Genalex - Gold Lion Tubes.........???

S

Soul Charter

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I'm going to up grade my Divided by 13 17/39 LDW from EL34's to KT77's.

I was going to go JJ's they are about $40 for a matched set. But The Genalex - Gold Lion KT77's for almost double the price really intrique me.
Are they worth it? Anyone here have experience with these? Is it worth it to go the full boat and get the Gold Lion Pre amp Tubes as well? About $160 for 3 compared to $35 for the JJ's. There is about a $180 difference. I'm more interested in Tone then having Tubes that last longer. Thanks in advance for any help........
 
Re: Genalex - Gold Lion Tubes.........???

I dunnno, but all the reviews Ive seen make those GLs to be the cat's meow.....err..... the Lion's Roar.

In the very least, forumite mwalluk really likes the GL KT88s he got for his Deliverance.
 
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Re: Genalex - Gold Lion Tubes.........???

I went through 2 sets of Valley Arts KT66's that failed(1st one was replaced by Fred) in my EDT 13/29 and then I put in the GL's. What an improvement! Tonally, to my ears, they were smoother and warmer with a more pleasant breakup. And though I'm sure there are good sets of VA tubes, the GL's haven't failed me yet.
 
Re: Genalex - Gold Lion Tubes.........???

JJ ECC83s are dark and I only use them if I need to tame some high end. I dont like using them too much. The 803s has some nice high end sparkle, though. The JJ power tubes are also not dark. Some of them are warm, but not dark. Supposedly, the JJ KT77 is recreation of the Genelex KT77s. Ive never tried the real deal GLs, so I can't comment on differences.
 
Re: Genalex - Gold Lion Tubes.........???

For power I really like the Gold Lions, JJ's are nice as well for KT88. Haven't tried the pres though for Gold Lions.
 
Re: Genalex - Gold Lion Tubes.........???

Andrew Lamprecht said:
I don't like JJs... if you are going cheaper the EHs... thumbs up. ;)
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Not sure this really applies to power tubes. For preamp tubes, I tend to agree with you, although I'm coming around to the long-plate JJs. I put one in V2 of my Jet City the other day just to see how it would work, and it turned out all right. I ended up with the Tung-Sol in V1 and Ruby in V2 again, though.
 
Re: Genalex - Gold Lion Tubes.........???

misterwhizzy said:
Not sure this really applies to power tubes. For preamp tubes, I tend to agree with you, although I'm coming around to the long-plate JJs. I put one in V2 of my Jet City the other day just to see how it would work, and it turned out all right. I ended up with the Tung-Sol in V1 and Ruby in V2 again, though.
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Is the Ruby a Chinese tube?

That tends to be how my amps get tubed.....TS then a Chinese tube of some sort. The Chinese Pentas are working nicely for me. :)

Try that 803 in the PI of your Jet city. Works pretty cool in most of my stuff.
 
Re: Genalex - Gold Lion Tubes.........???

Soulcrusher_X said:
Is the Ruby a Chinese tube?
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Exactly. 12AX7AC5 HG+.

That tends to be how my amps get tubed.....TS then a Chinese tube of some sort. The Chinese Pentas are working nicely for me. :)

Try that 803 in the PI of your Jet city. Works pretty cool in most of my stuff.
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Nope. Never going back to a 12AX7 in the PI. I've got an Amperex 12AU7, and that's how it's going to stay.
 
Re: Genalex - Gold Lion Tubes.........???

Soulcrusher_X said:
Fair enough. :)
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I've actually tried many 12AX7s in the PI slot, including the ECC803S. They just drive the power section too hard and compress it too much. I think it has to do with the Soldano design. If I wanted the Motley Crue Wild Side tone, that does it. I just don't want it. With the 12AU7 the power section opens up, the bass tightens, and I get more headroom. There's nothing bad about it. I keep all the gain and get more clean power with tighter bass.
 
Re: Genalex - Gold Lion Tubes.........???

Thats why I liked the 803 in most of my stuff and the AT7 in my XXX. The 803 works in most of my amps since its 10% less gain than most AX7s. It really worked nice in my MKIII. And the AT7 worked great in the XXX, because it did what the AU7 did for your amp. Tightened the tone, made it less compressed. (cuz damn, the XXX is one compressed amp)

Im with you on lower gain PI tubes. I just didnt know if you tried the 803 there. If you got something that works, dont change it, man.
 
Re: Genalex - Gold Lion Tubes.........???

JumpMarine said:
I went through 2 sets of Valley Arts KT66's that failed(1st one was replaced by Fred) in my EDT 13/29 and then I put in the GL's. What an improvement! Tonally, to my ears, they were smoother and warmer with a more pleasant breakup. And though I'm sure there are good sets of VA tubes, the GL's haven't failed me yet.
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You sold me on the Gold Lions for the Power !! Can I ask what Pre amp Tubes your running with them? is it worth it for the Pre Amp Tubes as well? They actually co$t more then the Power Tubes!
 
Re: Genalex - Gold Lion Tubes.........???

Soul Charter said:
You sold me on the Gold Lions for the Power !! Can I ask what Pre amp Tubes your running with them? is it worth it for the Pre Amp Tubes as well? They actually co$t more then the Power Tubes!
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I like the Gold Lions KT88s for power, but that's not to say I couldn't get a good sounding JJ, Tungsol, EHX KT88. However for a few bucks more I can get a GL.

Now for pres, I wouldn't recommend them yet. I haven't tried them, but for the price of a couple GL pres you could get a handful of Tungsols, EHX, JJs, Sovteks, etc. which in your case my work out better.
 
Re: Genalex - Gold Lion Tubes.........???

Those GL Pre amps are expensive! Thanks man.....Should be on the way to Tonal Nirvana!! Thanks........Al
 
Re: Genalex - Gold Lion Tubes.........???

Treated myself to a Gold Lion pre for V1 of my Orange, and it's unbelieveable. So clear, so defined, and so full sounding. I'm actually impressed on how noticeable the change was. I previously had a TAD in that slot, preceded by EH, Tung Sol, and a Sovtek. The GL blows them all away, and I'm glad I went with it. That being said, I'd hate to do a full retube of the pre's, give that they're over $40 a piece... V1 is fine for now.
 
Re: Genalex - Gold Lion Tubes.........???

Jay 77 said:
Treated myself to a Gold Lion pre for V1 of my Orange, and it's unbelieveable. So clear, so defined, and so full sounding. I'm actually impressed on how noticeable the change was. I previously had a TAD in that slot, preceded by EH, Tung Sol, and a Sovtek. The GL blows them all away, and I'm glad I went with it. That being said, I'd hate to do a full retube of the pre's, give that they're over $40 a piece... V1 is fine for now.
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......and now a reason to hate you. Thanks. Now, Im tempted to blow $40 a pop on a tube. Great. Sorry kids.....PB&J for a month cuz daddy bought tubes. ;P

I guess there's a reason they are $40 a piece, eh?
 
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