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Post subject: What a difference new tubes make.
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 3:26 pm
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Today , my new tube for my 1996 Fender Roc-Pro 700 came in and it is a JJ 12AX7/ECC83 which I bought on E-Bay for only $14.00. I had never worked with a tube amp before so I was a little nervous putting it in but, it was pretty easy considering it's only a preamp tube. It turns out that the original tube had never been changed so it was definitely time for a upgrade. I've noticed now that I have a slighter push in volume but with a clearer tone which is what I like. I think I'm going to stick with JJ's for now. The reviews I read about them were really good and the price is very reasonable.


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Post subject: Re: What a difference new tubes make.
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 3:59 pm
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As far as preamp tubes go, JJs are pretty much as good as it gets. Totally brought my Champ600 to life. One of these days i might even get around to putting them in my BJ.

Enjoy


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Post subject: Re: What a difference new tubes make.
Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 5:45 pm
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Glad to hear it worked out. Jam on!


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Post subject: Re: What a difference new tubes make.
Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 1:57 pm
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None of my tube amps keep their stock tubes. Having discovered the difference the right choice of tubes make, each of my amps gets tweaked with tubes and a speaker. My stock C.Rex speaker in my HRDlll was good start but, the Weber alnico 100 watt Blue Dog 12" speaker should make that amp come alive. BTW, I swapped out my 6L6 tubes for TS 5881's. Brought the 40 watts down to about 32 and added a super smooth creamy tone that the TS 5881's are known for. Stock is a good start and a finish line for some. Not for me.

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Post subject: Re: What a difference new tubes make.
Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 6:28 pm
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modwiz,

I thought about trying the TS 5881 in my HRDlx, but was concerned with the 400 volt max rating for the Plate. Any problems with yours, and how long have they been in your HRDlx?

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Post subject: Re: What a difference new tubes make.
Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 6:55 pm
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I didn't want to be the first to say it, but I have to agree.

I wouldn't say that modern JJ pre-tubes are "bad", but there are so many good vintage choices to be had out there. From the very day I heard my first RCA preamp tube, I haven't looked back.

I just had a tube rolling session about an hour ago with the Ampeg Superjet. It helps to really understand what you're hearing, and what end result you're after.

After going through GEs, Sylvanias, RCA, Tung Sol, Mullard, Amperex, I finally came to my ultimate sound for it. And it surprised me. It turns out the old Matsushita tubes I've had shelved for years really brought this amp to it's strengths. I used them in my old Mesa DR, but they really didn't go well with my Fenders or Marshall. Not a good fit in the Heidkamp or Delta Blues. But MAN do they sound great in the Ampeg. Unbelievable. And it paired up to an Amperex in the PI nicely. I'm glad I took the time. It really paid off.

I don't want to come across as a tube snob. I don't have anything against JJ 803s and I would never want anyone to feel like they made a bad purchase. I used them from time to time for tours when I didn't want the NOS/ UOS on the road. And they were fine.

I have a bag full of modern preamp JJ, Ruby, Sovtek, GT, etc.. I usually just float 'em to my friends if they're in need. It's very rare for me to use any.

Within my amps I'm currently using there are 18 preamp tubes im running. Not one modern one in any of them. Power tubes I'm cool with. But not preamp tubes.

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Post subject: Re: What a difference new tubes make.
Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 6:58 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
modwiz,

I thought about trying the TS 5881 in my HRDlx, but was concerned with the 400 volt max rating for the Plate. Any problems with yours, and how long have they been in your HRDlx?


It is running super smooth. It is about 8 months now. I biased accordingly and it is working out great. I looked for a neutral rather than hot or cool. Seemed to have had beginner's luck. I read that adjusting the bias to not over-juice them would provide good results and it has. The 5881 is my favorite tube. All the kick of the 6L6's without the roar. Just a nice loud purr. Ordered a Weber Blue Bell for it, 100 watt, hemp cone today. Now I'll really hear what those tubes have to offer.

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Post subject: Re: What a difference new tubes make.
Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 7:07 pm
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shred6 wrote:
I didn't want to be the first to say it, but I have to agree.

I wouldn't say that modern JJ pre-tubes are "bad", but there are so many good vintage choices to be had out there. From the very day I heard my first RCA preamp tube, I haven't looked back.

I just had a tube rolling session about an hour ago with the Ampeg Superjet. It helps to really understand what you're hearing, and what end result you're after.

After going through GEs, Sylvanias, RCA, Tung Sol, Mullard, Amperex, I finally came to my ultimate sound for it. And it surprised me. It turns out the old Matsushita tubes I've had shelved for years really brought this amp to it's strengths. I used them in my old Mesa DR, but they really didn't go well with my Fenders or Marshall. Not a good fit in the Heidkamp or Delta Blues. But MAN do they sound great in the Ampeg. Unbelievable. And it paired up to an Amperex in the PI nicely. I'm glad I took the time. It really paid off.

