what do do about a thin sounding amp

[shogunlegend]

Re: what do do about a thin sounding amp

Mesa tubes are just rebranded Sovteks, so there would be no point in replacing them with more Sovteks. For 6L6GC's, it would be worth trying SED "Winged C's" for their beautiful harmonic complexity and depth. For 12AX7's, just try a few different brands and see what you like. There wouldn't be much point in going vintage in this amp because it would be voiced around current production tubes. Getting those Sovteks out of there should definitely help.



Cheers.............................wahwah

thanks, but i've oftend wondered what advantages/disadvantages there are to "winged" tubes. is there a price difference or something as well?

 

[cream123]

Re: what do do about a thin sounding amp

I have the JJ 6l6GCs in my Nomad 100 and a shaguang 12ax7 9th gen from doug's tubes (who is great to work with)

they really opened up/thickened this amp a lot. I love it now when, before, I didn't.

 

[wahwah]

Re: what do do about a thin sounding amp

thanks, but i've oftend wondered what advantages/disadvantages there are to "winged" tubes. is there a price difference or something as well?

No, it's just a reference to their logo, which is a "Winged C," meaning it is the letter "C" with wings on it. They are simply 6L6GC's, but made in the St Petersburgh factory, which has been there since the 1920's. They used to be called Svetlana, but New Sensor stole their name and used it for more rebranded Sovteks, so now they are known as SED's. They make some of the best current production tubes on the planet. Well worth a try.


Cheers...........................wahwah

 

[shogunlegend]

Re: what do do about a thin sounding amp

I have the JJ 6l6GCs in my Nomad 100 and a shaguang 12ax7 9th gen from doug's tubes (who is great to work with)

they really opened up/thickened this amp a lot. I love it now when, before, I didn't.

hey, i've heard about these shaguang tubes. they're supposed to be excellent, but i don't know anyone who can vouch for them yet. what do you guys think about them?

 

[cream123]

Re: what do do about a thin sounding amp

btw, the fixed bias thing...it means that you have one bias for each tube...but when you switch tube types..the bias will change enought that it will work...don't try different tube types without changing the bias.

also, el34s are fairly compressed, mesas are pretty compressed as well to begin with....I wouldn't spend money on el34s unless you find a pair cheap....you prolly find it too compressed.

 

[wahwah]

Re: what do do about a thin sounding amp

hey, i've heard about these shaguang tubes. they're supposed to be excellent, but i don't know anyone who can vouch for them yet. what do you guys think about them?

Shaguang is just the factory name of the major Chinese plant. They produce all sorts of stuff which then gets rebranded by the likes of Ruby and GT. Nothing particularly special and their quality control is atrocious, although a lot of people like some of their 12AX7's.



Cheers........................wahwah

 

[shogunlegend]

Re: what do do about a thin sounding amp

hmm, thanks wahwah. can you tell me some quality tubes that won't make me lose volume or gain?

 

[wahwah]

Re: what do do about a thin sounding amp

hmm, thanks wahwah. can you tell me some quality tubes that won't make me lose volume or gain?

Well, I don't use any current production tubes other than SED EL34's, all of my preamp tubes are 50's RCA's or early 60's Mullards. But of the current production tubes, I've heard the best reports about the Chinese 12AX7A's and 12AX7AC's, they're popular with Marshall players because they keep the gain up. I think it's really a matter of trying a few different types to see what works best with the circuit of that particular amp. I heard your clip and the amp is definitely suffering from that 2 dimensional "modern" sound. I think the SED 6L6GC's would add more body and dimension to the soundstage, and then it's a matter of finding a 12AX7 with the right tone and gain characteristics to suit. Experimentation is required with preamp tubes. Try a Chinese, a Tung Sol (which are Sovteks with a different voicing) and a JJ, they seem to be the best of what's currently available.



Cheers............................wahwah

 

[Fender_Punk]

Re: what do do about a thin sounding amp

It has reverb right? Turn that up, just a smidge, so it's barely on, that should help thicken things up a tad.