SpaceShipOne
New member
Groove Tubes vs. JJ's.....what's the difference. School me on tubes.
What's the diff. between GT and JJ's?
- Thread starter SpaceShipOne
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ksmith63
New member
Re: What's the diff. between GT and JJ's?
groove tube 6l6-s is a relabeled + much more expensive JJ 6l6. groove tubes doesnt actually make tubes, they just relabel them. many guys on this forum recommended the jj's to me and as soon as i can afford them i'm going to buy a set. I have also heard that the jj preamp tubes are top notch.
groove tube 6l6-s is a relabeled + much more expensive JJ 6l6. groove tubes doesnt actually make tubes, they just relabel them. many guys on this forum recommended the jj's to me and as soon as i can afford them i'm going to buy a set. I have also heard that the jj preamp tubes are top notch.
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: What's the diff. between GT and JJ's?
I use the GT EL34S or LS? Forget now? in my Marshall and they've been great...Same tubes Trace(Voodoo Amps) recommended to me and uses in his amps...Great tubes!
I use the GT EL34S or LS? Forget now? in my Marshall and they've been great...Same tubes Trace(Voodoo Amps) recommended to me and uses in his amps...Great tubes!
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: What's the diff. between GT and JJ's?
So does everyone just buy a m***ive amount of tubes, the test them and keep the 20% that fall into their acceptable tolerance range?
How many manufacturers are there now? Like 3?
So does everyone just buy a m***ive amount of tubes, the test them and keep the 20% that fall into their acceptable tolerance range?
How many manufacturers are there now? Like 3?
Red_Label
New member
Re: What's the diff. between GT and JJ's?
JJ's aren't much (if any) more expensive than anything else out there. I get mine from Eurotubes.com. I bought a complete set of 4 12AX7's and 2 EL-34's from them for my Traynor Custom Blue 50 last year for like $60 maybe. And they've quoted me $100 for a complete set for my Traynor YCS100 (4-12AX7, 4-EL34). So that's reasonable to me. I'm just recovering from a big IRS bill that I had to play last week, but plan to get that full set of tubes soon.
JJ's aren't much (if any) more expensive than anything else out there. I get mine from Eurotubes.com. I bought a complete set of 4 12AX7's and 2 EL-34's from them for my Traynor Custom Blue 50 last year for like $60 maybe. And they've quoted me $100 for a complete set for my Traynor YCS100 (4-12AX7, 4-EL34). So that's reasonable to me. I'm just recovering from a big IRS bill that I had to play last week, but plan to get that full set of tubes soon.
Gunny47
New member
Re: What's the diff. between GT and JJ's?
As far as sound goes, I find that JJ tubes tame the high end, definitely warmer sounding tubes. I use them in the pre amp spots on my Fender and both spots on my gibson (El84). Power amp for my Fender, I go with the Tung Sol Reissue 5881s.
As far as sound goes, I find that JJ tubes tame the high end, definitely warmer sounding tubes. I use them in the pre amp spots on my Fender and both spots on my gibson (El84). Power amp for my Fender, I go with the Tung Sol Reissue 5881s.
guitfiddle
firstlessonologist
Re: What's the diff. between GT and JJ's?
There's probably 10-20 factories in production now, and GT does manufacture some using GE's old machines called the GT6L6GE, GTEL34GE or whatever. None of the tubes made in Chezch Republic, China, or Russia come close to the vacuum hardness, or quality of materials as the NOS USA stuff, but it's getting priced right out of reach now, and will only get worse. If you can find anyone with some old tubes, and they're willing not to rip you off too bad, it's worth the coin to invest in them.
There's probably 10-20 factories in production now, and GT does manufacture some using GE's old machines called the GT6L6GE, GTEL34GE or whatever. None of the tubes made in Chezch Republic, China, or Russia come close to the vacuum hardness, or quality of materials as the NOS USA stuff, but it's getting priced right out of reach now, and will only get worse. If you can find anyone with some old tubes, and they're willing not to rip you off too bad, it's worth the coin to invest in them.
Ascension
Well-known member
Re: What's the diff. between GT and JJ's?
the statement about Groove Tubes mostly just buying and suposedly testing then re-labeling with a BIG upcharge is mostly true. there are a couple of tubes the GT has actually brought into the market like the GE reissue 6L6's and the Mullard GT-M 12AX7 reissue.
I don't normally buy GT's because they are very hit or miss in quality controll. Even when I do buy GT tubes I go through some one like Doug Preston over at http://www.dougstubes.com/
Doug tests and grades EVERYTHING and stands behind the sale.
