New tubes for Hot Rod Deluxe

[Guitar Guy]

I need to replace the tubes in my hot rod deluxe and the consensus seems to be that JJs are the best tubes out there. I have been looking at the eurotubes website and they have a bunch of re-tube sets to choose from. Any suggestions on which to get? I'm leaning toward the clean-high gain with 6L6s.

My other question is whether or not i should replace them myself. I watched the videos on how to bias and it doesn't seem too difficult.

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: New tubes for Hot Rod Deluxe

it's not hard to bias, if you know what you're doing

but yeah jj's would be good

in my opinion though, you should get power tubes that'll break up soon and pre's that'll stay pretty clean. The drive channels will work your pre's as hard as you want to, so it's advisable to keep the front end relatively clean until you kick on the drive

in my opinion, anyways

i'd go 12at7 in v1, then 12ax7's in V2 and the PI

 

[Farkus]

Re: New tubes for Hot Rod Deluxe

I dig JJ's in my Fenders, that's for sure. I ring up Bob over at Eurotubes and he asks me what my tonal needs are and sells me the right tubes for the application. Whoever you get them from, it's always helpful to be able to talk to a seller that provides some service, so I suggest you find someone who'll talk to you about what you're after.

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: New tubes for Hot Rod Deluxe

I have no personal vendetta against Bob from Eurotubes ( I Imagine he is a cool guy, And knowledgeable) But he sells only one brand... JJ's. Again I have no problem with JJ's. They offer a good product at a reasonable price. My point is there are other options in the new production tube world, Such as the TAD long bottle 6L6s and the new production Tung-Sol 5881. As far as pre-tubes I highly recommend the (NP) Tung-Sol 12AX7. With my HRD, Because I slam the pre-amp with a SFX-03 I use in VI) TS12AX7 V2)NOS 12AT7 V3) NOS 5751. My power tubes are old Fender USA 6L6's that are just about dead.When I have the $$ I'll be replacing them with TAD long Bottles.:approve:

 

[Guitar Guy]

Re: New tubes for Hot Rod Deluxe

I have heard some things about some JJ pre amp tubes becoming microphonic very quickly.

 

[Farkus]

Re: New tubes for Hot Rod Deluxe

I have heard some things about some JJ pre amp tubes becoming microphonic very quickly.

I haven't had that problem per se. I will say that it's a good idea to try a few different tubes if you have some cash available for it. Most times a tube change is a subtle difference, but I've been really surprised a few times. So, try to experiment. It seems that in my Fenders the V1 tube makes the most difference, so I'd start there if I were you.

Good luck!

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: New tubes for Hot Rod Deluxe

Why do you "need" to replace your tubes? Has one or more gone bad, or are you looking for a different sound and/or gain from the amp?

+1 on Eurotubes being a one-trick pony. JJ tubes are just the ticket for a lot of amps/players, but it's worth experimenting IMHO. Just buy one of each 12AX7 and swap 'em in and out of V1 - that's where you'll hear the most difference.

Matched pairs of output tubes make perfect sense IMHO, but the "Full Re-Tube" kit concept is simply brilliant marketing. Seriously, buy a few 12AX7s and try to hear any difference between tubes in the later preamp stages. It depends on the amp (and your ears), but you just don't need to replace the full tube complement wholesale. Buy a variety of 2, 3 or 4 12AX7s and experiment. That way you'll find your sound.

Out of current production 12AX7 tubes, JJ, Tung Sol, Shuguang (9th generation Chinese), and Electro Harmonix are all worth checking out.

BTW the "balanced" 12AX7 for the phase inverter spot may also be more marketing than reality. No phase inverter circuit is perfectly matched before you even consider the tube(s). However, if one triode has a mu of 96 and the other triode puts out 105, that could be a problem. There doesn't seem to be a "right" answer on this subject.

I don't have much experience with different types of output tubes, but it's my understanding that JJ 6V6s are built in a slightly different way than vintage allowing them to handle higher voltages. They're also supposed to sound closer to a 6L6 than a true 6V6 does. All of that might be great for you and your amp...

I've had good experiences with Doug's Tubes, but there are other outfits that really know guitar amps and sell a variety of brands too.

Hope this helps,

Chip

 

[GandLMan]

Re: New tubes for Hot Rod Deluxe

Def JJ's, I put them in my deluxe, and loved how it sounded!

 

[metlking]

Re: New tubes for Hot Rod Deluxe

I don't like JJ preamp tubes.......The JJ powertubes seem fine but wouldn't be MY first choice. I've tried them all and I like the reissue TUNG-SOL 12AX7 the best as far a preamp tubes go. I stopped looking for the ultimate (new production) pre-tube when I bought those.

 

[Guitar Guy]

Re: New tubes for Hot Rod Deluxe

Why do you "need" to replace your tubes? Has one or more gone bad, or are you looking for a different sound and/or gain from the amp?

Yeah, the power tubes are going bad and all the tubes are really old.

 

[Mononoaware]

Re: New tubes for Hot Rod Deluxe

I don't like JJ preamp tubes.......The JJ powertubes seem fine but wouldn't be MY first choice. I've tried them all and I like the reissue TUNG-SOL 12AX7 the best as far a preamp tubes go. I stopped looking for the ultimate (new production) pre-tube when I bought those.

+1 on the Tung Sol 12AX7. Creamy and singing under distortion. Not as aggressive and focused as, say, the higher-gain Chinese 12AX7's, but very musical.

Also, the tubes that Fresh_Start mentioned are probably a great place to start mixing and matching. I'd probably add the Sovtek 12AX7LPS to that list; another good high-gain pre.

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: New tubes for Hot Rod Deluxe

TAD WC-STR Longbottles, hands down.

 

[mi_canuck]

Re: New tubes for Hot Rod Deluxe

newb question - but how long before the tubes in my Hot Rod Deluxe go bad? i bought it used (it's 98 according to the QC sticker - it's code 'IF')... so have no real idea if the tubes were ever replaced... which might make it hard to really tell when i'll need to replace them.

these are tubes:

cheers

 

[Guitar Guy]

Re: New tubes for Hot Rod Deluxe

Those are the same tubes that are in mine and they are at least 5 or 6 years old and they are just now starting to go bad. i think that fender biases them way cold so they last a long time. Properly biased tubes probably won't last as long but i is usually made up for in tone.

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: New tubes for Hot Rod Deluxe

newb question - but how long before the tubes in my Hot Rod Deluxe go bad? i bought it used (it's 98 according to the QC sticker - it's code 'IF')... so have no real idea if the tubes were ever replaced... which might make it hard to really tell when i'll need to replace them.

cheers

I've recently played a Blackface Princeton Reverb made about '65 and most, if not all, of the tubes appear to be original. OTOH the Fender/Sovtek EL-84s in my Blues Jr. crapped out after less than two years (that was when the tube quest began ) and the Mesa pair installed by an "expert" didn't even last half as long.

Power tubes are more likely to go bad than preamp tubes. If you run your amp full-out for hours on end and/or cut it off and immediately drop the amp, the tubes will tend to die sooner.

If I were you, I'd buy a new matched pair of ______ 6L6s for starters. A mixed bag of 12AX7s would be fun, but not essential unless you KNOW one of the preamp tubes is bad.

Cheers,

Chip