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Post subject: Best replacement tubes for Hot Rod Deluxe III amp?
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 8:59 am
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I have this amp and love it! I don't need to replace tubes yet, but I want to be prepared when I do. Any tips on type of replacement tubes to get as a set for when I need them? I know they take (3) 12AX7's and (2) 6L6's. Just curious if anyone has tried differnt tube types and or manufaturer preferance, or just go with what was in them. I have no complaints about how it is now.


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Post subject: Re: Best replacement tubes for Hot Rod Deluxe III amp?
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 9:38 am
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Hi 05strat,

What is the best flavor of Ice Cream? What is the best color? It is all a matter of taste, what you like might be quite different than what I like. I am a GT fan, and have all GTs in my HRDlx.

I have tried dozens of output and preamp tube types in my HRDlx I, even including 6V6 output tubes. I liked different tubes for different sounds. Some tubes do clean better than distorted, some are good with clean and distortion. Trying different brands of preamp tubes, or even different gain factors can have a dramatic affect on sound, as much as, or more than different output tubes.

If you like the sound that you have now, keep the same tubes. If you want to experiment, try different brands. The preamp and PI tubes (V1, V2, V3) are just plug and play so no worries about bias adjust when changing these tubes. Check/adjust the bias when changing output tubes.

After all of my trials with tubes, I settled for the GT12AX7-C for all three preamp/PI positions, with the original GT output tubes (Sovtek 5881WXT). The drive channel has never sounded so good as with these Chinese preamp tubes, and I now use my amp with no effects pedals, just the amp foot switch to change channels. Sounds sweet! :D

This might say it all:
"I have this amp and love it!...I have no complaints about how it is now."

_________________
---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.


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Post subject: Re: Best replacement tubes for Hot Rod Deluxe III amp?
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 9:48 am
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Thx shimmilou,
Just the kind of advice I was actually hoping to hear. Just was mainly wanting what manufacturers were best sounding, most dependable, from an active players experience. I know taste is different for everybody, but being guided in the right direction sure doesn't hurt.


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Post subject: Re: Best replacement tubes for Hot Rod Deluxe III amp?
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 10:08 am
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You can read about tubes and their "sound" from many good places on the web. TheTubeStore is one such site that has great, unbiased reviews of many different brands of tubes, preamp and output. And of course since they don't sell GTs (wonder why), they have some details wrong about GT tubes, but their info is great for the tubes that they do sell. I buy from them often, great people and very helpful.

http://thetubestore.com/

I am a little leery of claims on sites that only sell one brand of tubes, their brand is always the best sounding of almost all tube brands and get their best reviews. Of course. :roll:

Usually though, it takes test in your own amp with your own ears to see which you like best. It can get expensive, I sometimes order a couple of hundred dollars worth of tubes just for experimenting.

_________________
---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.


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Post subject: Re: Best replacement tubes for Hot Rod Deluxe III amp?
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 10:25 am
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Thx again. I will bookmark that site.


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