where to buy tubes and what brands?
- Thread starter rguser
- Start date
kmcguitars
GuitarArtologist
Re: where to buy tubes and what brands?
Try www.dougstubes.com I would recommend (2) JJ EL-84 power tubes. For the Preamp, I'd go with a Tung-Sol 12AX7 in the VI socket (The one furthest from the power tubes) V2- Sovtek LPS, V3 JJ-12AX7 You can call Doug or email him. He will tell you EXACTLY what you need. I bet his recommendations or close to mine.
Try www.dougstubes.com I would recommend (2) JJ EL-84 power tubes. For the Preamp, I'd go with a Tung-Sol 12AX7 in the VI socket (The one furthest from the power tubes) V2- Sovtek LPS, V3 JJ-12AX7 You can call Doug or email him. He will tell you EXACTLY what you need. I bet his recommendations or close to mine.
Ascension
Well-known member
Re: where to buy tubes and what brands?
Another vote for Doug here. He's a great guy,tests EVERYTHING before it ships, has fair prices and he stands behind his stuff. It gets no better than Dougs!!
Try www.dougstubes.com I would recommend (2) JJ EL-84 power tubes. For the Preamp, I'd go with a Tung-Sol 12AX7 in the VI socket (The one furthest from the power tubes) V2- Sovtek LPS, V3 JJ-12AX7 You can call Doug or email him. He will tell you EXACTLY what you need. I bet his recommendations or close to mine.
Another vote for Doug here. He's a great guy,tests EVERYTHING before it ships, has fair prices and he stands behind his stuff. It gets no better than Dougs!!
metlking
Well-known member
Re: where to buy tubes and what brands?
These guys know what they're talking about.....I only buy from Doug!
Try www.dougstubes.com I would recommend (2) JJ EL-84 power tubes. For the Preamp, I'd go with a Tung-Sol 12AX7 in the VI socket (The one furthest from the power tubes) V2- Sovtek LPS, V3 JJ-12AX7 You can call Doug or email him. He will tell you EXACTLY what you need. I bet his recommendations or close to mine.
These guys know what they're talking about.....I only buy from Doug!
Buckeyedog
New member
Re: where to buy tubes and what brands?
+1000
Or the chinese pre's are really good too for maybe V2 and V3. The Tung Sol's are killer.
Try www.dougstubes.com I would recommend (2) JJ EL-84 power tubes. For the Preamp, I'd go with a Tung-Sol 12AX7 in the VI socket (The one furthest from the power tubes) V2- Sovtek LPS, V3 JJ-12AX7 You can call Doug or email him. He will tell you EXACTLY what you need. I bet his recommendations or close to mine.
+1000
Or the chinese pre's are really good too for maybe V2 and V3. The Tung Sol's are killer.
sosomething
Seymour Duncan Customer Support
Re: where to buy tubes and what brands?
I've heard great things about Doug, but if you need something he doesn't carry (JJ's KT88s, for example), I can't recommend tubedepot.com highly enough.
Their prices are competitive, they ship fast, they carry almost everything, and their customer service is top-notch. I've ordered from them many times.
I've heard great things about Doug, but if you need something he doesn't carry (JJ's KT88s, for example), I can't recommend tubedepot.com highly enough.
Their prices are competitive, they ship fast, they carry almost everything, and their customer service is top-notch. I've ordered from them many times.
mustaine-who?
New member
Re: where to buy tubes and what brands?
+1 more for Dougs tubes. Just recieved my 3rd order in record time.
Mmmmm..gonna compare the Ruby EL34 to my =SED= EL34...
And then compare the new Mullard and Penta to my beloved Sovtek LPS.
+1 more for Dougs tubes. Just recieved my 3rd order in record time.
Mmmmm..gonna compare the Ruby EL34 to my =SED= EL34...
And then compare the new Mullard and Penta to my beloved Sovtek LPS.
Re: where to buy tubes and what brands?
once you change the preamp tubes to better ones, i wouldnt bother changing them again unless they start to die. preamp tubes can last a long time, the only one that works really hard is the pi tube. i change that every other or every third power tube change but the other two ill keep in there till they go microphonic or some other fatal occurance
once you change the preamp tubes to better ones, i wouldnt bother changing them again unless they start to die. preamp tubes can last a long time, the only one that works really hard is the pi tube. i change that every other or every third power tube change but the other two ill keep in there till they go microphonic or some other fatal occurance
xxxplorer
New member
Re: where to buy tubes and what brands?
I actually just ordered from Doug a few minutes ago! Very fair prices and great info. I went with a quad of TAD 6L6 and 6 Tungsol 12AX7s for my 5150II. Jerry at FJA mods turned me on to those tubes, it's a departure from the trusty JJ for the 5150 series, so we shall see how they sound! I will probably only deal with Doug for tubes!
I actually just ordered from Doug a few minutes ago! Very fair prices and great info. I went with a quad of TAD 6L6 and 6 Tungsol 12AX7s for my 5150II. Jerry at FJA mods turned me on to those tubes, it's a departure from the trusty JJ for the 5150 series, so we shall see how they sound! I will probably only deal with Doug for tubes!
metlking
Well-known member
Re: where to buy tubes and what brands?
