A good setup for Tubes? (brand)

[Ironjose]

I´m about to change my amp´s tubes, but i want to know which brand would be the best sounding, i guess that the price doesn´t matter, but sometimes the high price tubes are not what you expect, so you guys are like tone gurus let me know, ok, please i want to learns this...too.
JJ

 

[Scott_F]

Re: A good setup for Tubes? (brand)

Happy to try to help. I"m no expert, but I've gone through a lot of tubes in the last 5 years.

What amp are you wanting to put them into?

How is the amp now? Bright, dark?

What type tubes does the amp use?

How do you want the amp to sound with the new tubes?

 

[Ironjose]

Re: A good setup for Tubes? (brand)

"What amp are you wanting to put them into? "
its a Smarvo VSH100A, its quite unknown its a chinese half stack

How is the amp now? Bright, dark?
well the gain 1 its bright and gain 2 is more dark

What type tubes does the amp use?
Electro Harmonix EL34 on the power amp and 12ax7 on the preamp...

How do you want the amp to sound with the new tubes?
i would like it to sound like a mesa boogie or a jcm800 but that isn´t gonna happend until i got one of those... but it had to be some gainful and clear with demonic harmonics
JJ

 

[Ironjose]

Re: A good setup for Tubes? (brand)

i want something solid and clear. it actually sounds boomy
JJ

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: A good setup for Tubes? (brand)

JJ EL-34's and Groove Tube 12AX7C's always sound great for highgain halfstack setups.

 

[Ironjose]

Re: A good setup for Tubes? (brand)

so, do you recomend the Groove tubes, i would be buying them by the end of june, but its not definitive...
thanx
JJ

 

[kingsxman]

Re: A good setup for Tubes? (brand)

FYI, for the 12ax7's, consider putting in the Groove Tube 12ax7m's. these are mullard copies. I have bought a bunch of them and find that they really make a welcome change...depending on the amp. I compared them to JJ's, EH's, sovteks (yuch!) and some chinese ones I had. I ended up putting them in V1 and the phase inverter in all my amps. Nice difference in Marshall JCM 800, huge difference in Fender Super, slight difference in Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. The sound just opens up, it takes out any unbalances in your tone (i.e. mids too hot, etc) and for me, it gave my amp a almost 3D quality that it didnt have before. I really liked them. THey're spendy..but worht it. But save your reciept as I have heard of a few problems with them. You have a 6 month warrenty.

 

[bloodswords]

Re: A good setup for Tubes? (brand)

i've just tried the Smarvo VSH100 today- very muddy amp. my initial expectations for it was very high, especially when it features a good set of Electro Harmonix 12AT/ EL-34 in there, but once i plugged the guitar in, it's all frown & no smiles...

bro Ironjose: any luck with the new tubes in there?

 

[KLINKDETROIT]

Re: A good setup for Tubes? (brand)

FYI, for the 12ax7's, consider putting in the Groove Tube 12ax7m's. these are mullard copies. I have bought a bunch of them and find that they really make a welcome change...depending on the amp. I compared them to JJ's, EH's, sovteks (yuch!) and some chinese ones I had. I ended up putting them in V1 and the phase inverter in all my amps. Nice difference in Marshall JCM 800, huge difference in Fender Super, slight difference in Fender Hot Rod Deluxe. The sound just opens up, it takes out any unbalances in your tone (i.e. mids too hot, etc) and for me, it gave my amp a almost 3D quality that it didnt have before. I really liked them. THey're spendy..but worht it. But save your reciept as I have heard of a few problems with them. You have a 6 month warrenty.

I run 2 12AX7M tubes in my rectifier in #1 and the fx loop to fatten it up. I was told by 2 prominent amp builders that you dont want to run them in the phase invertor as they run around 103 as opposed to 110 and are not usually balanced very well. They said that you want to have a balanced tube at high output and not to run a balanced tube before the invertor as it will push other unbalanced tubes after it into microphonic territory. You will lose a little gain in #1 compared to EH or JJ but its worth it as the Mullard reissue fattens things up and does sound more real.