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Post subject: Tubes = Tone: article from Pro Sound News
Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2014 10:48 am
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I found this to be very interesting for the tube amp folks
http://www.prosoundnetwork.com/Default.aspx?tabid=69&EntryId=533


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Post subject: Re: Tubes = Tone: article from Pro Sound News
Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2014 11:11 am
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Post subject: Re: Tubes = Tone: article from Pro Sound News
Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2014 2:18 pm
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Maybe someone that knows more than me can give me some tube advice. I bought a new Egnator Renegade 65w head. It sounds great, but I've read that one of the ways they keep their costs down is by using "economical" tubes. Would it be worth it for me to change out the tubes even though the amp is only a few months old?
I don't know the brand of tube that is in it, but it has:
six 12AX7 preamp tubes
two EL34 power amp tubes
two 6L6/5881 power amp tubes

It has a bias adjustment area on the back panel and can be used with EL34, 6L6/5881, 6CA7, 6550, KT66 or KT77 power amp tubes.

What would you do with this amp? Leave it alone, or start chasing the tone monkey?

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Post subject: Re: Tubes = Tone: article from Pro Sound News
Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2014 2:37 pm
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Drew365 wrote:
I bought a new Egnator Renegade 65w head. It sounds great......What would you do with this amp? Leave it alone, or start chasing the tone monkey?


Personally, I'd leave it alone.

Play it, create with it, enjoy it. When it's time for some maintenance, that's when you might consider re-tubing it.

If it ain't broke, don't "fix" it.

JMOOC

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Post subject: Re: Tubes = Tone: article from Pro Sound News
Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2014 5:56 pm
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Drew365 wrote:
...I've read that one of the ways they keep their costs down is by using "economical" tubes...


You will find someone that says this about every brand of amp made these days, no matter the type of stock tubes used, from JJ to GT, and everything in between. I agree with Retroverbial, if it sounds great, leave it alone.

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Post subject: Re: Tubes = Tone: article from Pro Sound News
Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2014 6:16 pm
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As to the article.....not very good. For example this little bit of nonsense:
"Power tubes are the ones you really must keep an eye (ear?) on. If you crank a guitar amp with regularity, you should be changing these out two or three times a year." :roll:

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Post subject: Re: Tubes = Tone: article from Pro Sound News
Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2014 6:51 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
As to the article.....not very good. For example this little bit of nonsense:
"Power tubes are the ones you really must keep an eye (ear?) on. If you crank a guitar amp with regularity, you should be changing these out two or three times a year." :roll:

Changing power tubes 3 times a year might get kind expensive.


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Post subject: Re: Tubes = Tone: article from Pro Sound News
Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2014 7:11 pm
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Yeah, especially if you use some NOS such as RCA. :shock:

Although, since the tubes will still be perfectly fine, you could sell them on eBay and recoup some dollars. :lol:

Maybe the article was written by someone that sells tubes? :shock:

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Post subject: Re: Tubes = Tone: article from Pro Sound News
Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2014 9:38 pm
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If it's new, just let the power tubes run their course. They get better once broken in. As far as I know, the only "economical" power tubes I'm aware of are Chinese Shuguang or Russian Military reflektor OTK types.

I just recently tried a set of Shuguang el84s, and they really sounded great. I was pretty surprised by them. If their el34s are anything like it, I'd have no problem trying them in the Heidkamp. The Bass is nice and tight, and the highs sing beautifully. It was $40 for a quad of el84s. Don't let the Chinese label get to you when it comes to tubes. If you have Ruby tubes in your amp, there's a good chance they're Shuguangs. That's the rumor As I understand it. The Rubys I replaced in the H&K sounded good too (better than the JJ E34L in my opinion) they were just close to being done.

Since I really don't use modern preamp tubes, I can't speak for economical choices very much. Mine are all pretty much the opposite of that.

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Post subject: Re: Tubes = Tone: article from Pro Sound News
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 9:52 am
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Thanks for the advice, I have other tone monkeys to chase, so I'll continue to be happy with my amp the way it is.
Sometimes you read stuff online and it gets the wheels turning, when there's no place to go, if you know what I mean.

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Post subject: Re: Tubes = Tone: article from Pro Sound News
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 7:03 pm
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Jah Soldier wrote:
If it's new, just let the power tubes run their course. They get better once broken in. As far as I know, the only "economical" power tubes I'm aware of are Chinese Shuguang or Russian Military reflektor OTK types.

I just recently tried a set of Shuguang el84s, and they really sounded great. I was pretty surprised by them. If their el34s are anything like it, I'd have no problem trying them in the Heidkamp. The Bass is nice and tight, and the highs sing beautifully. It was $40 for a quad of el84s. Don't let the Chinese label get to you when it comes to tubes. If you have Ruby tubes in your amp, there's a good chance they're Shuguangs. That's the rumor As I understand it. The Rubys I replaced in the H&K sounded good too (better than the JJ E34L in my opinion) they were just close to being done.

Since I really don't use modern preamp tubes, I can't speak for economical choices very much. Mine are all pretty much the opposite of that.

I though Rudy's are JJs


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Post subject: Re: Tubes = Tone: article from Pro Sound News
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 7:45 pm
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Who is Rudy? :lol:

JJ are JJ, period. Ruby is a brand that uses tubes from a few sources. Ruby tests, selects and relabels tubes, mostly Chinese made tubes.

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Post subject: Re: Tubes = Tone: article from Pro Sound News
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2014 8:58 pm
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Auto correct sucks sometimes. :lol:


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Post subject: Re: Tubes = Tone: article from Pro Sound News
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 4:29 am
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:lol:

I have that on my new phone, and even though I type the word fully, when I hit the space button, it still puts another word there. :x I think that I disabled that worthless feature.

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Post subject: Re: Tubes = Tone: article from Pro Sound News
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2014 9:02 pm
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Fun fact: tube and solid state provide two very different sets of tonal characteristics and which you use depends entirely on personal preference and what you want your guitar to sound like. Neither is objectively "better".

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