new preamp tubes for MESA DC5 combo

[fenderiarhs]

The time has come to change preamp tubes on my Boogie DC5 combo. The main competitors for the new 12ax7 are the Electoharmonix 12ax7, the JJ 12ax7 (ecc83s), and the svetlana 12ax7.
Which one would you suggest???

I never liked the stock mesa boogie 12ax7(some of them were called SPAX7.....what's the difference????) which i think are sovtek rebranded tubes..........found them cold sounding...........

[MDS]

Re: new preamp tubes for MESA DC5 combo

I use JJs in mine. Nice sound. The EHs are excellent as well. I dont think you can go wrong with any of these. Maybe buy a few of each and swap them in and out of channels to see how they sound. You can run clean and dirty independently, so you could buy 3 of each and see how they effect each channel.

Mike

[Gearjoneser]

Re: new preamp tubes for MESA DC5 combo

I think the best 3 out there right now are.

Groove Tube 12AX7C
Sovtek 12AX7LPS
JJ ECC803S

All 3 will improve upon whatever Mesa puts in.

[Stratman]

Re: new preamp tubes for MESA DC5 combo

I used to use JJ ECC83 in mine

Nice tone, but slightly harsh at high volumes