What power tubes for my Tweaker?

[Diego]

My amp is cathode-biased (or something like that) which means I can drop 6L6, EL34, KT66/77, just about any regular octal tube except for KT88 tubes.

My Tweaker had EHX 6V6 tubes stock, and I dropped some EHX 6CA7 tubes to pump more bass out. A more modern sound.

Turns out that I'm using my SSS Strat more and more and these tubes are just too freakin' bright for that, even with the treble on zero. With any sort of power tube saturation they become razor sharp and I can't dial that raspiness out.
That's great with humbuckers, but not so much with a vintage-style Strat.

So I'm back to the 6V6, which instead of highs and bass, when saturated they add some amazing thick mids and some very balanced highs,
that fit single coils like a glove.
However, they lack some meat, the bass isn't as big as it was with the 6CA7 power tubes.

What tube should give me fatter mids like these 6V6 tubes when pushed, but also bigger bass?
I'm thinking KT66 here. Or some sort of smooth sounding EL34s, maybe JJs? Or maybe a different type of 6V6 tubes like Tungsols.
By principle I should be staying away from all 6L6, 6550, 5881 and KT77 tubes I think.
Or maybe I should think of a nice 2x12 instead of an open back 1x12... :scratchch

Any ideas?

 

[jtougas]

Re: What power tubes for my Tweaker?

EQ pedal in the fx loop?

 

[Diego]

Re: What power tubes for my Tweaker?

Don't think so, by the time I'm pushing the power tubes, boosting bass with EQ in the loop should just make it mushier.
I'll give it a shot but I think it's a matter of tubes that were made for midrange creamyness and not big bass.
They're tiny tubes.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: What power tubes for my Tweaker?

Don't think so, by the time I'm pushing the power tubes, boosting bass with EQ in the loop should just make it mushier.
I'll give it a shot but I think it's a matter of tubes that were made for midrange creamyness and not big bass.
They're tiny tubes.

You could use an EQ in the loop to bring the highs and mids down a bit, then just run the amp hotter.

 

[jtougas]

Re: What power tubes for my Tweaker?

Precisely.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: What power tubes for my Tweaker?

I've done so many power tube shootouts, that my ears tell me that there's no reason to buy NOS vintage tubes, and when it comes down to modern tubes, JJ's beat a lot for tone and price. High gain chinese tubes that many amp manufacturers go for really perform nicely in modern amps....and even vintage amps.

At this point in time, I tend to gravitate toward JJ power tubes and highly tested and rated Chinese pre's. It never fails to make an amp shine.

If you're someone who loves tube amps, and plans to own them your whole life, it's a good idea to buy the best available tube types from the good companies....JJ, Tungsol, Mullard, Sventlana, EH....

With a Tweaker, get several JJ sets like 6L6, EL-34, 6V6, KT-66, and find out what is the best. Then, save the rest for future amps, or sell them for what you paid as 'unused tubes.'

And anytime you sell an amp, put your cheapest tubes in it, and try to hold onto your good ones. You'll end up with a lot of good tubes later in life when you come into some other amps....you'll have good fresh ones you saved.

 

[Jolly_Rancher]

Re: What power tubes for my Tweaker?

I dunno. In my Tweaker 15, I went with Ruby EL34BSTR power tubes because they were recommended to be a solid, well built current production tube. They sound good enough. To describe the tone compared to the stock 6V6's I'd say that they're more middy, with a very round, full-bodied sound, and less highs. They sound like EL34s in the Tweaker... cuz they are!

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: What power tubes for my Tweaker?

^They're excellent.....basically Shuguang EL34B's....they have huge fat mids, lots of punch & pleasant (ie not harsh) highs..

 

[Diego]

Re: What power tubes for my Tweaker?

I found a quick fix: Boss GE7 in the loop, boosting the 100 hz frequency.
Sounds even better than with the 6CA7 tubes! Gives a really deep bass, much lower than the amp's bass knob range.
Deeper and not muddy at all. That, plus a slight cut on the 800 hz and a boost in the 1.6k region and it sounds like a much bigger cabinet!
I'm impressed.

Guess I'll have to find a new solo boost because that EQ pedal is staying there for good.

 

[jtougas]

Re: What power tubes for my Tweaker?

Told ya. :neener:

 

[Diego]

Re: What power tubes for my Tweaker?

Yes you did :foot:.

I've got the choice, from cheapest to most expensive, of these EL34 tubes:

EHX - Svetlana - JJ - Mullard - Tungsol.

I never ride the treble knob past half, so I imagine it wouldn't be a bad idea to try the JJs right?
I normally see them labeled as 'dark' sounding.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: What power tubes for my Tweaker?

I never ride the treble knob past half, so I imagine it wouldn't be a bad idea to try the JJs right?
I normally see them labeled as 'dark' sounding.

I'm no expert, but in my experience, JJ power tubes have been a little brighter than others. The preamp short-plates are what I would consider dark. I guess if you're not getting too much power amp distortion, it won't make that much difference.

 

[Jolly_Rancher]

Re: What power tubes for my Tweaker?

Does Doug's Tubes ship to Chile?

 

[Stratman]

Re: What power tubes for my Tweaker?

Tung-Sol KT66 power tubes

These tubes only use 0.9 amps for the heater circuit, so the transformer does not get HOT.

Better tone than 6L6’s or EL34’s and a sweeter tone than 6V6’s that originally came with that tweaker 15.

These are VERY BIG tubes - had to take off that junk grill plate from the top of the amp.

 

[Jolly_Rancher]

Re: What power tubes for my Tweaker?

^ there's a thread on the Z-talk forum about DO NOT USE Tung-Sol KT66 tubes because they're not real KT's and if the metal base touches the tube clamp, it might short out.