Keep me posted! I'm in need of some EL-34's after my Mullards died after 7 months of use! I'm thinking of going with the =C='s. I'd like to know how the Mullard and Penta pre's sound as well..........although it would be hard to pull me away from the Tung-Sol 12ax7!
I love those Tung-Sols and the TAD's are very nice too........I think they'll sound killer in a 5150!
Keep me posted! I'm in need of some EL-34's after my Mullards died after 7 months of use! I'm thinking of going with the =C='s. I'd like to know how the Mullard and Penta pre's sound as well..........although it would be hard to pull me away from the Tung-Sol 12ax7!
I love those Tung-Sols and the TAD's are very nice too........I think they'll sound killer in a 5150!
Re: where to buy tubes and what brands?
thanks for the info, guys.
so I did some reading of the materials on those websites. I am set on Mullard's EL84 for power. For preamp, should I get three of the same type (like, Tung Sol), or should I mix different types like some people do?
thanks for the info, guys.
so I did some reading of the materials on those websites. I am set on Mullard's EL84 for power. For preamp, should I get three of the same type (like, Tung Sol), or should I mix different types like some people do?
Buckeyedog
New member
Re: where to buy tubes and what brands?
If you have a few extra $$, pick up maybe 4 or 5 and then mix and match to your hearts content! That's the fun of tube amps! I'd probably get 2 Tung Sols, 1 chinese, 1 Sovtek LPS and 1 JJ. You never know which one you'll like in V1. That's where you'll notice the biggest difference.
If you have a few extra $$, pick up maybe 4 or 5 and then mix and match to your hearts content! That's the fun of tube amps! I'd probably get 2 Tung Sols, 1 chinese, 1 Sovtek LPS and 1 JJ. You never know which one you'll like in V1. That's where you'll notice the biggest difference.
Re: where to buy tubes and what brands?
sooo, ( I'm new to this), does that mean adjusting bias is only for power tubes and preamp tubes can be switched freely? (I am gonna get an amp pro to do the bias for me. there's a north American amp museum(!?) here in baltimore, md that does amp services...
thanks,
sooo, ( I'm new to this), does that mean adjusting bias is only for power tubes and preamp tubes can be switched freely? (I am gonna get an amp pro to do the bias for me. there's a north American amp museum(!?) here in baltimore, md that does amp services...
edsmith
New member
Re: where to buy tubes and what brands?
I didn't start this thread, but THANKS A MILLION!!! That website is awesome! He even has tube packs to improve the tone on some of the newest models of amp. The Bogner Ecstasy, Genz-Benz El Diablo and Mesa Express 5:50 that I've been hearing about in this forum were all listed there. The prices are very reasonable too.
I didn't start this thread, but THANKS A MILLION!!! That website is awesome! He even has tube packs to improve the tone on some of the newest models of amp. The Bogner Ecstasy, Genz-Benz El Diablo and Mesa Express 5:50 that I've been hearing about in this forum were all listed there. The prices are very reasonable too.
sosomething
Seymour Duncan Customer Support
Re: where to buy tubes and what brands?
It's advisable to rebias your amp after a power tube swap if you cannot guarantee that the new tubes are not the exact same rating as the old ones.
Preamp tubes require no bias or adjustment.
It's advisable to rebias your amp after a power tube swap if you cannot guarantee that the new tubes are not the exact same rating as the old ones.
Preamp tubes require no bias or adjustment.
Fresh_Start
New member
Re: where to buy tubes and what brands?
If your amp is "fixed bias" and has a bias adjustment, then you re-bias every time you change power tubes.
If your amp does not have a bias adjustment (which would probably be inside the amp so check the schematic or with a tech) or if it's cathode biased, then swap away :naughty:
FWIW I'm not convinced any tube rating system is going to help much - every tube tester is different and so is every amp.
I didn't pile on before, but Doug's Tubes has been a good source for me too.
Chip
If your amp is "fixed bias" and has a bias adjustment, then you re-bias every time you change power tubes.
If your amp does not have a bias adjustment (which would probably be inside the amp so check the schematic or with a tech) or if it's cathode biased, then swap away :naughty:
FWIW I'm not convinced any tube rating system is going to help much - every tube tester is different and so is every amp.
I didn't pile on before, but Doug's Tubes has been a good source for me too.
Chip
Re: where to buy tubes and what brands?
my amp is crate v16. I think class A and cathode biased mean the same thing.
so that means I can swap both power tubes and preamp tubes myself?
that's cool.
my amp is crate v16. I think class A and cathode biased mean the same thing.
so that means I can swap both power tubes and preamp tubes myself?
that's cool.
Buckeyedog
New member
Re: where to buy tubes and what brands?
Pre amp tubes can be swapped freely. Sometimes if guys want to lower the gain a bit, you can use a lower gain tube like a 5751 or AT7 in the PI slot or even V1.
Pre amp tubes can be swapped freely. Sometimes if guys want to lower the gain a bit, you can use a lower gain tube like a 5751 or AT7 in the PI slot or even V1.