Oh look another preamp tube thread...

[Photoneshop121]

This is probably a constant question, but I'm looking to replace the stock 12ax7 tubes in my amp. The amp in question is a Randall RD5 head, with two preamp tube slots. I'm looking for more low end and lower mid grunt, or even just a touch more fatness. However, the main thing I'm looking for is more saturation and distortion. Currently, I'm looking at TAD 7025 and 12AX7A-C, as well as JJ NN003 and Sovtek 12AX7WB tubes. What I'd like is for either recommendations, or for predictions as to what each of these tubes would do to the overall distorted sound.

Thanks

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Oh look another preamp tube thread...

Electro Harmonix will do it.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Oh look another preamp tube thread...

Yeah..ehx is a good choice.

Id shy away from the shugang a/b/c as well as the sovteks.I am not a fan of JJ 83s' either. I replace them as soon as I can. I find all of them flat and boring.

Svetlana would be another good choice (it, along with the new tung-sol is related to the ehx) but I am not familiar with the TADs.

 

[Wormhelmet]

Re: Oh look another preamp tube thread...

Awww, just put some solid state tubes in and forget about replacing ever again the rest of the amps life

http://amtelectronics.com/products/...armstone-12ax7-tubes-solid-state-equivalents/

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Oh look another preamp tube thread...

Awww, just put some solid state tubes in and forget about replacing ever again the rest of the amps life

http://amtelectronics.com/products/...armstone-12ax7-tubes-solid-state-equivalents/

I hate those things. They might not be able to tell the different but I can. They have a very different feel to how they respond to the guitar signal. Things like pick attack feel like they have a condom over them when you use those.

 

[Wormhelmet]

Re: Oh look another preamp tube thread...

I hate those things. They might not be able to tell the different but I can. They have a very different feel to how they respond to the guitar signal. Things like pick attack feel like they have a condom over them when you use those.

You have tried AMT's specifically? Which amp?

I'm curious because I've only seen one try them in a Marshall and all he could tell was volume slightly lower.

Oh, and I shoulda put a winking smiley there. Just mostly joking around on that post. I don't think anyone really into tubes around this forum would go for fake tubes. I would, but thats because I am a die hard AMT fan and weird like that anyway.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Oh look another preamp tube thread...

Ive had them in my JCA100 and my Laboga Mr Hector, 66 black face bassman and my 18 watt Marshall clone. Also tried them in my friends Crate club 50 or whatever it was.

They hide better in higher gain circuits but become really apparent in low gain glassy ones. I have 3 of the AMT ones I also bought a set of the Jet city ones in red green and blue. I wound up giving away the warmstone ones and kept the retrovalves and threw them into gig first aid bag. Only because they will live life being bounced around in a bag full of tools better than a traditional tube would. In a pinch they will get you by but compared to a good tube they miss the mark a bit.

 

[Wormhelmet]

Re: Oh look another preamp tube thread...

Thanks for the reply. Interesting. I guess I'll just stick with the AMT stuff that is designed as solid state from ground up exclusively by AMT. Great idea about spares in a pinch though.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Oh look another preamp tube thread...

They arent bad they just arent as good.. yet.. someday they could well be. Right now I dont play so much that I have 12ax7's die all the time, and tubes arent so expensive yet that replacing 3 or 4 a year is cost prohibitive, though in the future this might change.

The guy I gave the amt's to did sorta my same trick but he doesnt carry a first aid bag so he put his amt in the reverb driver slot. There it makes no difference all in tone. Reverb circuits are usually tolerant of microphonic tubes so if he has a tube go bad he knows he has one in the reverb slot that he can swap in and make it go away.


I wouldnt be happy with them in gain stages or PI slots but in other places they could be useful to someone who wants increased reliability.

 

[Shooter.556]

Re: Oh look another preamp tube thread...

I put some Tung Sol Gold Pins in my old Blackstar and they woke that amp up.
That fizzy gain was gone.
I have Rubys in my EVH and they are nice too. I doubt I ever experiment with tubes on that amp because I like the way it sounds so much.

 

[Photoneshop121]

Re: Oh look another preamp tube thread...

Thanks for the responses, I've decided now to buy 4 or 5 different tubes and try out combinations of each. I'm going for TAD Rt001 and Rt030 7025 tubes, an Ehx 12ax7 and a Tung sol NN099, however I might also get a Sovtek 12ax7wb as well. It might be a bit before I get them because I've just upgraded most of my rig with new pickups and a new cab (sounds great now, just looking to see if I can squeeze some warmer/dirtier sounds out and use less preamp gain), but I'll try and get those for sure and compare them all.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Oh look another preamp tube thread...

What you're looking for is the Ruby 12AX7AC5 HG+, whether you know it or not. Thank me whenever.