Think My Pro Reverb Ready For Some O Tubes?

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Think My Pro Reverb Ready For Some O Tubes?

Worth just getting a pair of JJ's. They sound good in that they give plenty of headroom, bass and warmth. They are not expensive, so if you decide to invest in some holy grail type NOS tubes, you know you will have a strong, reliable set of spares at a gig. I know you are a NOS/boutique tube fan, but it wont hurt to try them. I think youll be surprised.

A bit off topic tho: While you are messing with tubes....are you sure your PI tube is fine? Have you tested it? They get worked over pretty hard in big fender amps like yours.

Thanks for your posting forum brother! Actually I am re-evaluating the preamp tubes,and P.I. tube before actually pulling the plug on these wonderful RCAs...The amp just didn't sound right the other night(and normally it's the most consistent amp I Own)...Could be also a cable issue,so I'm in private eye mode at the moment...I need to see where my bias current is currently and check my plate voltages and do some poking around first..The amp sounded great pretty recently,so hopefully not the output tubes at all..

What is your current fave for the 12AT7 in your Fender stuff? I probably have a JAN Phillips in there now that I got from Hoffman several years ago...Could easily just pop another 12AT7 in there and see if the amp comes alive again?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Think My Pro Reverb Ready For Some O Tubes?

Cool! Are you familiar with the large bottled Ruby STR 6L6s I have shown above in the photos? I guess it was stated that Santana was using them in some of his amps?

Ruby doesn't make tubes, they only match then brand them...I used Ruby branded tubes a little in the 90's but not at all since then.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Think My Pro Reverb Ready For Some O Tubes?

Just taking sides in this...here is a vote against JJ tubes...

I find their preamp tubes too gainy, dark and un clear sounding and their power tubes just never have the punch I feel like quality tubes have.

The only good thing I can say for JJ tubes is that they are consistent...they consistently sound mediocre at best IMHO.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Think My Pro Reverb Ready For Some O Tubes?

Just taking sides in this...here is a vote against JJ tubes...

I find their preamp tubes too gainy, dark and un clear sounding and their power tubes just never have the punch I feel like quality tubes have.

The only good thing I can say for JJ tubes is that they are consistent...they consistently sound mediocre at best IMHO.

I've not cared for some of the JJ stuff either... None in my collection...My findings about these Ruby STR 6L6s...Chinese made in the spelling ? Shunang Factory...People like them and might be worth a try,but need to do some peeking around first as I'd like to keep the RCAs in place and hopefully not those tubes?

Could very well be a weak PI 12AT7? Cable issue,etc...?

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Think My Pro Reverb Ready For Some O Tubes?

Thanks for your posting forum brother! Actually I am re-evaluating the preamp tubes,and P.I. tube before actually pulling the plug on these wonderful RCAs...The amp just didn't sound right the other night(and normally it's the most consistent amp I Own)...Could be also a cable issue,so I'm in private eye mode at the moment...I need to see where my bias current is currently and check my plate voltages and do some poking around first..The amp sounded great pretty recently,so hopefully not the output tubes at all..

What is your current fave for the 12AT7 in your Fender stuff? I probably have a JAN Phillips in there now that I got from Hoffman several years ago...Could easily just pop another 12AT7 in there and see if the amp comes alive again?

Ive got EH in the PI of my twin and Tung Sol in my princeton. I blew out a JJ in the PI just recently, but i think i got a bad batch of at7s (mebbe they got dropped in the mail). To be honest ive never really messed too much with swapping different preamp tubes for tone apart from either getting a full new set, or changing V1/2 ( i like jjs in v1 in the twin and Tung sols in the princeton). So i guess im using EH cos i have a couple of strong new ones to use in the PI cos they have a reputation for reliability.

BUt yeh.....swap out your PI if you have a spare and at least see what happens.....

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Think My Pro Reverb Ready For Some O Tubes?

If the Blackplates are only 10 years old unless the amp has been gigged several times a week every week since they were new they are likely still good...

That's the biggest single difference in NOS tubes to me these days...lots of new tubes sound as good out of the box as the oldies but new tubes are good for a year or less in a lot of amps while the oldies just keep on going for 10+ years.

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: Think My Pro Reverb Ready For Some O Tubes?

I'm a fan of JJ tubes....in my modern high gain amps and that's it. My '67 Vibrolux...she's rockin' RCA for power a Mullard GZ34 and a mix of Telefunken and RCA for pre. No way I'd stick JJs in that one. I won't even consider them for power tubes in my JMP, that gets winged Cs.

Anyway for modern tubes for your pro the only ones I'd consider are Winged C or TAD.

I dread the day my Vibrolux needs tubes. Thankfully it's not my main amp and only gets used now and again.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Think My Pro Reverb Ready For Some O Tubes?

Ive got EH in the PI of my twin and Tung Sol in my princeton. I blew out a JJ in the PI just recently, but i think i got a bad batch of at7s (mebbe they got dropped in the mail). To be honest ive never really messed too much with swapping different preamp tubes for tone apart from either getting a full new set, or changing V1/2 ( i like jjs in v1 in the twin and Tung sols in the princeton). So i guess im using EH cos i have a couple of strong new ones to use in the PI cos they have a reputation for reliability.

BUt yeh.....swap out your PI if you have a spare and at least see what happens.....

Thanks for the 12AT7 tips..I have found the EH Preamp tubes to be reliable..

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Think My Pro Reverb Ready For Some O Tubes?

Thanks for the 12AT7 tips..I have found the EH Preamp tubes to be reliable..

I really love the EH 12AT7's...Bruce Collins turned me on to them a few years back and for me it's either those or NOS...

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Think My Pro Reverb Ready For Some O Tubes?

If the Blackplates are only 10 years old unless the amp has been gigged several times a week every week since they were new they are likely still good...

That's the biggest single difference in NOS tubes to me these days...lots of new tubes sound as good out of the box as the oldies but new tubes are good for a year or less in a lot of amps while the oldies just keep on going for 10+ years.

I rotate between this amp,My Marshall,and the Vox head,so you might be spot on Christian? Hope so anyway? Will try the quick and easy stuff first...Plugging straight in,cables,preamp tube,PI tube check etc...After that I can look at bias voltages/current and the other voltage readings and see what's up...

These RCAs have seen alot of gigging/practicing hours,but I don't feel like I had any warning,so something tells me it was something other than output tube issues...I never have any problems with this amp,it always sounds great,and has been very consistent for alot of years...Though I do take the best of care of all of my stuff... ;o)

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Think My Pro Reverb Ready For Some O Tubes?

I really love the EH 12AT7's...Bruce Collins turned me on to them a few years back and for me it's either those or NOS...

Ok great...I have alot of NOS 12AX7s but not 12AT7s...I like the EH 12AX7 and that's what has been in my Vox ToneLab LE from day 1...If you say the EH 12AT7s are good,then I will get a couple of em...

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Think My Pro Reverb Ready For Some O Tubes?

I plugged straight into this amp earlier and it seemed ok..No loss in the highs,maybe I sense a slight loss in volume,but the amp still seemed tight and like it was working ok..Probably not a bad idea,just to pop some new output tubes into it and see how it sounds and reacts...Can't say that I heard or experienced any problem with it though..

When I have more time,I'll try another PI tube and a new set of output tubes..