SF Bassman tube recommendations?

[michael30]

I have a 50W Fender Bassman (68' or 69' with the aluminum trim) that I really like. I use it both as a guitar amp and a bass amp. Is there any way that I can get more headroom and less distortion in th bass channel and keep the guitar channel exactly like it is? In other words, do the two channels share a preamp tube or can I use a 5751 instead of a 7025 for the bass channel?

I'm also looking at new power tubes. What tubes would give me a bit more headroom in the power section? Any alternatives to 6L6 GC:s? If not, then which 6L6GC:s would sound clean and powerful in this amp?

I have a matched pair of RCA blackplates that I've saved for this amp, but they might not be the best thing, and I have plenty of other amps to use them in.

[Blue Strat]

The RCA Blackplates would be ideal. What's in there now? Be sure they're biased properly.

If the amp hasn't had a cap job in the last 15 years (or ever!) that's the first thing to do. This could increase headroom dramatically.

V1 affects the bass channel, V3 affects the normal channel, V2 affects both.

You may want to convert the tonestack in the bass channel to something more "guitar friendly". As is, those amps don't sound particularly good for guitar when using the bass channel.

[michael30]

Thanks! I've actually never looked inside the amp so far since it sounded pretty good when I bought it a couple of years ago. I'll try the 5751 in V1 and the RCA blackplates and have my amp guy take a look at the caps and see where that takes me.