great sounding new tube combination.

[karpathion]

So i've been playing around the last few days with the 2 pre-amp tubes in my amp. Well i find out this is kinda pointless untill my 2 new el-84s got here.
Well, there here. So, i just put a set of gold lion 84s into my handsome devil.
And while i was at it i figured i'd try yet another pre-amp set up with the new power tubes.
well i was out this morning and stopped in my local music shop and picked up a new ruby 12ax7ahg. "What the hell, right."
well i put the ruby in the v1 and a tung-sol in the v2.
WOW! i'm not sure if it's the power tubes or pre, but this little bastard just changed. i've got tons more head room, my low end is tighter, the high end seems tamed, the mid is still just as pretty as ever, and my amps natural gain just went from kinda unuseable, to the smoothest gain i've heard on this amp.
Now i know this won't work for everyone, we all have different tastes. But man, this is great.
Big thumbs up for the gold lion el-84s. And another for the ruby/tung-sol combo.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: great sounding new tube combination.

Blackhearts have simple circuitry that really help to let the tube's character come out.
I put some japanese tubes into my night train and noticed the same kind of improvement. Better headroom, smoother gain, and everything's a bit warmer.

Decent glass goes a long way. You still using the stock speakers? I had a screamin eagle in the BH cab I used to have, tight bass, smooth mids, and clear highs. Gave a more "american" voicing to an amp that was kinda in-between to begin with.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: great sounding new tube combination.

Firebottles are fun to experiment with.

 

[karpathion]

Re: great sounding new tube combination.

Blackhearts have simple circuitry that really help to let the tube's character come out.
I put some japanese tubes into my night train and noticed the same kind of improvement. Better headroom, smoother gain, and everything's a bit warmer.

Decent glass goes a long way. You still using the stock speakers? I had a screamin eagle in the BH cab I used to have, tight bass, smooth mids, and clear highs. Gave a more "american" voicing to an amp that was kinda in-between to begin with.

I still have the stock speakers. They are not so bad, but I was actualy thinking of 2 Eminence Red,White, and Blues. Thats my next upgrade. Even if i lose the head in the future, i'll still keep the cabs. I'm selling my Jackson soon to fund a speaker change and a set of invaders for my L.T.D.

 

[wixedmords]

Re: great sounding new tube combination.

It is a good day karpathion when you find a tube combination that rocks your world.

Congratulations. Enjoy the day.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: great sounding new tube combination.

I still have the stock speakers. They are not so bad, but I was actualy thinking of 2 Eminence Red,White, and Blues. Thats my next upgrade. Even if i lose the head in the future, i'll still keep the cabs. I'm selling my Jackson soon to fund a speaker change and a set of invaders for my L.T.D.

yeah, good speakers rule. The greenback I have now pwns.

The stock eminence blackheart speaker is OK but it's just not as clear sounding as either of the better speakers I've played, the greenback or the screamin eagle.

The eagle was louder than stock, as well, I think. It made the amp's medium gain sound very punchy and tight. Great for a tele which can sometimes have a loose bottom end. Never heard that speaker break up.

The greenback has a great midrange and a is little bright. It is clear in the lows until it starts to break up, then it has this growling sound that's just great with a vox.

eminence or celestion, either way good speakers and good tubes are both key elements in a nice tube amp setup.