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Post subject: V1 - Blues Jr III
Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 4:54 pm
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2 Questions:

I've just started experimenting with the V1 slot on my blues Jr III. I'm experimenting with V1 because I was told that would be the best place to spend most of my time switching out tubes. It's the tone and gain stage right? What's everyone's thoughts on this?

I noticed the Sovtek 12ax7WC sounds a bit quieter, less grainy/edgy, and darker than the stock GT 12ax7-R. It seems I can get the volume up to 5 and it's still clean with the sovtek where at 5 it's starting to get gritty with the Groovetube.
Does this sound right?

I'm going to experiment with a JJ ecc83 tonight.


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Post subject: Re: V1 - Blues Jr III
Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 8:14 pm
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you are doing the right thing with experimenting with the V1 tube. I would stay away from the Sovtek.It's a tube that works but it's not the best performer out there,you could have chosen a better choice of tubes.

As for setting the volume I would say the mid point on the volume knob is the sweet spot on the amp on most amps about 4-6 on the dial.,Where you get a clean sound but where it starts to break up with a distortion sound. And different preamp tubes give different sounds.You just have to experiment with them.

As for NOS tube i like RCA 12ax7's

As for modern tubes i really like tungsol 12ax7's which is pretty much the same as the NOS RCA's

I have a telefunkin 12ax7 that so many swear bye,it was a nice clean sounding tube but didn't have the warmth of the RCA

This is something that you have to experiment with there is not right or wrong it's just trying out and seeing what you like.What i like, you could end up hating,and you can't harm your amp at all doing this.Just shut the power off when you swap tubes.

Good luck and i hope you find something cool to rock on with


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Post subject: Re: V1 - Blues Jr III
Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 8:26 pm
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I agree, changing V1 will have the most impact, changing V2 will be noticeable also. I also decided on the Sovtek 12AX7WC in all three spots in my BJr, after trying a few different types and combinations, the WCs just seemed to provide the best sound. Check your GT 12AX7-R preamp tubes and see if there isn't another label on them as they have been typically tested/relabeled Sovteks, you might have the 12AX7WA if you like the 12AX7WC better. :idea:

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Post subject: Re: V1 - Blues Jr III
Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 8:32 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
I agree, changing V1 will have the most impact, changing V2 will be noticeable also. I also decided on the Sovtek 12AX7WC in all three spots in my BJr, after trying a few different types and combinations, the WCs just seemed to provide the best sound. Check your GT 12AX7-R preamp tubes and see if there isn't another label on them as they have been typically tested/relabeled Sovteks, you might have the 12AX7WA if you like the 12AX7WC better. :idea:


What will the noticable difference be when changing out the preamp tubes???

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Post subject: Re: V1 - Blues Jr III
Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 8:36 pm
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I would say that V1 does control alot of the tone of the amp. Swapping this tube does have an effect. So does bias. It is before the tone controls and is 2 gain stages. Sovteks can sound great and awful. I've had some that sounded like an NOS RCA and some that sounded like a crappy Chinese 12AX7. (Although the Chinese 12AX7B is pretty consistant) It's hard to beat a NOS as JC said. I would try a 12AX7EH also. That's my flavor usually, but the tubes in my Egnator sound pretty dang good. I haven't popped it open to see what kind they are. Who knows, could be those crappy Chinese and the amp makes them sound good.

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Post subject: Re: V1 - Blues Jr III
Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 9:02 pm
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Beaubs wrote:
...What will the noticable difference be when changing out the preamp tubes???


You can have a clean preamp, or get some distortion (breakup) in the preamp, similar to getting clean or breakup sound with the output tubes. Some like preamp distortion and cleaner output for more headroom, some like clean preamp with distortion in the output. You can have both preamp and output clean and use pedals for your distortion, lots of possibilities determined by the users preference. Think "pre vs post" processing. :idea:

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Post subject: Re: V1 - Blues Jr III
Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 9:06 pm
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rjake wrote:
...but the tubes in my Egnator sound pretty dang good. I haven't popped it open to see what kind they are....


Now you have to, you've complimented the sound, so I gotta know! :lol: I'll guess that there are some GTs in there. :?:

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Post subject: Re: V1 - Blues Jr III
Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 9:13 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
Beaubs wrote:
...What will the noticable difference be when changing out the preamp tubes???


You can have a clean preamp, or get some distortion (breakup) in the preamp, similar to getting clean or breakup sound with the output tubes. Some like preamp distortion and cleaner output for more headroom, some like clean preamp with distortion in the output. You can have both preamp and output clean and use pedals for your distortion, lots of possibilities determined by the users preference. Think "pre vs post" processing. :idea:


.....sorry about hijacking this thread but.....is the volume controlled by the preamp tubes and the the master controlled by the output tubes? Am I thinking correctly???

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Post subject: Re: V1 - Blues Jr III
Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 9:34 pm
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The volume pot controls the level of the guitar signal into the preamp, and the master volume pot controls the level of the output of the preamp into the PI tube (V3) which is driving the output tubes. The balance between the two pots will determine the amount of breakup. :idea:

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Post subject: Re: V1 - Blues Jr III
Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 11:14 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
Now you have to, you've complimented the sound, so I gotta know! :lol: I'll guess that there are some GTs in there. :?:


All the preamp tubes have shields, so I don't know until I open it up. The 6V6 power tube bases say "Ruby" with an Egnater logo on the tube. The amp is packed away for a move, so I'll have to keep you in suspense for a couple of days.

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Post subject: Re: V1 - Blues Jr III
Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 5:42 am
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shimmilou wrote:
The volume pot controls the level of the guitar signal into the preamp, and the master volume pot controls the level of the output of the preamp into the PI tube (V3) which is driving the output tubes. The balance between the two pots will determine the amount of breakup. :idea:


Ahhhhh! So changing the first two preamp tubes one will hear the difference with the and control the tone via the volume....Thanks! :wink:

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Post subject: Re: V1 - Blues Jr III
Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 8:25 am
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Try putting a 5751 in V1.

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Post subject: Re: V1 - Blues Jr III
Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 10:47 am
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CAFeathers wrote:
Try putting a 5751 in V1.



Got one on the way....

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Post subject: Re: V1 - Blues Jr III
Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 10:50 am
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Beaubs wrote:
CAFeathers wrote:
Try putting a 5751 in V1.



Got one on the way....


Excellent. New or NOS?

That's usually the first thing I do with my tube amps.

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Post subject: Re: V1 - Blues Jr III
Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 10:51 am
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rjake wrote:
shimmilou wrote:
Now you have to, you've complimented the sound, so I gotta know! :lol: I'll guess that there are some GTs in there. :?:


All the preamp tubes have shields, so I don't know until I open it up. The 6V6 power tube bases say "Ruby" with an Egnater logo on the tube. The amp is packed away for a move, so I'll have to keep you in suspense for a couple of days.


Egnater's come with Electro Harmonix tubes. At least my buddy's did.


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