Gtrjunior
New member
Re: V1 12ax7 suggestions for Marshall TSL 60
You sent me down the tube rolling rabbit hole today!! Lol
You sent me down the tube rolling rabbit hole today!! Lol
V1 12ax7 suggestions for Marshall TSL 60
- Thread starter HyBr1d
- Start date
GilmourD
Burritotoneologist
Re: V1 12ax7 suggestions for Marshall TSL 60
I'd never actually heard that, but I guess it makes sense. I just really, REALLY like them. They're a long-plate design, so they're typically not good in combos where they're hanging upside down behind the speaker, but in a Marshall head...
HyBr1d
New member
Re: V1 12ax7 suggestions for Marshall TSL 60
Beaubrummels Thank you very much for the compliment! Tbh, I’ve found that the iPhone 7Plus does a pretty darn good job at recording! Really does well with distortion as well, doesn’t seem to “overwhelm” the recorder and I guess the correct term would be making the recorder clip? And to Gtrjunior, here are the preamp tubes I pulled out of the amp
The non EI tube was under the shield, and from what I’ve seen,that’s the v1 spot...I have no idea how I’d go about determining if the EI tubes are still good, since I’m not a tech, I don’t have access to the special “tube checker” hardware...It’s weird because if heard the EI 12ax7s can either be like “Holy Grail” tubes, or complete crap tubes! I’m not sure how one would be able to tell the difference(well, without putting each one in v1 one at a time...) Was curious as to why you think it’d be good for v3,, which I think u and others have said is the phase inverter...? I was planning on putting the nos Mullard CV4004 in v1 and the Gold Lion in v3...Hoping that ends up being a winning combination! Haha now I’m going to have to figure out what to do with the 2 Reissue Mullard CV4004s that I’ll be taking out...Could possibly put one in a Blackstar HT5 Metal, and the other in v1 of a Peavey 6505+...Thought about putting them in a Supro Coronado combo I just got, but access to the tubes seems really difficult...And from what the layout said, v1 is for channel a, v2 is for channel B, and then there is a phase inverter...So don’t think it’d make sense to screw around with that amp Since v1 doesn’t effect the entire circuit like it does in most amps...I’m waiting on the tubes to arrive today, very excited! I’ll get to a video once they have a chance to be used a little(like a day or two) and then decide whether to keep the nos in v1, or try switching it up and putting the Gold Lion in v1 and the nos in v3. And it’d b interesting if those eI tubes turned out to be something really special! I have my doubts since the amp was either a 99 or 2000, so not an older Soviet Era tube...But who knows, I doubt it’s possible to really tell from a picture, but maybe someone will notice something I’m missing!
Thanks everyone for all the great advice and guidance!!
Beaubrummels Thank you very much for the compliment! Tbh, I’ve found that the iPhone 7Plus does a pretty darn good job at recording! Really does well with distortion as well, doesn’t seem to “overwhelm” the recorder and I guess the correct term would be making the recorder clip? And to Gtrjunior, here are the preamp tubes I pulled out of the amp
The non EI tube was under the shield, and from what I’ve seen,that’s the v1 spot...I have no idea how I’d go about determining if the EI tubes are still good, since I’m not a tech, I don’t have access to the special “tube checker” hardware...It’s weird because if heard the EI 12ax7s can either be like “Holy Grail” tubes, or complete crap tubes! I’m not sure how one would be able to tell the difference(well, without putting each one in v1 one at a time...) Was curious as to why you think it’d be good for v3,, which I think u and others have said is the phase inverter...? I was planning on putting the nos Mullard CV4004 in v1 and the Gold Lion in v3...Hoping that ends up being a winning combination! Haha now I’m going to have to figure out what to do with the 2 Reissue Mullard CV4004s that I’ll be taking out...Could possibly put one in a Blackstar HT5 Metal, and the other in v1 of a Peavey 6505+...Thought about putting them in a Supro Coronado combo I just got, but access to the tubes seems really difficult...And from what the layout said, v1 is for channel a, v2 is for channel B, and then there is a phase inverter...So don’t think it’d make sense to screw around with that amp Since v1 doesn’t effect the entire circuit like it does in most amps...I’m waiting on the tubes to arrive today, very excited! I’ll get to a video once they have a chance to be used a little(like a day or two) and then decide whether to keep the nos in v1, or try switching it up and putting the Gold Lion in v1 and the nos in v3. And it’d b interesting if those eI tubes turned out to be something really special! I have my doubts since the amp was either a 99 or 2000, so not an older Soviet Era tube...But who knows, I doubt it’s possible to really tell from a picture, but maybe someone will notice something I’m missing!
Thanks everyone for all the great advice and guidance!!
Re: V1 12ax7 suggestions for Marshall TSL 60
I wouldn't call the EI's "holy grail" but they weren't bad if you got good ones. Unfortunately, EI's QC stunk and plenty of bad ones made it through. I have a few good ones myself. Those were made on old Telefunken tooling by the way. Which means absolutely nothing if the materials, workmanship and QC stinks. Those look like earlier ones (but post war). They later went to silver plates and I don't think they still made the gray plates afterward. Without a tester, you have no real way of knowing where they stand in terms of specs, but I wouldn't toss them. If they work and they are quiet and you like the tone, it's all that really matters. You may want to revisit them down the road. You never know.
I wouldn't call the EI's "holy grail" but they weren't bad if you got good ones. Unfortunately, EI's QC stunk and plenty of bad ones made it through. I have a few good ones myself. Those were made on old Telefunken tooling by the way. Which means absolutely nothing if the materials, workmanship and QC stinks. Those look like earlier ones (but post war). They later went to silver plates and I don't think they still made the gray plates afterward. Without a tester, you have no real way of knowing where they stand in terms of specs, but I wouldn't toss them. If they work and they are quiet and you like the tone, it's all that really matters. You may want to revisit them down the road. You never know.
