For the record... (JJ Preamp Content)

[misterwhizzy]

I really, really don't like the way JJ preamp tubes sound in any amp I've tried them. First I thought, "My amp is too bright!" So I put it in V1. But it shifted the focus to the lower mids and dulled the highs.

So I put it in V2. "It will drive the PI harder and give me a middier crunch!" But it was lifeless and dull.

So I moved it to the PI. "It will give me a little more crunch than the Mullard without being so smooth," I thought. But really, it just stinks in every position I've tried.

It's not just this tube, either. This is the long-plate version, the ECC803S. I got even worse results from the ECC83 short plate. I honestly don't understand how people like them. Maybe they work better in different circuits, but really I just don't get it.

 

[Kam]

Re: For the record... (JJ Preamp Content)

What kind of amps have you tried them in?

I've been looking at getting new tubes for my AOR and apparently the JJs come very highly recommended for use in that particular amp. I really don't know anything about tubes or amp circuitry so I'm really just passing on what I've heard...

 

[karpathion]

Re: For the record... (JJ Preamp Content)

I find 'em to be a bit dark, myself. I changed over to tung-sol pre, and Gold Lion power tubes. They equal each other out very well.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: For the record... (JJ Preamp Content)

I ran them in my Blackstar HT-5 and my JCA20H. They didn't sound good in either. I finally settled on Tung-Sols in V1 and V2 and a Mullard RI in the PI. The power tubes are JJs, and they sound fine, I guess. I'm waiting on joelap to try Mullard EL84s and see how they sound, but I think the preamp tubes and poweramp bias level make more of a difference than the brand of output tube.

I went through quite a few preamp tubes, also. I like most everything coming out of the Russian plant. Tung-Sols, ElectroHarmonix, Mullard, and Sovtek LPS are all very good tubes. The JJs you can have, and people give varying reviews to the Chinese tubes. The Chinese tubes I've played are a little too loose and fizzy. I like the Russian ones better.

 

[Kam]

Re: For the record... (JJ Preamp Content)

Yeag, I just put a Sovtek 12ax7 in V1 of the AOR and I'm really liking the sound from it at the minute. I'm going to A/B it with the old Ruby that was in there to see what kind of difference it makes.

Actually, I might not. I've never really swapped tubes before. I definitely don't need another addiction.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: For the record... (JJ Preamp Content)

Yep; it's not popular opinion, but I think JJ's preamp tubes suck horribly, too. I've tried them in countless amps before (H&K Triamp, H&K Triamp, Bad Cat Hot Cat, Fender Vibrolux Reverb, etc.) and in each amp they've dulled the sound. In amps like the Crate V32 Palomino I had, I thought the darker character would match well, but it still was missing something.

I still think JJ's EL-84s are good power tubes, but I'll stick with the Chinese or Electro Harmonix for modern preamp stuff in my amps. It's been a long time since I've had the Mullard RI in one of my amps, but I seem to remember it was a pretty good sounding tube.

 

[metlking]

Re: For the record... (JJ Preamp Content)

I don't care much for the JJ preamp tubes (although I currently have one in V3 of my Bogner XTC and it's working OK) but I like the E34L poweramp tubes quite a bit.........

I've tried their preamp tubes in alot of different amps over the years and they just don't work well for me in certain critical positions......

 

[Ascension]

Re: For the record... (JJ Preamp Content)

Add another voice to the JJ's are dull and lifeless chorus. I like the power tubes but have yet to find an amp that the pre's sound good in. Every time I have tried JJ's in the pre it's like you put a blanket over the amp when you drop those blasted things in and fire it up!

 

[zzmoore]

Re: For the record... (JJ Preamp Content)

Nothing "to get' really. You do not care for JJ pres and some guys do. Life is full of that kind of thing. Colors, flavors, cars, beauty.....
Use some tubes that appeal to your ears. You know what is best for you.....
Good Luck

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: For the record... (JJ Preamp Content)

You might need a little extra insulin to really hear them at their best.

