Author Topic: What tubes? (Read 5927 times)

ailean · « **on:** October 16, 2007, 08:30:18 PM »

I need to replace the 3 12AX7 tubes in my Peavey Valveking. There seems to be an enormous amount of different tubes out there and I'm out of my depth. These will mostly be played clean, but I also plug a Big Muff into this amp.

I'm looking at the JJ Tesla tubes and they do a Cryo range, is this a gimick or is it worth it?

Talk to me!

Twinfan · « **Reply #1 on:** October 16, 2007, 10:14:13 PM »

Regular JJ ECC83s work great for me in all my amps. I don't buy any other type. You can't go wrong with them and they're only about £9 each.

Oh, and they sound better than the old Brimars in one of my Klipps. They stay clean when they're supposed to, are nice and crisp/clear, and overdrive smoothly.

What more do you want?

hamfist · « **Reply #2 on:** October 16, 2007, 10:36:10 PM »

The JJ 12ax7's will do just fine. Personally I wouldn't bother with the cryo -treated ones. But, I would buy any current production tubes from someone who tests them really well, and throws away all the duds. Watford Valves is the the best in the UK for this.
NOS tubes are great, and can sound fantastic. THey can be had pretty cheap on ebay BUT you have to know what you are looking for or you can very easily get burnt. There's a lot of tube scammers out there. Also people who simply don't know what they've got. I'd be happy to guide you to some good ebay tubes if you wanted. PM me if interested. I can usually get what I consider to be great NOS or hardly used vintage 12ax7's for about £10-£20 each.
NOS tubes are likely to last much longer than current production tubes, and often give a nicer tone. YMMV, of course. In multi-gain stage modern amps, the tonal improvements are often less noticeable than in simpler circuit vintage-style amps.

Alan

indysmith · « **Reply #3 on:** October 16, 2007, 11:42:15 PM »

every time i order valves, by the time they get to me they're cracked and broken. I'd suggest buying them in a shop if you can.

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #4 on:** October 16, 2007, 11:51:57 PM »

The JJ ECC83 is a nice safe valve, they always sound good but the 'S' suffix version is a little more lively and has less of that neutral tone of the standard model (imo). The EH 12AX7 is also a fine valve as is the Sovtek 12AX7LPS.

If you want bang for the buck, Watford are still doing JAN-spec Philips 12AX7WAs for £18.00 a pop - these are gorgeous valves... http://www.watfordvalves.com/product_detail.asp?id=677

One other thing I'd advise... buy a really nice (NOS) preamp valve for the first preamp stage (V1) as this is where you'll notice the biggest improvement. Use good quality current production valves for the other preamp slots (this is the way I do it).

:twisted:

hamfist · « **Reply #5 on:** October 17, 2007, 07:34:56 AM »

Quote from: indysmith

every time i order valves, by the time they get to me they're cracked and broken. I'd suggest buying them in a shop if you can.

Someone must have something against you Indysmith ! Either that, or you are the unluckiest man alive.
I must have ordered over 20-30 valves or sets of valves over the last year or so (mostly from the states actually) from all sorts of sellers. Every one has arrived in perfect condition. They are actually really easy to send safely, being so light.
In this case, I would recommend anyone to order online from anywhere in the world. It's definately the way to pick up what you want at a good price.

HTH is right in saying that the valve in V1 is usually the most critical for tone, and should be first you try and replace when experimenting. BTW, for anyone who is not aware of it, V1 will be the closest to the guitar input jack.

Alan

Twinfan · « **Reply #6 on:** October 17, 2007, 08:48:46 AM »

Quote from: HEAVIER THAN HELL

The JJ ECC83 is a nice safe valve, they always sound good but the 'S' suffix version is a little more lively and has less of that neutral tone of the standard model (imo).