On JJ's they have been hit or miss for me. I have had good luck with the 6L6's in my Fender Prosonic's and the EL 34's in my old Carvin X100B. My Marshall however hates the EL34L's from JJ. I just couldn't get a tone with um and went to a set of the old Svetlana 34's from SED through Doug.
I absolutely LOATH JJ preamp tubes!!! I have yet to put them in ANYTHING that they didn't sound like pure c#$p in!! I actually would take a Sovetec WA 12AX7 over a JJ for tone they are dead, liveless, dull and bland. I like the new Tungsols the chinese Shunghangs, EH's just about ANYTHING better than JJ preamp tubes YUCK!!
I currently have real NOS Mullards in my Fender Prosonic combo and Chinese 80's production Shunghangs with a Tungsol in V-1 in my Marshall for preamp tubes BTW.
the statement about Groove Tubes mostly just buying and suposedly testing then re-labeling with a BIG upcharge is mostly true. there are a couple of tubes the GT has actually brought into the market like the GE reissue 6L6's and the Mullard GT-M 12AX7 reissue.
I don't normally buy GT's because they are very hit or miss in quality controll. Even when I do buy GT tubes I go through some one like Doug Preston over at http://www.dougstubes.com/
Doug tests and grades EVERYTHING and stands behind the sale.
On JJ's they have been hit or miss for me. I have had good luck with the 6L6's in my Fender Prosonic's and the EL 34's in my old Carvin X100B. My Marshall however hates the EL34L's from JJ. I just couldn't get a tone with um and went to a set of the old Svetlana 34's from SED through Doug.
I absolutely LOATH JJ preamp tubes!!! I have yet to put them in ANYTHING that they didn't sound like pure c#$p in!! I actually would take a Sovetec WA 12AX7 over a JJ for tone they are dead, liveless, dull and bland. I like the new Tungsols the chinese Shunghangs, EH's just about ANYTHING better than JJ preamp tubes YUCK!!
I currently have real NOS Mullards in my Fender Prosonic combo and Chinese 80's production Shunghangs with a Tungsol in V-1 in my Marshall for preamp tubes BTW.
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rashayritto
Off-Topic Lurker
Re: What's the diff. between GT and JJ's?
JJ's probably arent good for low wattage amps, as it will clean it up too much. if youre dealing with 5 to 10 watts just use russian and chinese tubes
JJ's probably arent good for low wattage amps, as it will clean it up too much. if youre dealing with 5 to 10 watts just use russian and chinese tubes
Young Angus
Kometose Tonologist
Re: What's the diff. between GT and JJ's?
I just had my SLO retubed, but only the power section was done. New Sovtek 5881's. The preamp still had it's original Soldano labelled 12AX7's in it from 1993 :smack:
I was playing the amp through my Marshall box and it was just way too bright, so to make it sound useable I had to lose the presence all together. Then I thought "hold on, I haven't changed those **** preamp tubes yet"...so I put a NOS Mullard 12ax7 in V1, JJ's in V2 and 3, and then a GT in V4 (because I ran out of JJ's) and left the V5 alone because I didn't think it would make that much difference in tone.
Now I can get that presence back up to halfway and I'm much happier with the sound...and I think the JJ's helped to tame the nasty highs I was getting through those G12H30 speakers. The amp was golden already through my Greenback cab so I have yet to try it through that with the new tube compliment, but suffice to say I think JJ's are good at high gain amps, and it seems at smoothing out some of the nasty highs that can sometimes be ***ociated with them.
I just had my SLO retubed, but only the power section was done. New Sovtek 5881's. The preamp still had it's original Soldano labelled 12AX7's in it from 1993 :smack:
I was playing the amp through my Marshall box and it was just way too bright, so to make it sound useable I had to lose the presence all together. Then I thought "hold on, I haven't changed those **** preamp tubes yet"...so I put a NOS Mullard 12ax7 in V1, JJ's in V2 and 3, and then a GT in V4 (because I ran out of JJ's) and left the V5 alone because I didn't think it would make that much difference in tone.
Now I can get that presence back up to halfway and I'm much happier with the sound...and I think the JJ's helped to tame the nasty highs I was getting through those G12H30 speakers. The amp was golden already through my Greenback cab so I have yet to try it through that with the new tube compliment, but suffice to say I think JJ's are good at high gain amps, and it seems at smoothing out some of the nasty highs that can sometimes be ***ociated with them.
Re: What's the diff. between GT and JJ's?
I've used both.
