Need new preamp valves

[_tom_]

I'm sure I've posted a million of these threads by now :lol: Anyway my Laney GH50L really needs new preamp valves as sometimes it loses gain/saturation when playing. They're about 2-3 years old now so I reckon its about time they got replaced..

Any suggestions? I only really want to order from UK, places such as Watford Valves or Hot Rox.. I just need 3 12AX7s for V1, 2 and 3. I remember a while ago I was gonna get Tung Sols (meant to do wonders for fizz and clarity) but heard bad things about their reliability?

May just end up going for a trio of JJs as their prices are nice, but are gold pins worth the extra cash?

[Twinfan]

I know HTH will disagree, but I'm very happy with good old JJs.  A regular set of 3 should be fine, or if you want to try a gold pin do what I do and go for one in V1, and regular JJs for V2 and V3.

Oh, and I use HotRox  :)

[leerocker]

i use electro harmonix in mine and they are fine, very reliable and well made tube, oh and use hotrox, use watford valves if you want to wait weeks for your order!

[_tom_]

Are there any differences between gold pin and normal JJs or is it just a marketing "ploy"?

[Fourth Feline]

Another vote for whatever Hot Rox have got in, as they are nice people to deal with - and I can't afford W***ford Valves.

( Richard Branson's  kids can't afford W***ord valves ) .  :(

[Bainzy]

JJ's high gain ECC803 S is my favourite modern tube, I get mine here when I put in an amp parts order: http://metroamp.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=21_40&products_id=325

[Dmoney]

Are there any differences between gold pin and normal JJs or is it just a marketing "ploy"?

less drive, and supposedly more balance triodes.
you can hear a difference between those and the others I think but i only use them in V1

p.s. ive ordered from hotrox a few times, and got weirdly matched valves, the wrong vavles entirely, and i think they cost a lot for shipping. ive had better/more consistent results with watford valves

[Denim n Leather]

Tung Sol, Russian Mullard rebrands, and Electro-Harmonix are all cr@p.

If you're not gonna go with NOS valves, for the preamp stages, I would recommend JJ, though they have been having some reliability issues of late as well.

[Frank]

I bought a JJ ECC83 and only one half of it worked so I can't comment

[d1dsj]

I just got a quad of Harma Retro ECC83's from Watford valves along with a pair of Philips 6L6WGB's and I have to say my amp (Cornford MK50 black chassis) sounds more awesome than it did before... I can use more gain yet have more defination and clarity! They are supposed to be a Mullard re-issue and to be honest I wouldn't really know the what they are, I just needed to get my amp re-valved and biased as I hadn't got it done since I bought it last year.  As far as reliability goes I can't say yet, but they come with a 6 month guarantee.

[Fourth Feline]

I just got a quad of Harma Retro ECC83's from Watford valves along with a pair of Philips 6L6WGB's and I have to say my amp (Cornford MK50 black chassis) sounds more awesome than it did before... I can use more gain yet have more defination and clarity! They are supposed to be a Mullard re-issue and to be honest I wouldn't really know the what they are, I just needed to get my amp re-valved and biased as I hadn't got it done since I bought it last year.  As far as reliability goes I can't say yet, but they come with a 6 month guarantee.

I fairness, they do sell 'Pukka' stuff - and can tell you in great detail , why you might want to chose each item - albeit being an expensive experience sometimes.

I also bought a quad of the Philips 6L6WGB from them for my Laney LH50RII - and they made it an altogether  different / better amp altogether. As you noted, they give greater detail on both Clean an Hot channels - and when you do push them, the point between clean and overdrive has a lovely soft compress feeling at the point of saturation.  They allowed the amp, and it's inherent circuit design , it to 'reveal' itself .  Ditto for a Watford Valves Philips 5751 in the V1 position.

I had in fact  amassed a  large stock of their N.O.S. and Harma specials  for my amps , back when I could afford it.  :)

[Keven]

I'm about to replace an awfully microphonic JJ set in a combo this morning for a set of TAD 7025 tubes. i heard good things about them (three different amp techs locally and unlocally recommended them to me for heavy crunch) i'll let you know how that goes. i also got a quad of them to put in my traynor amp this weekend, that'll be a good swap, it's currently a mix and match of sovteks and EH swapped around until i got a sound that i like. crazy how the order of valves makes a difference

you guys are corrupting me. i just used ''tubes'' and ''Valves'' in the same post. next thing you know i'll be a tea addict ;)

[Antag]

My Watford Valves order shipped quite quickly - they were closed for a week when I ordered but I got the order the day after their reopening date.

I got a JAN 5751 Cryo & some JJ ECC83S DR250s for the gain valves in my Savage.

It's been a very good swap, see here for my initial impressions...

[Keven]

Just an Update. The TAD valves did the trick. tamed an awfully microphonic and screechy amp. mind you, this is for metal, and the goal was for the tube to be resistant to hi gain from the amp itself (this kid should learn about the values of boosting your guitar instead of getting it all from the amp...especially a combo!) i could crank it all the way up with no sign of oscillation. I'll get back with my findings in my own amp this weekend.

[Oli]

BIg fan of TAD valves here, TAD in the pre, Svetlana EL34s in the power... not impressed with EH valves myself, the sound never appealed to me.