Last edited:
Gtrjunior
New member
V1 12ax7 suggestions for Marshall TSL 60
As mentioned above, the Ei tubes were indeed made from the same tooling that Telefunken tubes were made from.
A couple of years ago, I saw on Doug’s tubes website that the Ei were good for the PI. I emailed him and asked why....he said that that the majority of these tubes that were available were likely microphonic, which would make them no good for gain stages but still very usable for the PI.
I actually have one in my Marshall 2204 in the PI, works great there. Doesn’t do all that much tone wise, but seems to give the amp a good “feel”.
As mentioned above, the Ei tubes were indeed made from the same tooling that Telefunken tubes were made from.
A couple of years ago, I saw on Doug’s tubes website that the Ei were good for the PI. I emailed him and asked why....he said that that the majority of these tubes that were available were likely microphonic, which would make them no good for gain stages but still very usable for the PI.
I actually have one in my Marshall 2204 in the PI, works great there. Doesn’t do all that much tone wise, but seems to give the amp a good “feel”.
HyBr1d
New member
Re: V1 12ax7 suggestions for Marshall TSL 60
Moment of truth! Trying out, firstly, the nos Mullard in v1 and the Genalex in v2. Gonna try that for like a day to give some time to get used to the sound, then may try switching the Genalex around to different slots, starting with the slot right next to the power tubes....Could be perfect as is, but won’t know anything unless I try switching things around! I’ll take a vid tomorrow, unless for some reason one of the tubes are bad, or if it just sounds horrible for some reason...Gonna screw the back plate back on and fire this puppy up and see what it’s like!
Moment of truth! Trying out, firstly, the nos Mullard in v1 and the Genalex in v2. Gonna try that for like a day to give some time to get used to the sound, then may try switching the Genalex around to different slots, starting with the slot right next to the power tubes....Could be perfect as is, but won’t know anything unless I try switching things around! I’ll take a vid tomorrow, unless for some reason one of the tubes are bad, or if it just sounds horrible for some reason...Gonna screw the back plate back on and fire this puppy up and see what it’s like!
HyBr1d
New member
Re: V1 12ax7 suggestions for Marshall TSL 60
Wow, things sounded so good after I fired it up that I just started recording!!
I’m not that great at explaining sound, but I definitely think the amp sounds better now than it did with the 4 Reissue CV4004s...Not that the amp sounded bad with them, it’s just at a different level now! And there’s definitely a new feeling of dynamics on the lead channel...Didn’t really realize it as I was making the vid, but afterwards when I plugged in my Tele...Light picking, less distortion and edge...Not something I’m used to on the lead channel! Really nice for lead play, allowing you to give just the right notes the extra “bite” they need or could use! Very grateful to everyone who has responded and helped guide me and give advice and lend their knowledge! I’m going to hold off on doing anything with the EI’s for the time being, as I’m pretty darn happy with how things have turned out
Maybe in a week or two, might switch up the Genalex and put it in v3 or 4, and put the Reissue CV4004 that I’d take out into v2...Just to see if there’s any different “feel” or a difference in gain and tone! Just tweaking things around! Also tempted to just try the Genalex in v1 just for the hell of it...but no real point because if I like it more, then what the heck to do with the NOS tube!�� would seem to be a waste to have it anywhere other than v1!
Would be really interesting if I, or someone, has two tsl 60’s...It’d be expensive as all hell, but I’d love to hear what kind of a difference in tone there could be if in one amps preamp you put all NOS Mullards, and in the other amps preamp put all Genalex Gold Lions! KT77s for the output tubes, I’m really loving them! But have everything identical except for the preamp tube type...That would be a really fun A/B to hear!!
Thanks for everyone’s input! I’ll try some other positions for the Genalex in the future, but right now it’s sounding pretty darn good in v2! If anyone hears things differently from me, let me know...It’s always interesting and informative to hear other takes and opinions!!
Wow, things sounded so good after I fired it up that I just started recording!!
I’m not that great at explaining sound, but I definitely think the amp sounds better now than it did with the 4 Reissue CV4004s...Not that the amp sounded bad with them, it’s just at a different level now! And there’s definitely a new feeling of dynamics on the lead channel...Didn’t really realize it as I was making the vid, but afterwards when I plugged in my Tele...Light picking, less distortion and edge...Not something I’m used to on the lead channel! Really nice for lead play, allowing you to give just the right notes the extra “bite” they need or could use! Very grateful to everyone who has responded and helped guide me and give advice and lend their knowledge! I’m going to hold off on doing anything with the EI’s for the time being, as I’m pretty darn happy with how things have turned out
Maybe in a week or two, might switch up the Genalex and put it in v3 or 4, and put the Reissue CV4004 that I’d take out into v2...Just to see if there’s any different “feel” or a difference in gain and tone! Just tweaking things around! Also tempted to just try the Genalex in v1 just for the hell of it...but no real point because if I like it more, then what the heck to do with the NOS tube!�� would seem to be a waste to have it anywhere other than v1! Would be really interesting if I, or someone, has two tsl 60’s...It’d be expensive as all hell, but I’d love to hear what kind of a difference in tone there could be if in one amps preamp you put all NOS Mullards, and in the other amps preamp put all Genalex Gold Lions! KT77s for the output tubes, I’m really loving them! But have everything identical except for the preamp tube type...That would be a really fun A/B to hear!!
Thanks for everyone’s input! I’ll try some other positions for the Genalex in the future, but right now it’s sounding pretty darn good in v2! If anyone hears things differently from me, let me know...It’s always interesting and informative to hear other takes and opinions!!