New to Tubes -- I bought a McIntosh MC60....

[boatdrinks77]

Hi guys, I'm a neophyte when it comes to tube gear... I ran across a single McIntosh MC60 pretty cheap ($600 -I guess thats cheap?) so I bought it. Now I'm obsessed with getting another one. I'm done chasing the dream of "the best sound" and I'm gonna find another MC60 and be done with it.

So... all you expert Mac owners and tubes experts --- can you tell me what kind of tubes I should use, what preamp I should get, what goes bad on these things, are there upgrades, etc.... educate me pleeeeease.

Here is a pic of the amp I bought:




thanks for any info.... Gotta find another single one now..... Dan

 

[62caddy]

Before getting into tubes, the first thing I would recommend is having the unit gone through, caps replaced and so forth unless you have direct knowledge it had been done within the last several years or so.

Congratulations on your purchase. Sounds like a pretty good price you got on the MC60.

 

[boatdrinks77]

+1 on the congrats. looks to be in beautiful cosmetic condition. Definitely go with the 62caddy's recommendation first. I'm sure you'll get several opinions for a preamp to go with this, but one you might want to check out is a C28 that is posted in Barter Town from our very own damacman. From the looks of it and the description it seems like it might be a good addition.

http://audiokarma.org/forums/index....ier-w-slant-leg-cabinet.827191/#post-11713092

I had a C28 a few years ago and I didn't care for it. Bought it, hated it, sold it. lol. I didn't like the click stops on the bass/ treble (I'd rather have a smooth pot) Also I didn't like the separate left/right channel bass/treble pots.

Is it going to make a big difference in sound if I pair the MC60s with a solid state preamp ???? I currently have a McIntosh MA6100 that I can use for a preamp......



Dan

 

[excabincrew]

Congrats on your steal

 

[boatdrinks77]

Congrats on your steal

I dunno if I stole it, but I think I got a good deal.... Now I'm jonesing for another one.

 

[Hipocrates]

thanks for any info

That's a lovely unit, Well done
MX110 can be an nice option.
Tubes, I've been using Brimar 12BH7, and RCA 6550.
I think you can try on the Tubes Audio sub-forum, those guys know their stuff and they are always willing to help.
At this probably capacitors and resistors are probably tired depending of what kind of life the unit lived.

 

[boatdrinks77]

Its almost been a week since I bought the MC60 and I still have not tracked down another one locally....... Sheesh I am soooo impatient !! lol Dan

 

[lokerola]

Well, as a new tube amp owner, here's a quick lesson on what NOT to do. Do not rush inserting the tubes into the sockets. Most tubes will go in to the sockets with a little bit of gentle rocking back and forth. But some tubes need a bit more finesses. Do not do what I did - get excited about owning a tube amp and push the tubes too hard into the sockets. I broke a tube guide off in the socket itself. Luckily I was able to pop the broken plastic pin out of the socket from behind after opening up the amp chassis and using the time honored method of smashing the pin with a hammer and flat screwdriver (semi-gently).

Anyway, I'm not trying to scare you, but take a deep breath, don't rush, and when it's time to install your tubes, look at the bottom of them to see the guide pin bump-out and line up the tube with the socket. Ask lots of questions here. Then take slow down again and install your tubes.

Well, that's just my .02 cents as another new tube amp owner. BTW - I replaced my broken tube, got everything installed and biased, and it sounds great.

Good luck!

Don't rush and man-handle the tubes in like an idiot...(see my idiot broken tube results below).

 

[boatdrinks77]

Do not do what I did - get excited about owning a tube amp and push the tubes too hard into the sockets.

Thanks for the tip !!!!! Dan

 

[BillWojo]

Just enjoy it in mono if it's ready to go until you find another one. They didn't sell a million of these so it may take a bit of time to find another. Looking local may take years, even in my area they don't show up often.
Maybe join Barter Town and post a WTB add.

BillWojo

 

[twiiii]

I owned two pre-owned MC 60's in the 60's before I got my 275's in 1969. They performed well and had that sound everyone was looking for. I replaced them as a primary amp with a 240 and then added a second as they had better woofer control. one MC 60 became my center channel amp the other the out door speaker amp using a 70,7 volt distribution system. When I went all SS in 74 all the tube stuff was sold. Friends of mine owned 60's until just recently and even though they hadn't been rebuilt met specs when purchased. The familiar sound with revealing lower midrange everyone loves about tubes was there with just the right amount of high frequency to tame resonant tweeters a bit. If you are after classic tube sound, you either want MC 30's or 60's. Wonder how they would sound driven by a MC 2200? or the new C-22III, I really didn't like my original C-22 MK I. Something about the top two octaves. Especially when used with JBL's and their horrible bullet ring radiators and some of Pickerings or London-Deccas peaky cartridges.