What tubes?

[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:

Your pint's so pink I need shades to look at it  :twisted:

[hamfist]

As I now know that you use your VK for cleans, I would suggest trying a NOS 5751 (a lower gain version of a 12AX7) in V1. This will not make your amp significantly quieter, but it will give you more clean headroom. You will also get the "goodness" of NOS. Another bonus is that NOS 5751's are significantly cheaper than NOS 12ax7's.
  Have a look at http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/5751-PHILIPS-ECG-ECC83-TUBE-VALVES-NEW-1-PC_W0QQitemZ9730647136QQihZ018QQcategoryZ39997QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem . That is as cheap as a new current production 12ax7. You can't lose !   Just pop your EH tube from V1 into the "faulty" valve's position and stick the 5751 into V1. If it were me, and I wanted cleans from the amp, that is what I would do.

Alan

[Elliot]

Ah ha - another person who knows the joys of a 5751 - In the hi gain environment of these boards, I was beginning to think I was alone.

[Fourth Feline]

Ah ha - another person who knows the joys of a 5751 - In the hi gain environment of these boards, I was beginning to think I was alone.

 + 1 !

 Being mainly a 'clean' player, I love what one or more  5751s  can do to improve an amp's tone and flexibility.

I also concur that whatever one's gain requirements,  V1 seems to dictate a lot of the amp's tone from thereon in ...

 F.F.

[Twinfan]

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).

Hmm.  I may give one of these a try in my JTM45.  Is it worth getting the higher gain driver one at £25 to try too?????

[PhilKing]

I have been using RFT's in my McIntyre and they get a great sound, but I just tried a set of Tung Sol 12AX7's in the Silver Jubilee and I was very impressed with them.  I also like the groove tube 12AX7M's.  The 12AT7/5751 swap is great if you are losing definition, but in my amps the clarity seems to be there still with the RFT's and Tung Sol's.

[Bob Johnson]

Talk to Derek at Watford Valves. There isn't a better resource anywhere on the planet for getting good advice and great valves. http://www.watfordvalves.com/

[Ted]

Damn you guys and damn my GAS - i'm trying to find nice NOS valves for my Matamp now...  :P

[HTH AMPS]

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:

Your pint's so pink I need shades to look at it  :twisted:

Get her!!! My pint's more man than you'll ever be and more women than you'll ever get  :lol:

 :twisted:

[HTH AMPS]

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).

Hmm.  I may give one of these a try in my JTM45.  Is it worth getting the higher gain driver one at £25 to try too?????

fwiw, the Phillips/Sylvania valves are best suited to Fendery type amp-stages - that includes many high-gain 'boogie' types of amps.

For your JTM45 I'd look at Mullard, Brimar, Mazda (all have that typical Brit midrange crunch).  

I've got some GE 12AX7s that are gorgeous for any Fender-inspired amp, just a smooth tone with fat harmonics.  My old Tonemaster sounded fantastic with these valves.

I've got an old blackplate RCA 12AX7 that has a great midrange -  agressive and fat.  Different to the Mullards and Brimars, but not a second choice by any standard.

My advice would be to watch out on ebay and and try some used (but tested good) valves.

Check these out, $10 with no bids and less than a day to go... http://cgi.ebay.com/3-GE-SHORT-RIBBED-PLATE-1-17mm-HALO-12AX7-ECC83-TUBES_W0QQitemZ190163765495QQihZ009QQcategoryZ73378QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 :twisted:

[HTH AMPS]

and these are tasty too... (pair of Tung Sols)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Tung-Sol-ECC83-12AX7-square-getter-strong-matched-pair_W0QQitemZ120173556965QQihZ002QQcategoryZ64629QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 :twisted:

[ailean]

Get her!!! My pint's more man than you'll ever be and more women than you'll ever get

Ouch!

Thanks for the info HTH, most useful. :)