Just Retubed my Amp...WOW!!!!

[Lee Bob]

I am relatively new to tube amps (owned my Tremoverb for just over a year now) and never realized how much different tubes affect tone. When I received the amp it had relatively new (so I was told) Mesa 6L6's and Sovtek 12AX7WB's in it. I found it very cold so swapped the 6L6's for some JJ E34L's. This was the exact change the amp needed. I thought it sounded much better. So in the past year I have been practising with my band and recently gigging quite frequently and noticed my amp losing the power/volume it once had and also degrading in it's general tone. So I decided to do a complete retube. I swapped the Sovteks for some 9th Gen Chinese 12AX7's and got a new set of JJ E34L's (after much deliberation about trying the new JJ KT77's). All I can say is WOW!!!! This amp is a tone monster now. The power/volume has returned, as well as much tighter, more defined bass. The tone in general is also much improved. It's the best $150 I've spent in a little while.

I may still grab a quad of those KT77's and give them a whirl.

 

[tone?]

Re: Just Retubed my Amp...WOW!!!!

yeah ,

my friend has a Marshall 100 watt Power amp with EL34's in it which he hasnt changed in like 7 years!
the moron. he plays awesome too and i tell him dude you got to get new tubes in the thing.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Just Retubed my Amp...WOW!!!!

According to the guy who sold it to me, the tubes in the amp I just bought hadn't been changed since 99. I retubed it the other day and it's a huge difference. Just getting rid of those Sovtek preamp tubes made a significant difference.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Just Retubed my Amp...WOW!!!!

Those 9th Gen Chinese 12AX7's (12AX7C's) really do a lot to tighten up a preamp section. Along with JJ E-34L's, you can't go wrong. Those are what I use in 2 of my amps, and they beat a lot of other combos, including some NOS stuff.

 

[fretburner]

Re: Just Retubed my Amp...WOW!!!!

I am relatively new to tube amps (owned my Tremoverb for just over a year now) and never realized how much different tubes affect tone. When I received the amp it had relatively new (so I was told) Mesa 6L6's and Sovtek 12AX7WB's in it. I found it very cold so swapped the 6L6's for some JJ E34L's. This was the exact change the amp needed. I thought it sounded much better. So in the past year I have been practising with my band and recently gigging quite frequently and noticed my amp losing the power/volume it once had and also degrading in it's general tone. So I decided to do a complete retube. I swapped the Sovteks for some 9th Gen Chinese 12AX7's and got a new set of JJ E34L's (after much deliberation about trying the new JJ KT77's). All I can say is WOW!!!! This amp is a tone monster now. The power/volume has returned, as well as much tighter, more defined bass. The tone in general is also much improved. It's the best $150 I've spent in a little while.

I may still grab a quad of those KT77's and give them a whirl.

dude, you swapped changed the 6L6s with EL34s yourself? how difficult was it?

 

[Lee Bob]

Re: Just Retubed my Amp...WOW!!!!

dude, you swapped changed the 6L6s with EL34s yourself? how difficult was it?

With the Dual Recto's or Tremoverbs you can run either 6L6's or EL34's. There is a switch on the back that basically changes the bias based on tube type you've selected.

 

[Foeburner]

Re: Just Retubed my Amp...WOW!!!!

With the Dual Recto's or Tremoverbs you can run either 6L6's or EL34's. There is a switch on the back that basically changes the bias based on tube type you've selected.

It's great feature when you get tired to your sound!

 

[Lee Bob]

Re: Just Retubed my Amp...WOW!!!!

Those 9th Gen Chinese 12AX7's (12AX7C's) really do a lot to tighten up a preamp section. Along with JJ E-34L's, you can't go wrong. Those are what I use in 2 of my amps, and they beat a lot of other combos, including some NOS stuff.

I basically decided to go with the Chinese tubes based on your tube shoot out you did. It was definitely a great choice. I had godly tone at my gig last night. Much smoother, yet no less gnarly gain. Thanks GJ