Tube Question - EL84s and 12AX_s

[Corbic]

Hey all, have two questions to ask you all today:

Well, first off, I'm not sure if it's time to replace the tubes in my amp or not. Heres the situation: I use the amp at least once a week about halfway or more up on the volume, sometimes twice a week, and I bring it around to places. At home when I'm playing, the only outlet I can hook it up to uses a wall switch. So sometimes I leave the amp on standby, and go into the other room to get something, and despite me telling them not to do this, the rest of my family turns off the lights in that room and shuts off the amp, and shuts it on constantly.

First off, yes I am finding a new place for it, switching around some of the furniture in my room so I can get to a better outlet. Now, I've noticed the amp has become a lot quieter than normal. I have to turn it up higher to get my desired volume. And in turn, the treble becomes unmanageable. Even with the treble rolled off on the amp, it's too bright and piercing even using the neck pickup of my Strat (if I turn the tone down I get no definition with the notes, so thats out).

So now, my question is, is it time for new tubes? And if so, can you suggest some that will have less treble to them? I was probably going to get JJ EL84s, as they are recommended by nearly everyone around here. But preamp-wise, I'm not sure what to get. Like I said, I want something with less treble then normal, but don't want to go to a lower gain tube (Though that might be a fun experiment in the future...but not for now). Any suggestions would be really appreciated guys, thanks!

-Corbic

 

[paytojt]

Re: Tube Question - EL84s and 12AX_s

I use JJ power and Sovtek LPS preamp. The LPS's are Sovtek's best from my experience. They are better, but for the money I don't think you can go wrong with that setup.

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: Tube Question - EL84s and 12AX_s

If you want a warmer/darker preamp tube, JJ's are a good choice. Try experimenting with V1 first (that's the first tube in the preamp) - it'll have the most effect on your tone.

JJ EL-84s are also good if you want "less treble than normal". The Ei EL-84s still have plenty of high-mids, but no ice pick like some other EL-84s. They also have a really smooth breakup in my Fender...

Do a search here and in The Vault for both 12AX7 and EL-84. You'll find as many opinions as there are guitarists Seriously, experimenting with different tubes is very worthwhile - each amp and each player have a tube set that works for them.

Chip

 

[Gunny47]

Re: Tube Question - EL84s and 12AX_s

+1 for JJs in the small EL84 combos. I've tried a lot that is out there and I always went with the JJs in the preamp and power section of my Gibson GA5 combo for the fattest, warmest tone.

 

[1ManGarageBand]

Re: Tube Question - EL84s and 12AX_s

The 60's British guitarists liked Telefunken tubes because they brightened up Marshall/Vox amps ("top-boost" was another solution to the problem). I, like you, have the opposite problem: guitar/amps too bright. After trying hundreds of tubes I now use ONLY vintage Mullard tubes. JJ's sound more like Telefunken than Mullard to me. An added bonus is that Mullard tubes are the best sounding tubes for guitar ever made.

 

[bigbob]

Re: Tube Question - EL84s and 12AX_s

The JJ ECC803's are a rounder, more midrangey sounding tube with good bass also. I compare them to my vintage RCA 7025/12AX7A's. They can be microphonic in combos but so far I have been able to use them as long as I don't blast my Fender hot rod on 10. They are my favorite new production tube, never trebly or harsh.

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Tube Question - EL84s and 12AX_s

I've been very happy over the years with Groove Tubes 12AX7's and their EL84S tubes. Great tone.

 

[Christobevii3]

Re: Tube Question - EL84s and 12AX_s

You have a crate v32, which is what i have. I put all jj's in once and it was sooo dark it was sickening.

For preamps i recommend 2x JJ 12ax7 and 1xEH 12ax7. That gave me the best combination of sound between the tubes i have. I put the EH in the middle or the slot opposite of the power switch for optimal results.

For power tubes, i really haven't noticed a difference between them yet

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Tube Question - EL84s and 12AX_s

You have a crate v32, which is what i have. I put all jj's in once and it was sooo dark it was sickening.

For preamps i recommend 2x JJ 12ax7 and 1xEH 12ax7. That gave me the best combination of sound between the tubes i have. I put the EH in the middle or the slot opposite of the power switch for optimal results.

For power tubes, i really haven't noticed a difference between them yet

I've got a Crate VC5212 and the GT's make it sing really nicely. I use a rating of 5 or less for the power tubes (in terms of break up).

 

[Ascension]

Re: Tube Question - EL84s and 12AX_s

On the EL 84's the JJ's are as good as it gets for new production. On the JJ 12AX7 preamp tubes I can't stand um. To me they are dull, lifeless, mushy and have NO tone at all in any amp I have ever tried them in. The EH's, Tungsols, Shunghangs even a Sovetec WA + ANY NOS 12AX7 sounds better to me than a JJ 12AX7. That goes for both the ECC83 and the 803. The ONLY place I have been pleased with a JJ in the preamp is the PI. I have a Tungsol in V-1 on my Marshall JCM 2000 TSL 60 and 80's production Shunghangs in the rest. Real NOS Mullard CV 4024 12AU7's are in my Prosonic in V-1 & 2 a NOS GE 6201 in V4 for the verb driver and a JJ V-5 for the PI can't remember what currently is in V-3.
I like the JJ 6L6' and EL84's power tubes a lot along with the JJ Rec tubes I have tried just not the preamp tubes.
Check out Doug Preston over at http://www.dougstubes.com/ for a solid selection of NOS and new production at fair prices and with good CS.
If you want JJ's I have a bunch of ECC83's I got from Bob at Eurotube in retube kits for my Prosonic and old Carvin X100B they went in and came right back out.

 

[Corbic]

Re: Tube Question - EL84s and 12AX_s

Thanks for all the advice guys, I'm going to be going with the JJ EL84 tubes definetly, thanks for the help on that.

On preamp tubes I'm still a bit undecided though. I think I want to go with a 12AX7 tube in V1, but I'm wondering now how would something like a 12AY7 (tweed amp tube from what I remember) affect the overall sound of my Crate? Would there be less gain, or specifically preamp gain? Would it allow me to crank my amp easier or get a more power tube distortion focused sound instead of the fizzy sound my amp can make sometimes now?

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Tube Question - EL84s and 12AX_s

Thanks for all the advice guys, I'm going to be going with the JJ EL84 tubes definetly, thanks for the help on that.

On preamp tubes I'm still a bit undecided though. I think I want to go with a 12AX7 tube in V1, but I'm wondering now how would something like a 12AY7 (tweed amp tube from what I remember) affect the overall sound of my Crate? Would there be less gain, or specifically preamp gain? Would it allow me to crank my amp easier or get a more power tube distortion focused sound instead of the fizzy sound my amp can make sometimes now?

I think you'll get better gain from the 12AX7. Stick with them.

 

[James Rock]

Re: Tube Question - EL84s and 12AX_s

JJ's sound more like Telefunken than Mullard to me. An added bonus is that Mullard tubes are the best sounding tubes for guitar ever made.

I loved the sound of the groove tube mullard reissue they were alot better then jj's but the problem was ALL of them rattled straight away! And at volumes nearly as loud as the amp! (Pro junior set on the edge but still quite clean about 4.5/5 on the volume with single coils)