I replaced the GT's in my Hot Rod Dlx (which were relabeled Sovtek's, not JJ's, btw) with JJ's. With the stock GT's the amp had a decent clean tone (but too cold) and a horrible OD tone (onboard drive). With the JJ's my amp sounded much warmer and fuller, without touching the bias. It's still got plenty of twang, but is overall thicker. The OD tone is smoother...I'll still use pedals for the gain though.
I was so impressed with the JJ's, I bought a complete set for my Bandmaster, with both 6V6 and 6L6 output tubes to compare them. The JJ's really brought the Bandmaster to life; the JJ's are very responsive tubes and, once again, thickened the amp up. With the 6L6's the low end is like thunder; the 6V6 is a little tamer and not quite as loud.
I've used both.
I replaced the GT's in my Hot Rod Dlx (which were relabeled Sovtek's, not JJ's, btw) with JJ's. With the stock GT's the amp had a decent clean tone (but too cold) and a horrible OD tone (onboard drive). With the JJ's my amp sounded much warmer and fuller, without touching the bias. It's still got plenty of twang, but is overall thicker. The OD tone is smoother...I'll still use pedals for the gain though.
I was so impressed with the JJ's, I bought a complete set for my Bandmaster, with both 6V6 and 6L6 output tubes to compare them. The JJ's really brought the Bandmaster to life; the JJ's are very responsive tubes and, once again, thickened the amp up. With the 6L6's the low end is like thunder; the 6V6 is a little tamer and not quite as loud.
Zerberus
Baron Von Shred
Re: What's the diff. between GT and JJ's?
Why ":smack:"?? Anybody that knows anything about tubes knows that preamp tubes last for decades and don´t need replacing nearly as often as power tubes....
A tonal change (such as the one you desired AFTER swapping power tubes) is essentially the only reason to swap Pre tubes
Why ":smack:"?? Anybody that knows anything about tubes knows that preamp tubes last for decades and don´t need replacing nearly as often as power tubes....
A tonal change (such as the one you desired AFTER swapping power tubes) is essentially the only reason to swap Pre tubes
metlking
Well-known member
Re: What's the diff. between GT and JJ's?
AMEN Bro! I can't find anything I like them in either! People love them and I don't know why! I have 10 at least siting unused on the shelf! I love the new reissue Tung-Sol 12ax7........I buy from Dougs tubes as well, super guy! He's got a knack for matching the tube you need to the amp you own to the souund you desire.
AMEN Bro! I can't find anything I like them in either! People love them and I don't know why! I have 10 at least siting unused on the shelf! I love the new reissue Tung-Sol 12ax7........I buy from Dougs tubes as well, super guy! He's got a knack for matching the tube you need to the amp you own to the souund you desire.
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drpietrzak
New member
Re: What's the diff. between GT and JJ's?
1+ on much of this for me. I do not loath JJ's but have found the preamp OK (though dark) and the el84's nice. Others I have perfered the GT developed EL34, 6L6 and 6V6 versions - for new production.
1+ on much of this for me. I do not loath JJ's but have found the preamp OK (though dark) and the el84's nice. Others I have perfered the GT developed EL34, 6L6 and 6V6 versions - for new production.
James Rock
Active member
Re: What's the diff. between GT and JJ's?
I liked the GT mullard reissue 12AX7's in my amp they were sweet but everyone RATTLED (only needed two tried 6!) so i put the JJ's back in they are warmer but not quite as sweet as the mullards but better then EHX's and WAY BETTER then Sovteks.
I liked the GT mullard reissue 12AX7's in my amp they were sweet but everyone RATTLED (only needed two tried 6!) so i put the JJ's back in they are warmer but not quite as sweet as the mullards but better then EHX's and WAY BETTER then Sovteks.
Re: What's the diff. between GT and JJ's?
very true, the only preamp tube that might need replacing is the pi which depending on how you run your amp may take alot of abuse but even then it should last at least two sets of power tubes
Why ":smack:"?? Anybody that knows anything about tubes knows that preamp tubes last for decades and don´t need replacing nearly as often as power tubes....
A tonal change (such as the one you desired AFTER swapping power tubes) is essentially the only reason to swap Pre tubes
very true, the only preamp tube that might need replacing is the pi which depending on how you run your amp may take alot of abuse but even then it should last at least two sets of power tubes
ksmith63
New member
Re: What's the diff. between GT and JJ's?
lol i wasnt saying that jj's were expensive, i was saying that i dont have a job or any $$. jj's arent expensive at all compared to the relabeled groove tubes. to retube the budda will cost me about $100, which is about 95 more than i have
lol i wasnt saying that jj's were expensive, i was saying that i dont have a job or any $$. jj's arent expensive at all compared to the relabeled groove tubes. to retube the budda will cost me about $100, which is about 95 more than i have
