Tubes to warm up a "dry" and clattery amp.

[ItsaBass]

Hi,

I have this Ampeg 100W Super Rocket 2x12 100W combo that I am finding too dry and clattery. It gets going a bit better after about 15 to 20 minutes of playing at high volume, but still leaves something to be desired. It sounds, gasp, "solid statey." Very reminiscent of the '60's Vox solid state amps.

I got it basically NOS, so it was not broken in much at all. The fresh V30 speakers probably have something to do with the tone. I have only put about 4 or 5 hours of play on them. Usually a rig with all V30's is too barky and dry for me, especially when they are not broken in. (I like a V30 mixed with some other speaker, if at all.)

However, I also looked inside, and it has GT 6L6's, which I believe are Chinese or Russian, and it has M.I.R. preamp tubes (could not see the brand, and they were still hot when I looked, so I did not pull them to check). Any reasonable chance that a simple pre-amp tube swap would warm up my sound? If so, what is a good choice?

Someone mentioned that JJs are known for darkening an amp. However, I don't really want to add low end. This amp has low end in spades. I just want to "moisten" the sound and soften up the attack and clatteriness.

Also, if there is any way to put in a tube that will increase the reverb effect, I'd like to do that as well. It's weak on this amp compared to most Ampegs.

Thank you!

 

[trevorus]

Re: Tubes to warm up a "dry" and clattery amp.

I'd say part of the problem might be it's 100 watts. It's hard to get the tubes really working without getting monstrously loud. For power tubes, I do like JJ's. Preamp tubes, Sovtek Long plates are pretty good. They may be a little microphonic in a combo, though. There is also Tung-Sol, but they seem to react differently in different amps, IME. I've been wanting to try some TAD tubes too...

Is the tube reverb driven? A tube reverb is usually served well by a 12AT7. The tank could also be switched out for one with longer/more springs.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Tubes to warm up a "dry" and clattery amp.

The short bottle TAD 6L6WGC or something like that might help power tube wise. Modding it for 6V6 or 5881 might be better.

If the pre tubes are sovtek 12AX7WA or WB or whatever, yeah, that's what those sound like (crap). I would start by swapping those, at least with a Chinese tube, anything is better than those.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: Tubes to warm up a "dry" and clattery amp.

if you can bias it a little hotter you might be able to get a little more sag and warmth.

but mostly I bet you're just gonna have to break in those speakers the good ol fashioned way and that'll get you there.

also, I feel like JJ 12ax7s don't add more bass, it's just a subtle high end roll-off with some more midrange. You might like them.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Tubes to warm up a "dry" and clattery amp.

The short bottle TAD 6L6WGC or something like that might help power tube wise. Modding it for 6V6 or 5881 might be better.

If the pre tubes are sovtek 12AX7WA or WB or whatever, yeah, that's what those sound like (crap). I would start by swapping those, at least with a Chinese tube, anything is better than those.

You called it. I checked, and they are Sovtek 12AX7WA.

Don't get me wrong; I want the amp to be loud as hell and have some headroom. I know what 100W amps sound like. My main amp was a V4 for some time (still have it), and I used to have a JCM900 100W Dual Reverb as well. I got this amp because I need a "sleeper" half stack killer sometimes. I'm plenty familiar with the cleanliness of a Twin too, as I used to borrow one. I know this is more than just an overly clean amp due to having too much headroom.

I love the way my Jet II sounds. I just checked those tubes, and they are Electro Harmonix made in Russia preamp tubes (Are they re-labelled Sovteks?), and JJ power tubes (EL84).

 

[Binnerscot]

Re: Tubes to warm up a "dry" and clattery amp.

Yup, those Sovteks are nasty. EHX, Tung-Sols, and others would serve you better. JJ preamps tube are decent, but they are darker...they work well for a bright, thin amp.