Favorite Preamp Tube Combos...

mwalluk

New member
Here's hoping this thread "sticks" like the Amp Review Thread. I know Soulcrusher_X started a thread about preamp tubes review thread which is awesome BTW, but I want to incorporate it into this thread. Instead of looking at the individuality of a single preamp tube, let's take a deeper look into the context of the whole.

When I started getting into this whole "tube swapping/rolling" thing, I started numerous threads upon threads. While I received some great information about different tube types, brands and characteristics, the best advice was to try everything out and see what one suits me. Unfortunately, that can add up in costs. Even though a typical 12AX7 can cost between $10-$25, buying a full retube can add up especially if doing the trial by error method.

I wanted to make a thread that not only depicts the characteristics of a single tube, but how the work in unison.

Feel free to add what you're using now or have used.

Please add the brand of your amp, model and preamp tubes used. This should give a great starting point for others to use to find their combo.
 
Re: Favorite Preamp Tube Combos...

VHT / Fryette - Deliverance Sixty

V1 - Tungsol
V2 - JJ ECC803S
V3 - Mullard RI
V4/PI - SOvtek LPS

After trying numerous combos and swapping out a dozen or so different brands, I'm satisfied with this combo. In fact, I don't think I wanna even touch it.


Combos I Have Used:

Tungsol, EHX, EHX, Sovtek LPS
Tungsol, Tungsol, EHX, Sovtek LPS
set of RUBY's 9th Gen
and Various other combos using Tungsol, EHX, JJ EC83, Sovtek LPS, Sovtek WB, RUBY and possibly another.

With this combo (TS, 803S, MULLARD, LPS) I have very low levels of white noise/hum. They are very transparent and clean sounding when responding to dialing back on my amp. Dialing back and dropping some of the gain, I finally obtained a very warm, shimmery, HIWATT clean. It sounds amazing. I know it's partially my amp, but with the other combos it never sounded this good.

Distortion is amazing. Mullards really bring out the MIDS in the Tone spot. It's just natural sounding. Not to bright with the ECC803 bringing out the lower mids.

What I found Tungsol works best in the V1 spot. Sovtek LPS works the best in the V4 (PI) spot.
 
Re: Favorite Preamp Tube Combos...

It's very unlikely you won't get an itch to try rolling those again :sword:

You need to try this combo:
V1-Mullard RI
V2-Tungsol RI
V3-Ruby(stock tubes that came with the amp)
V4-JJ ECC803S

Or
V1-Mullard RI
V2-Tungsol RI
V3-JJ ECC803S
V4-Ruby

Heck you could even try and interchange between the two RI's in V1 & V2 spots :smokin:

If your amp has a CF stage (should be the V3 spot) then avoid using EHX,Tungsol & Sovtek LPS in that spot.
And you are missing the regular JJ Ecc83S in your collection, would be worth getting a hold of one or two of them as well, they are cheaper than the rest so not a bad idea to try those out too. Those work great in my Laney GH head.
 
Re: Favorite Preamp Tube Combos...

Mesa Mark III: TungSol, JJ ECC83s, Penta C9, Penta C9, JJ 803s.

I like the TungSol in V1 of most amps. It has a good tone to lead off with and let the rest of the tubes in the preamp accentuate other frequencies. On most channel switchers that have the clean and dirt channels share V1, it works nice to keep the cleans...uh...cleaner. The TS tubes seem to have a lot of headroom and break up far later than any other preamp tube Ive tried. It also has a nice amount of grind. I dont like to use too many TS in the preamp however becuase it CAN lean to icepicky highs. The JJ in V2 rolls off enough highs and bumps out the mids and compresses just enough to make leads very sweet. The Pentas are just nice tubes that are warm and have nice drive and grind. Then, for some reason, I just really like the 803 as a PI tube. Its not as compressed and "smooshy" as a lot of 12AX7s in the PI spot. It's more open and really seems to make the amp more articulate. It worked REALLY well in the MKIII and my Splawns. Some of my other amps, I didnt seem to notice too much of a change.
 
Re: Favorite Preamp Tube Combos...

Right now my MarkIII has a Tungsram ECC83 in V1, RCA grey plate 12AX7's in V2 and V3, RCA cleartop 12AU7 in V4, and a Raytheon 12AX7-A for PI.

I just recently swapped the RCA from V1 into V3 where I've been using an RFT or Chinese Boogie previously... I think this combo is the winner. The lead channel is less fuzzy and bigger sounding with the RCA, still has the mids and isn't too bright. I have tried the Tungsram in V3 before, not good, my amp HATES bright tubes in the lead channel slot, but in V1 the clean channel, which was pretty good with the RCA, has a lot more "pretty" in it.

I've tried more tubes in this amp than I can remember.
 
Re: Favorite Preamp Tube Combos...

God...the MKIII has to be one of the b*tchiest amps when it comes to tubes. I dont think any other amp Ive owned interacts quite as much with them. The RCAs DO sound quite godlike in the MKIII as do some old MUllards. I was just afriad they would die and Id never get more. So...I pussed out and never used them in there. :(
 
Re: Favorite Preamp Tube Combos...

Ok- on a whim I tried a JJ803s in my old black H@K Tubeman Pedal /Preamp- it runs the Tube at about 250 volts and I hoped since it has a much larger Plate- it might have more Headroom when driven into clipping. Not Scientific-just a hunch.

Works great- though slightly lower in Gain than gainiest 12AX7s Tubes- at least in this circuit- it's more usable Gain- no Fuzz or Fizz even way up there- it's also warmer and more convincing, more Amplike with a MUCH wider "sweet spot" so it has a clearer more PLexi like gain in the low ranges and doesn't get fuzzy even way up in high gain.

Will try a few in my ADA MP1 and report.

Keep in mind , my orientation is not Metal, think 60s to 80s Rock/Fusion tones- where even with lots of Gain the Tone is clear.

So some of you might benefit from using a JJ803s as the high Gain Tube on an Amp or Pre for greater clarity and less fizz/fuzz.
 
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