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Post subject: Super Sonic
Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 7:42 pm
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Location: Long Island NY
I purchased this amp early January. First let me say this is one amazing little (LOUD) amp
Finally got to use it at a gig Sat Night. :D
I have some concerns maybe others can advise me.
This amp runs HOT!! :oops:
It has a set of GT (blue lettering) tubes. I bought the amp new but it was not in the box :( , so I'm assuming these are the stock tubes.
Has anyone had heating issues? Has anyone found a way to keep it cool.
Right now I just use the internal speaker, but I ordered an Avatar closed back cabinet (1x12 V30 and 1x12 G12H30), total cabinet load is 8 ohms, as per specs. This will bring it down to 4 ohms, and possibly more heat.

I want to replace all tubes with JJ tubes. I don't have any noise or popping issues like I've heard about (Harmony Central Reviews) But I worked as a bench tech in the 70's, and knew about tube quality, and the best Mfg factories. I believe JJ's come out of the old Telefunken factory. Those, along with some RCA and GE tubes were considered the best.

Thanks for hangin' in there for this post
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Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 11:53 am
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I'd stay away from JJs. They were great for a while but have had quality control issues for the past 2 years. If you do buy power tubes I strongly reccomend getting them from KCA tubes or dougs tubes. These guys are great guys and test for emission, transconductance, shorts, leaks, and microphonics on all tubes and do a burn in as to weed out even more bad new tubes. When you buy from MF or somewhere you have no idea how good the new tube is really. I reccomend the new Tungsol power tubes and preamps tubes. The pres for sure have a nice glassy compressed type sound that I freaking love!!!!!

As for the heat. Well some tubes do run hotter than others and that is just the nature of the beast I am afraid. You could always bring a fan but I wouldn't worry about it.


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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 7:43 am
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I have never liked stock Sovtec tubes...until now.

I got my Super-Sonic last week. I love it, and figured that replacing V1 V2 and V2 would make it...better.

So far I have been wrong and have switched back to the 12AX7WCs that came with the amp.

Perhaps this amp was voiced for these tubes?

Frankly, I am happy to like the Sovtec 12AX7WC because they're cheap and there are a lot of tubes in the S-S.

What is it about the stock tubes that you don't like?


BTW, I like GT 6L6s. I have tried others. Ruby's rattled like broken light bulbs. TADs sounded great but one died a horrible death.

Mine also runs HOT. My power tubes are white lettered. I don't think I've seen one with the blue-lettered tubes. Hows the power tube breakup. Early?


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Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 1:33 pm
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Depending on what tube you want to achieve, the following tube swap "fender-ized" my Super-Sonic even more than original stock tubes:

TAD 6L6WGC-STR for power tubes - they gave a real nice "vintage -fender-ish tone. This is a very accurate description of what there did for me: http://thetubestore.com/tad-6l6wgc.html

V1 - I kept the stock tube - I felt it worked best in that position, which is the Input stage. I tried JJ's, Electro Harmonix, other SOvtek. Stock worked best in combinaison with V2 & V3 to my ears.
V2 - used for the clean channel, I use a Tung SOl 12AX7 re-issue - WOW, what a diffferent to the Vibrolux and Bassman voicing. It added more beef to the Vibrolux at lower volume and more blance/clarity in the notes in the bassmans
V3 - Used for the burn channel - My complaint was that there was too much gain for my taste coming out. I wanted a "cranked 65 Deluxe reverb " type of gain at lowre gain 1 and gain 2 setting. I have out a JAN-Philips 5751 tubes in V3 - this tube has abOut 70% gain output when compared to a 12ax7, and does exactly what I was hoping for.

Tweed Dog Steve


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Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 4:04 pm
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I'll probably go with GT 6L6GE, Tung Sol Reissue 12AX7s and NOS Mullard 12AT7
KCA Tubes had high grades for these tubes.

I'm still gonna hit some old Ham Radio Shows and look for a pair of RCA 6L6's :shock:

I like the Vibrolux channel, but it needs more depth. I was going to put and EQ in the FX loop and use the footswitch to activate it, but I was told changing out the stock tube will help.
I agree with a previous poster - The burn channel does growl a little too early. I might experiment with this one a little more.

My original GT 6L6 just don't look new. I got a feeling this amp was on display for a while. :evil:


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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 8:08 am
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TweedDogSteve wrote:
Depending on what tube you want to achieve, the following tube swap "fender-ized" my Super-Sonic even more than original stock tubes:

TAD 6L6WGC-STR for power tubes - they gave a real nice "vintage -fender-ish tone. This is a very accurate description of what there did for me: http://thetubestore.com/tad-6l6wgc.html

V1 - I kept the stock tube - I felt it worked best in that position, which is the Input stage. I tried JJ's, Electro Harmonix, other SOvtek. Stock worked best in combinaison with V2 & V3 to my ears.
V2 - used for the clean channel, I use a Tung SOl 12AX7 re-issue - WOW, what a diffferent to the Vibrolux and Bassman voicing. It added more beef to the Vibrolux at lower volume and more blance/clarity in the notes in the bassmans
V3 - Used for the burn channel - My complaint was that there was too much gain for my taste coming out. I wanted a "cranked 65 Deluxe reverb " type of gain at lowre gain 1 and gain 2 setting. I have out a JAN-Philips 5751 tubes in V3 - this tube has abOut 70% gain output when compared to a 12ax7, and does exactly what I was hoping for.

Tweed Dog Steve



I had TAD 6L6WGC-STR in a Hot Rod Deluxe. I loved the tone until one died a screaming death. Scared me away from TAD tubes.

The TAD EL 84s also failed early, but that may be the Valve Jr they were in.


I just ordered three TungSol reissues to try in V1 V2 and V3. I hope to tame a little bit of the fuzziness.


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