it starts sounding good/okay.... right around 4.5 to 5 it starts to shine.... but from 5 to about 8 it just sounds like it gets 'girthier' and not much else... then around 8.5 to 10 it starts to add a little more high end sparkle not a whole lot though. That's what happens when you make the tubes in your amp into your bitches. And that is also why we all love tube amps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vidnotlaw Posted January 11, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 11, 2009 I have a 6 knob Pro Tube, but it's a series II. If you don't mind, could you post a circuit board picture of your amp? I am not really sure how much difference there is between a series I and a series II. Thanks, Vid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vidnotlaw Posted January 11, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 11, 2009 Bump! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members yabba Posted January 11, 2009 Members Share Posted January 11, 2009 that sounds about right for the redbear (mine is the only amp I have anymore) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vidnotlaw Posted January 15, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 15, 2009 ^^^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DirtyBird Posted January 15, 2009 Members Share Posted January 15, 2009 How much gain does the Red Bear have? Is it more of a JCM800 level gain, or is closer to more modern amps? And do you have to use a step up/down transformer with it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vidnotlaw Posted January 15, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 15, 2009 Mine has ~120V power plug. So I do not need a step down transformer. I am not sure about others. I would say that a RedBear has more gain than a JCM800, but it is not enough for 'modern' metal, Death Metal or anything extreme. You can get some good distortion from it and it sounds great when you add an overdrive to it. You can probably do Thrash Metal with it, but I would use an Overdrive to smooth it out and manage the low end on this amp! The gain on a RedBear is very distinct as well, I really can't explain... it is more 'grainy/raspy' maybe!!??!! Not a smooth type of gain. This amp is great for Stoner/Doom Metal!!! It also has MASSIVE low end!!! Sometimes the low end is way to over powering... have to control the bottom end on this baby!! Take care, Vid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PlinytheWelder Posted January 15, 2009 Members Share Posted January 15, 2009 Next the Laney Pro Tube 50 MV...I just opened her up and noticed that the bias trim pot is broken! I need to find the part number or at least get a replacement for it. Also, I looked at some gut shots of the circuit board on line but the pictures are for the Laney Pro Tube 50 MV 8 Knob version. The circuit board for the 8 knob version has more components than mine. I was hoping this is correct and that mine was not 'raped' of some parts! I was hoping that somebody with a 6 knob version could post a picture of the circuit board? The pictures need to be specifically for a Laney Pro Tube 50 MV 6 Knob version Series I (you will no it's a series I, because a series II has series II written on it and series I does not have anything written on it). I will post pics of mine tomorrow (camera needs to charge).Thanks for your time and sorry for the long post.Take care,Vid On the Laney: The output stage is the same cookie cutter circuit use in most British amps. IIRC the bias pot is listed as a 22K trimmer pot. You can use a 25K. On my AOR Series 2, I yanked out the trimmer and put a 25K Allen Bradley locking pot on the back panel so it's less hassle to get at..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members silverfacechamp Posted January 15, 2009 Members Share Posted January 15, 2009 How much gain does the Red Bear have? Is it more of a JCM800 level gain, or is closer to more modern amps? And do you have to use a step up/down transformer with it? They're an almost exact duplicate of a JCM800. So much so that when I got mine, my tech used a JCM800 schem to work on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vidnotlaw Posted January 15, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 15, 2009 On the Laney:The output stage is the same cookie cutter circuit use in most British amps. IIRC the bias pot is listed as a 22K trimmer pot. You can use a 25K. On my AOR Series 2, I yanked out the trimmer and put a 25K Allen Bradley locking pot on the back panel so it's less hassle to get at..... A couple of days agao, I ordered this for my Laney: 22K Pot, But I may just end up using your idea! Hopefully there is nothing else wrong with the amp! Take care, Vid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vidnotlaw Posted January 15, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 15, 2009 They're an almost exact duplicate of a JCM800. So much so that when I got mine, my tech used a JCM800 schem to work on it. I think the RedBear has more gain than a stock JCM800. I am positive it has more low end! Enjoy, Vid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NITROHOLIC Posted January 15, 2009 Members Share Posted January 15, 2009 weird. . . im lookin at pickin up a redbear 120mk worth 300$?? never heard of them till 15 mins ago and now BOOM! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vidnotlaw Posted January 15, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 15, 2009 weird. . . im lookin at pickin up a redbear 120mk worth 300$??never heard of them till 15 mins ago and now BOOM! If there is nothing majorly wrong with it, it is definitely worth it. Take care, Vid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mr Roboto Posted January 15, 2009 Members Share Posted January 15, 2009 If you don't mind, could you post a circuit board picture of your amp? I am not really sure how much difference there is between a series I and a series II. Thanks, Vid These are the best I can do right now. I took these before I took the amp in to the shop, so if you need some better close-ups, it will be a couple of weeks. You say the Red Bear has a raspy type gain, and I'm wondering how similar it sounds to the Laney. My Laney sounds very raspy. I've never owned a Pro Tube before, so I'm not sure if they are supposed to sound like that. It's hard to find clips of these amps. So anyway, I took it to Glen Morris, and he said he'll do whatever needs doing to it to make it sound good. I trust him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vidnotlaw Posted January 15, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 15, 2009 As I expected... the series II looks different on the inside. Here are picks of mine. The main board: Not sure if the areas I have circled are missing parts or not. I am thinking that the same board is used for the 100 watt and the 8 knob versions of the 100 and 50 watt (series I). If that is the case then that could explain the 'missing' parts. The only other issue I see is the transformer. It is missing a nut and bolt to hold it together on one side. I think if I just get some new nuts and bolts for it, it should be fine. Once I get the new trim pot in, I'll bias it and see how she sounds! Take care, Vid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members EdgeOfDarkness Posted January 15, 2009 Members Share Posted January 15, 2009 weird. . . im lookin at pickin up a redbear 120mk worth 300$??never heard of them till 15 mins ago and now BOOM! Buy it, if you dont like it I'll buy it from you.I had a 60, been wanting a 120 for awhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members vidnotlaw Posted January 15, 2009 Author Members Share Posted January 15, 2009 ^^ m/ ^^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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