HTH is right - I always use the 'S' suffix model. Forgot to say that :oops:

Elliot · « **Reply #7 on:** October 17, 2007, 08:53:45 AM »

I agree with the above - cheapish valves like JJs are great and last for ages - but a NOS like the JAN Philips in V1 will give you the magic of valves. I have tried cryo treated valves - I think there is a marginal difference, maybe slightly more presence, but I think the jury is out.

And for American type amps like the Valve King don't discount considering the JAN-Philips or GE 5751 for V1 - I went from a Harma DR270 hi-gain valve to the lower gain 5751 and have never look back - the extra headroom, sweeter tone and the fact that pedals don't push the thing into OD immediately so that the power valves can get pushed a bit more means more overall organic tone to my ears. The hi-gain boys here will probably tell you otherwise, though.

hunter · « **Reply #8 on:** October 17, 2007, 10:30:22 AM »

I have a small collection of different types, Sovteks, GEs, JJs, TADs, EIs, Penta (tung sol).

I really like Tung Sol and EI. The 12AX7LPS is great if you want more gain. But it completely depends on the amp and which direction you wanna go. Usually I take the amp out of the box and start combining different types - experimenting always brings me to a good result.

If you want some good and personalised advise, contact Doug (from Dougstubes.com). He knows most amps and knows what works. He sent me a set of new tubes for the Bogner Shiva, which was spot on!

ailean · « **Reply #9 on:** October 17, 2007, 07:51:54 PM »

Thanks guys, thats a help :)

I'm intrigued by this

Quote

One other thing I'd advise... buy a really nice (NOS) preamp valve for the first preamp stage (V1) as this is where you'll notice the biggest improvement. Use good quality current production valves for the other preamp slots (this is the way I do it).

It's a valve from the later pair that is causing the problem, and the amp alreday has a different valve in the V1 stage by the look of it (electro Harmonix). I might put a pair of JJ's in the second and third slots and look around for something sweet for the V1 stage.

Quote

Watford are still doing JAN-spec Philips 12AX7WAs for £18.00 a pop

Are these worth the extra if I put a NOS in front?

I can see me spending a small fortune on tube samples :(

Hell Hound · « **Reply #10 on:** October 17, 2007, 08:46:23 PM »

I use Harma 7025 in V1 (12AX7 compatible with higher mu) and NOS Philips 12AX7WA in V2 & V3, all cryo treated form Watford Valves. It sounds as good clean and distorted, but my amp is not a Valve King :D

hamfist · « **Reply #11 on:** October 17, 2007, 08:51:39 PM »

Quote from: ailean

Quote
Watford are still doing JAN-spec Philips 12AX7WAs for £18.00 a pop

Are these worth the extra if I put a NOS in front?

I can see me spending a small fortune on tube samples :(

I'd say the JAN-Philips is well worth a try in V1. £18 is not a bad price.

Beware though, NOS tube buying can be addictive !!

Alan

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #12 on:** October 17, 2007, 09:10:21 PM »

Quote from: ailean

Quote
Watford are still doing JAN-spec Philips 12AX7WAs for £18.00 a pop

Are these worth the extra if I put a NOS in front?

The JAN-spec Philips 12AX7WA IS a NOS valve. I personally wouldn't put them in the other preamp slots as I think it's diminishing returns in those valve slots. V1 is where you get the most bang for the buck and will notice a BIG improvement by using a quality NOS preamp valve there (like the Philips one I mentioned above).

:twisted:

ailean · « **Reply #13 on:** October 17, 2007, 09:28:30 PM »

Thanks for the clarification HTH!

For £18 I'm willing to take a risk if I get a nice tone out it.

Looking like JJ's and a JAN spec Phillips at the moment then!

Thanks guys, I value your opinions. I have to say this forum is an invaluable source of information to a novice like me, I love the fact that I can ask a question and get a variety of answers without starting a fight.

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #14 on:** October 18, 2007, 01:15:23 AM »

Quote from: ailean

I love the fact that I can ask a question and get a variety of answers without starting a fight.

says who? - are you calling my pint a queer? :roll:

:lol:

:twisted: