can one JJ Ecc83 in V@ make my amp overally bright?

[mwalluk]

So I finally got my new tubes today, trying to fiddle around with differ combos.

I tried rolling with a EHX, Tungsol, EHX, Sovtek (V!-V4/PI) was pretty gainy andlots of feedback.

Just now I tried a Tungsol, JJ ECc83, EHX and Sovtek which felt a little too bright with not much low end. I could still do the chugga thing eq'd right, but the chords lacked depth.

Not ready to comment on the Genalex Gold Lion KT88s yet.

ANy thoughts on how another combo I can try?

I have 2 Tungsols, 2 EHX, 1 JJ ECC83 and one SOvtek (the better one in terms of wb, wa, etc).

MY VHT Deliverance has 4 V slots with the last also being the PI.

 

[CTN]

Re: can one JJ Ecc83 in V@ make my amp overally bright?

JJ ecc83s have a reputation for being very round/dark sounding. It tends to darken the highs, but can give good thumpy bass and somewhat chewy mids, along with quite a lot of gain.

This might sound daft to some, but try it in V1 followed by two Tung Sols and an EHX or Sovtek in the PI.

 

[Soulcrusher_X]

Re: can one JJ Ecc83 in V@ make my amp overally bright?

Do you know what tube positions do what functions for the amp? The D60 has a hi/low gain function, correct?

When I have had JJs in my amps, I noticed that sometimes it would seem to have less bass. The JJs have a pretty tight low end, but those chewier mids like Convoy said.

Try the combo that he mentioned. The brightness might be the TS in V1 and the lack of bass might be from the JJ. I usually have a TS in V1 on my amps with a JJ in V2 to keep things from getting too bright. Also, find one of the better Chinese tubes you said you took out of the amp and try that after the JJ.

So...TS/JJ/Chinese/LPS

Another to try might be TS/TS/JJ/LPS

 

[mwalluk]

Re: can one JJ Ecc83 in V@ make my amp overally bright?

I tried the JJ, Tungsol, EHX and SOvtek combo... I dug it. Sounds closer to what I want. Only problem is it lost some of the chime when dialing back to get a clean sound. May have to fiddle with eqs to get it back.

I don't wanna put any of the Rubys back in since they came with the amp when I got it. I don't know how much wear and tear dude put on it which was well over 2 years ago.

I'm still laughing at that trade. I traded him my old DSL 100 for this VHT Deliverance Sixty. Finally, the one trade that actually worked out for me.

 

[mwalluk]

Re: can one JJ Ecc83 in V@ make my amp overally bright?

Do you know what tube positions do what functions for the amp? The D60 has a hi/low gain function, correct?

Yes, it has the MORE/LESS switch. When MORE is on the extra gain stage kicks into effect.



VHT/Fryette come stock with this set up.

2 Matched Sovtek KT88s
V1: Sovtek 12AX7WB
V2: Shuguang 12Ax7
V3: Shuguang 12Ax7
V4 (driver) Shuguang 12Ax7

However, since I got mine through a trade and dude switched out the tubes, the preamps were all Rubys.


Per Fryette's manual......

Preamp tube locations are indicated by tube type on the rear panel of the chassis. Tube types are factory selected for superior performance, consistent tone quality and reliability. While substituting other brands may not cause damage to the amplifier this may affect amplifier performance in unpredictable ways. For best performance, replace only with factory recommended tubes. Warning! Substituting other tube types is not recommended.

Each 12AX7 has two sections/functions. Section A is shown first, Section B is second. Factory recommended tubes are listed under each location. Numbering sequence is right to left looking at back of amp starting with the row closest to front panel of amp.



V1 (shielded tube) Input Gain Stage 1 (Parallel Triodes).
12AX7A Tung-Sol

12AX7WB Sovtek
(Use in place of Tung-Sol for smoother top end and less upper mids.)

12AX7 China Selected
(Use in place of WB if more gain is required)



V2 (shielded tube) Gain Stage 2.
12AX7A/7025 China
(Gain Stage 4. Active only when MORE / LESS switch is set to MORE).


V3 (shielded tube) Gain Stage 3.
12AX7A/7025 China (Tone Control Driver).

V4 - Phase Inverter.
12AX7A/7025 China


Power Tubes MUST USE ONLY KT88 or 6550.
NOT INTERCHANGEABLE WITH ANY OTHER TUBE TYPES!

KT88 Sovtek
KT88 EH
KT88 Svetlana
6550 Sovtek
6550 Svetlana

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: can one JJ Ecc83 in V@ make my amp overally bright?

JJ are darker than most, TS brighter than most.

Nothing wrong with chinese 12AX7's other than they are chinese, and Ruby's are well tested. Don't exclude them just because some d-nozzle on the web says they suck.

 

[Soulcrusher_X]

Re: can one JJ Ecc83 in V@ make my amp overally bright?

JJ are darker than most, TS brighter than most.

Nothing wrong with chinese 12AX7's other than they are chinese, and Ruby's are well tested. Don't exclude them just because some d-nozzle on the web says they suck.

+1 as long as the Chinese tubes are branded, they are usually really good. I have only had problems with the unmarked versions, or from poor retailers.

 

[mwalluk]

Re: can one JJ Ecc83 in V@ make my amp overally bright?

I'm not so much against them since they are rebranded Chinese, but rather since they are a few years old.

 

[Soulcrusher_X]

Re: can one JJ Ecc83 in V@ make my amp overally bright?

I'm not so much against them since they are rebranded Chinese, but rather since they are a few years old.

Preamp tubes can last a LONG time. A bud of mine has a 60's Fender with the original spread of tubes and it sounds killer. Gets played often and LOUD.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: can one JJ Ecc83 in V@ make my amp overally bright?

I have 2 Tungsols, 2 EHX, 1 JJ ECC83 and one SOvtek (the better one in terms of wb, wa, etc).

It's no secret I dislike the JJ in the tone-generating stages of an amp (which in your case are V1 and V2). I would recommend a Tung-Sol in V1 even though it will be bright. You can take away highs in later stages, but you can't add them back in once they're gone.

Try EHX in V2 and V3, and put the JJ in the PI slot. The EHX don't sound as bright as the Tung-Sols to me, even though they're probably as close as you're going to get tone-wise. They may get you some more upper-mid sizzle. Then, just to make sure everything isn't real bright, you put the JJ at the end.

If you had a Sovtek LPS, I'd say put that in the PI, but it doesn't sound like you do. I'm not a big fan of the lower-end Sovteks, and I think the LPS is the best they have. The WA and WB aren't my favorite.

That's my thinking anyways.

 

[mwalluk]

Re: can one JJ Ecc83 in V@ make my amp overally bright?

It's no secret I dislike the JJ in the tone-generating stages of an amp (which in your case are V1 and V2). I would recommend a Tung-Sol in V1 even though it will be bright. You can take away highs in later stages, but you can't add them back in once they're gone.

Try EHX in V2 and V3, and put the JJ in the PI slot. The EHX don't sound as bright as the Tung-Sols to me, even though they're probably as close as you're going to get tone-wise. They may get you some more upper-mid sizzle. Then, just to make sure everything isn't real bright, you put the JJ at the end.

If you had a Sovtek LPS, I'd say put that in the PI, but it doesn't sound like you do. I'm not a big fan of the lower-end Sovteks, and I think the LPS is the best they have. The WA and WB aren't my favorite.

That's my thinking anyways.

The sovtek is the Lps model. Originally I had the tungsol ehx ehx sovtek combo

 

[Soulcrusher_X]

Re: can one JJ Ecc83 in V@ make my amp overally bright?

I tried the JJ, Tungsol, EHX and SOvtek combo... I dug it. Sounds closer to what I want. Only problem is it lost some of the chime when dialing back to get a clean sound. May have to fiddle with eqs to get it back.

I don't wanna put any of the Rubys back in since they came with the amp when I got it. I don't know how much wear and tear dude put on it which was well over 2 years ago.

I'm still laughing at that trade. I traded him my old DSL 100 for this VHT Deliverance Sixty. Finally, the one trade that actually worked out for me.

Well, here's a big FU to that trade. Lucky bastard! lol I guess I had one of those when I bought my LP Custom for $600. Anyway...

The JJ ecc83s definitely dont have a whole lot of chime. The JJ ecc803s is a lot better in that department. If you want to keep with the tubes you have, the TS might be the best bet for V1 as far as good gain and better cleans. Maybe do the two EHX then the JJ and then the LPS. The EHX have a touch less bass than the TS, and maybe a little more grind in the upper mids. So, it might be a good compromise between the TS and JJ for what tubes you got at the moment. I still have to check out your D60 demo.