Machine Gun Amps
What tubes does my amp use?


Fender


This is a list of tube types that some popular amps take. Some may or may not be substitutable for others.


First, a little tutorial in tubes. Many Fenders specify 7025's which are the same thing as a 12AX7 for all practical purposes. The 7025 is supposed to be a slightly lower noise version, but the operating characteristics are the same.

12AX7 = 7025 = ECC83
12AT7 = 6201 = ECC81
12AU7 = 6189 = ECC82
5881 = 6L6WGB
6L6GC = 7581A
EL34 = 6CA7
EL84 = 6BQ5
GZ34 = 5AR4
5U4GB = 5AS4 and is very close to GZ37

Please note that you CANNOT put an earlier version of a tube, such as a metal 6L6 or 6L6GB into an amp designed for a 6L6GC or 7581A. Original 5881's like Tung Sols do not belong in later amps such as blackface Fenders.

Also note that rectifier tubes such as the 5U4GB, 5AR4/GZ34, and 5Y3GT are usually NOT completely interchangeable no matter what you may have read. Stick with what your amp came with in most cases.



Fender
Please note: These specs are for amps made after about '55. Before that many Fender amps used octal socket preamp tubes. I don't carry those but I can get them. If you need some, email me about it and I'll see what I can do.


Tweed Champ
1 - 12AX7
1 - 6V6GT
1 - 5Y3GT

Blackface/Silverface Champ
1 - 12AX7
1 - 6V6GT
1 - 5Y3GT

Blackface/Silverface Vibro-Champ (also Bronco)
2 - 12AX7
1 - 6V6GT
1 - 5Y3GT

Tweed Princeton
1 - 12AX7
1 - 6V6GT
1 - 5Y3GT

Brown Princeton
2 - 12AX7
2 - 6V6GT
1 - 5Y3GT

Blackface/Silverface Princeton
2 - 12AX7
2 - 6V6GT
1 - GZ34/5AR4 (5U4GB for silverface)

Blackface/Silverface Princeton Reverb
3 - 12AX7
1 - 12AT7
2 - 6V6GT
1 - 5U4GB (although I believe I have seen some tube charts call for a GZ34)

Tweed Harvard
1 - 6AT6
1 - 12AT7
2 - 6V6GT
1 - 5Y3GT

Tweed Deluxe
2 - 12AX7
2 - 6V6GT
1 - 5Y3GT

Brown Deluxe
3 - 12AX7
2 - 6V6GT
1 - GZ34/5AR4

Blackface Deluxe
3 - 12AX7
1 - 12AT7
2 - 6V6GT
1 - GZ34/5AR4

Blackface/Silverface Deluxe Reverb
4 - 12AX7
2 - 12AT7
2 - 6V6GT
1 - GZ34/5AR4 (Silverface usually takes 5U4GB. DON'T install a GZ34 into an amp that calls for a 5U4GB.)

Tweed Tremolux
3 - 12AX7
2 - 6V6GT
1 - 5U4GB

Brown/White Tremolux
1st version:
4 - 12AX7
2 - 6BQ5
1 - GZ34/5AR4

2nd version:
4 - 12AX7
2 - 6L6GC
1 - GZ34/5AR4

Blackface Tremolux
3 - 12AX7
1 - 12AT7
2 - 6L6GC
1 - GZ34/5AR4

Tweed Vibrolux
2 - 12AX7
2 - 6V6GT
1 - 5Y3GT

Brown Vibrolux
4 - 12AX7
2 - 6L6GC
1 - GZ34/5AR4

Blackface Vibrolux (1x12 speaker)
3 - 12AX7
1 - 12AT7
2 - 6L6GC
1 - GZ34/5AR4

Blackface/Silverface Vibrolux Reverb
4 - 12AX7
2 - 12AT7
2 - 6L6GC
1 - GZ34/5AR4 (Silverface amps call for a 5U4GB)

Tweed Pro
1 - 12AY7
2 - 12AX7
2 - 6L6GB
1 - 5U4GB

Brown Pro
6 - 12AX7 (early versions used 5 - 12AX7)
2 - 6L6GC

Blackface Pro
3 - 12AX7
1 - 12AT7
2 - 6L6GC
1 - GZ34/5AR4

Blackface/Silverface Pro Reverb
4 - 12AX7
2 - 12AT7
2 - 6L6GC
1 - GZ34/5AR4 (Silverface amps call for a 5U4GB)

Tweed Bandmaster
1 - 12AY7
2 - 12AX7
2 - 6L6GB
1 - 5U4GB

Brown/White Bandmaster
6 - 12AX7 (early versions used 5 - 12AX7)
2 - 6L6GC

Blackface/Silverface Bandmaster
3 - 12AX7
1 - 12AT7
2 - 6L6GC

Silverface Bandmaster Reverb
4 - 12AX7
2 - 12AT7
2 - 6L6GC
1 - 5U4GB

Tweed Super
1 - 12AY7
2 - 12AX7
2 - 6L6GB
1 - 5U4GB

Brown Super
6 - 12AX7 (early versions used 5 - 12AX7)
2 - 6L6GC
1 - GZ34/5AR4

Blackface/Silverface Super Reverb
4 - 12AX7
2 - 12AT7
2 - 6L6GC
1 - GZ34/5AR4 (Silverface amps call for a 5U4GB)

Tweed Bassman
1 - 12AY7
2 - 12AX7
2 - 5881 (6L6WGB)
1 - GZ34/5AR4

Brown/White Bassman
4 - 12AX7
2 - 6L6GC

Blackface/Silverface Bassman
3 - 12AX7
1 - 12AT7
2 - 6L6GC

Silverface Bassman 10
2 - 12AX7
1 - 12AT7
2 - 6L6GC

Silverface Super Bassman/Bassman 100/Bassman 135
2 - 12AX7
1 - 12AT7
4 - 6L6GC

Tweed Twin
1 - 12AY7
2 - 12AX7
4 - 5881 (6L6WGB)
1 - GZ34/5AR4

Brown/White Twin
6 - 12AAX7
4 - 6L6GC

Blackface/Silverface Twin Reverb/Showman Reverb/Dual Showman Reverb/Quad Reverb/Super Six Reverb (all the same chassis)
4 - 12AX7
2 - 12AT7
4 - 6L6GC

White Showman/Dual Showman
6 - 12AX7
4 - 6L6GC

Blackface/Silverface Showman/Dual Showman
3 - 12AX7
1 - 12AT7
4 - 6L6GC



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