I've just changed my tubes

M

Marinblues

New member
...from Sovtek 12AX7WB to 12AX7EH and Sovtkek 5881 to 6LGEH.

I have to say that....it's not a big difference!

However, the gain stage works better, is thicker and louder.

I am slightly dissappointed with the clean which, to my surprise, is less "warm".

I find that I have to set the "presence" knob to a lower level.


Marin
 
as the other post said, give it some time. it can take 100 hours for preamp tubes to burn in some times, as is the case with power tubes. also, a 6L6 type tube, is a hard hitting tube, with some edge. they can be warm sounding, but nothing like an EL34, especially in todays circuits. good luck.

germ
 
Marin...

Having more high end may just be a result of the new tubes. That would happen even if you replaced them with the exact same tubes. Preamp tubes especially lose high end as they get older and wear.

Either way, play with them a bit. I always end up having to do some Eq work whenever I swap tubes.

Nick
 
i heard a "5881 vs 6L6 clip" or somewhat on the *edit* forum and it was IMO a big difference
the topic is dropped can't find the clip
 
Last edited:
Hi Marin

How easy was it to change the tubes.

I'm thinking of getting some JJ's for my Ashdown (I'm told they are a rich warm sound) but I'm scared!!
 
Thanks guys,

I'll just have to wear the out.;)


Lu_B, the tubes on my Engl are not easily replaceable. Moreover, someone warned me that phantom currents may accumulate in the final stage of the amp so I just gave it to a tech. I payed 20 euro's to the tech and around 60 Euro's for 4 12AX7s and 2 6L6.


Marin
 
The reason you didn't notice much of a difference is because,
from what I've been told, EH tubes ARE Sovtek, but the highest quality Sovtek makes. Those pre tubes are considered highgain
pre tubes, so they'll have a slightly brighter, thinner tone, but more gain.

If the tone you're getting isn't doing it for you, you could pass those pre's along to someone and put Tesla JJ ECC83's in it.
That may be the tone you're after. The power tubes are probably just fine.
 
Something else

Something else

you may want to try a lower gain tube in the PI slot (closest to the power tubes) for a smoother tone. A 5751 or 12AT7. Further, have an extra 5751 and try it in V1, it really warms up the clean, but you won't have as much gain.
 
Re: I've just changed my tubes

I'm finding the new Tung-Sol 12AX7 to be a very good first preamp tube these days. I'm using the new Tung-Sol 5881 tubes instead of 6L6 tubes in my SF Bassman head these days too.

The new Tung-Sol tubes are made at the same Reflektor factory where Sovteks come from, but they sound better to me. I've never been real big on the sound of Sovteks. The EH 6V6 would pass in a pinch, but the JJ/Tesla 6V6 sounded better to my ears.

Pete
 
Re: I've just changed my tubes

Marinblues said:
...from Sovtek 12AX7WB to 12AX7EH and Sovtkek 5881 to 6LGEH.

I have to say that....it's not a big difference!

However, the gain stage works better, is thicker and louder.

I am slightly dissappointed with the clean which, to my surprise, is less "warm".

I find that I have to set the "presence" knob to a lower level.


Marin
Click to expand...

It's not going to be a big difference.

Preamp tubes can be though, I bought a bunch and kept changing them until I was happy. Some were too celloy and some didn't have enough gain. I figured out that putting higher gain tubes at the end of the gain stage sounds best.

But power tubes, yea I didn't notice much of a difference when I changed mine except that the mids became more focused and defined.
 
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