preamp tube combos in DSL 40

[tman]

Hey guys question I have 4 preamp tubes in my Marshall DSL40 and they were all stock JJ's which dont sound bad,but I went ahead and swapped some preamp tubes out, and in V-1 I have a TAD7025WA.In V-2 I have a Mullard RI cv-4004 12ax7 in V-3 I have a JJ and in V-4(PI) I have a Sovtek 12ax7LPS. It sounds good but a little to bright I think I want to warm it up a tad so should I put a JJ back in V-2 position do you think??? Will this warm it back up?

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: preamp tube combos in DSL 40

Possibly. You could also try it in V1.

Bill

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: preamp tube combos in DSL 40

Hey guys question I have 4 preamp tubes in my Marshall DSL40 and they were all stock JJ's which dont sound bad,but I went ahead and swapped some preamp tubes out, and in V-1 I have a TAD7025WA.In V-2 I have a Mullard RI cv-4004 12ax7 in V-3 I have a JJ and in V-4(PI) I have a Sovtek 12ax7LPS. It sounds good but a little to bright I think I want to warm it up a tad so should I put a JJ back in V-2 position do you think??? Will this warm it back up?

(Disclosure: I don't have the DSL40; I have a JCM900 and a JTM45 clone.) But I would try the Mullard CV4004 in V1. Although I have a TAD 12AX7A-C and out of the 10-15 different 12AX7 types I have, both NOS and new, the TAD sounds the closest to my original International-branded Mullard 10M, very warm, smooth and turns any amp into a beautiful vintage-sounding amp. So I'm surprised the TAD 7025 is bright.

 

[tman]

Re: preamp tube combos in DSL 40

Well maybe bright wasnt the right word it is warm maybe just seems brighter cuz it really ups the volume to my ears. But it is smooth but not as warm as I want it.So I took the Mullard out of V-2 and replaced it with a JJ and it darkened it a bit now it has a good combination between the TAD and the JJ.Actually have JJ in V-2/V-3 and a sovtek 12ax7LPS in (PI) V-4 I think this is a good combo now.

 

[Hank-]

Re: preamp tube combos in DSL 40

You could start with lps in the v4 & jjs in rest of the spots. Then try using either tad or mullard cv in various spots from v1 to v3, till the brightness/liveliness is where you want it. The cv was probably costlier of the bunch, see if you can find a place for it in the preamp, maybe surprisingly in v4 spot too.

 

[ken361]

Re: preamp tube combos in DSL 40

I use a tungsol in the v1 v2 JJ 803 its a tad warmer then most. v3 Gold lion v4 Sylvania!! get a Slyvania off ebay long plate Baldwin tubes there smooth and warm! out of a bunch I tried the Slyvania baldwin won!

 

[tman]

Re: preamp tube combos in DSL 40

Ive left it at TAD 7025 WA in V-1/JJ V-2/V-3 Sovtek 12AX7 LPS V-4 sounds good like that for now lol until I get bored of that sound