 

[xntrick]

Re: For the record... (JJ Preamp Content)

i've compared tung sol to JJ's in V2 and V3 in my 3120 and they sounded very similar to me...

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: For the record... (JJ Preamp Content)

I felt the universal distaste for JJ tubes until I was fixing up a Crate VC210. The power tubes were 15 years old and lifeless. So I started swapping in my favorite pair of EL-84s - some Ei tubes with make my Blues Jr. sing pretty sweet. Meh, not so hot. Tried Tung Sols, Sovteks, EH and anything else I had lying around.

Then I thought "I'll try those crappy JJs just for giggles". BINGO! Those were the right power tubes for that amp and the owner couldn't agree more.

Still don't like their 12AX7s and JJ 6V6s aren't exactly 6V6s. Not quite as far off spec as a Sovtek 5Y3 is, but not vintage spec. The JJ 6V6s do survive with significantly higher voltages than other 6V6s will though.

2CW

Chip

 

[Mincer]

Re: For the record... (JJ Preamp Content)

I tried JJs in my Blue Angel, preamp and 2-6v6s and 4-EL84s (the amp uses both at once). I spent 2 days trying them in every combination, but hated every single one.

 

[SpaceShipOne]

Re: For the record... (JJ Preamp Content)

I've tried em in my Splawn and had em in my old 5150. They just have this annoying fuzzy quality with no clear top end. The gain structure is discouraging to play so I ditched all of my JJ's for Tung Sol's....golden

 

[ErikH]

Re: For the record... (JJ Preamp Content)

Add another voice to the JJ's are dull and lifeless chorus. I like the power tubes but have yet to find an amp that the pre's sound good in. Every time I have tried JJ's in the pre it's like you put a blanket over the amp when you drop those blasted things in and fire it up!

You need to try them in your Marshall JCM 900 MkIII. I put a set of ECC83S' in my 100 watt head, in all 3 positions, and the tone is excellent, IMO. I prefer them to the EH's I had in there and Sovteks.

JJ's sound great in Marshalls, in anything else, not so much.

 

[eschoendorff]

Re: For the record... (JJ Preamp Content)

Not a big fan of JJs myself. But I just went through my own tube drama and I should be set for a while...

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: For the record... (JJ Preamp Content)

I do have to say that while I don't like JJ's generally, they did not sound THAT bad in the JCM 800 I used to have. Didn't care for it specifically in V1, although it wasn't horrible. V2, 3 and 4 were ok though. However, it was a fairly bright amp, and I think I had several of their higher gain AX7's. I haven't looked, do they still offer them in different gain amounts?

I will also say that I didn't really care for them in the Blues Jr. I had. Way too dark and lifeless. The last time I had a tube amp, the GT 12AX7-C's and M's were the best new production tubes I could find. I used them to save my NOS tubes for special occasions, future use, ect. I think now I would try the Tung Sol's and the GT's again as a starting point....personally.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: For the record... (JJ Preamp Content)

I thought the GT12AX7-M's were just relabeled Mullard reissues. Is that not right? And 12AX7-C's are just Chinese, right? Stick me in the Tung-Sol camp for new production tubes, though.

 

[crguti]

Re: For the record... (JJ Preamp Content)

all JJ tubes in my Mesa Boogie DC-5, Engl Thunder 50 and Engl E530 tube preamp.
I really don't care trying other tubes.

 

[ken361]

Re: For the record... (JJ Preamp Content)

I thought the GT12AX7-M's were just relabeled Mullard reissues. Is that not right? And 12AX7-C's are just Chinese, right? Stick me in the Tung-Sol camp for new production tubes, though.

Those 12ax7 M mullards are totally different tubes, they look just like the real mullards but sound brighter. I have a couple. JJ's blow but they will tame a Bugera 6260!