I don't want to come across as a tube snob. I don't have anything against JJ 803s and I would never want anyone to feel like they made a bad purchase. I used them from time to time for tours when I didn't want the NOS/ UOS on the road. And they were fine.

I have a bag full of modern preamp JJ, Ruby, Sovtek, GT, etc.. I usually just float 'em to my friends if they're in need. It's very rare for me to use any.

Within my amps I'm currently using there are 18 preamp tubes im running. Not one modern one in any of them. Power tubes I'm cool with. But not preamp tubes.


Yes, per-amp tubes are where it all starts. Other than a Jan-Phillips AT7 in the PI of my HRDlll, the others are TS and JJ. They are on my list to try something more NOS in. Can't complain about the tone, it came after a lot of different tubes and placements were tried. Modern manufacturing has produced a lot of fairly reliable tubes, that are like the very reliable manufactured speakers. They do a good job but, not great. It all seems to be in the articulation instead of sweet smush or sterile replication. It is fun finding the gems.

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http://www.reverbnation.com/modwiz


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Post subject: Re: What a difference new tubes make.
Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 7:10 pm
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Good enough for me. I'm going to order a couple of pairs of the TS 5881. One set to try in the HRDlx, and one set to try in the Bassman. I have the GT GE reissues in the Bassman and they sound very sweet, super clean, but want to try other tubes and I like the reviews of the TS. Thanks!

I do like the JJ preamp tubes in a few amps, they seems to be best for high gain amps, and the JJ 5751is very good for cleaner sound. I'm not a big fan of JJ output tubes, though they do well in certain amps, taste being subjective of course.

Glad that the OP's choice works well. :)

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Post subject: Re: What a difference new tubes make.
Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 10:39 pm
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When I had my HRDV, it seems to be more flavorful with USA NOS preamp tubes.

My all time favorite was Sylvania JHS short plate. My HRDV already had a good amount of highs. With tubes like Amperex, Mullard, Matsushita, RFT, the highs were too prominent.

Sylvania, GE, Tung Sol, Raytheon, RCA, those tubes really brought out lush Bass tones and my amp had plenty of highs to spare.

I still swear by the notion that Sylvanias and GEs provide the cleanest bass tones you can put in a Fender. Short plates in V1, Long plates stacked behind, and you won't believe your ears.

My ampeg didn't respond the same, and to be honest, I'm kind of glad. I had the Eurpoean types on the shelf for a while. This amp shines more with them.

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Post subject: Re: What a difference new tubes make.
Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 11:45 pm
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shimmilou wrote:
Good enough for me. I'm going to order a couple of pairs of the TS 5881. One set to try in the HRDlx, and one set to try in the Bassman. I have the GT GE reissues in the Bassman and they sound very sweet, super clean, but want to try other tubes and I like the reviews of the TS. Thanks!

I do like the JJ preamp tubes in a few amps, they seems to be best for high gain amps, and the JJ 5751is very good for cleaner sound. I'm not a big fan of JJ output tubes, though they do well in certain amps, taste being subjective of course.

Glad that the OP's choice works well. :)


I have a JJ 5751 in V1 and a TS 12ax7 in V2. I have a TS 12AT7. I thought to try that in V1 and try the JJ 5751 in V2 to see how the 12AT7 sounds in V1 and if the 5751 might make the drive channel a little less whatever it is. :lol: Should probably experiment with that before the Blue Dog gets here to go in the amp.

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I have some Fender gear.
(Telecaster, Jaguar, Villager 12 String. Mustang l, Bronco, SCX2, Rumble 350, HRDIII, Rumble 2x8 Neo Cab)
http://www.reverbnation.com/modwiz


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Post subject: Re: What a difference new tubes make.
Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2014 4:08 am
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When I changed the preamp tube , the Fender original from 1996 was still in there, which I did not throw away. I was just wondering if any of you know how long the JJ's usually last for before they need to be changed ? Seeing that the Fender lasted this long , I just want to make sure that the new tube I put in is a long lasting one and if not, could any of you recommend me one that is ?


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Post subject: Re: What a difference new tubes make.
Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2014 5:54 am
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As pointed out before, if the sound is fine, the tubes are fine. Tubes are not like tires, tubes don't wear out after so many hours (miles). Tubes can last for decades, or fail much sooner, but in any case, it's about the sound. There was nothing wrong with your original tube, but there is a difference in sound with different brands of tubes. Just because a tube is old is not a reason for a change. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: What a difference new tubes make.
Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2014 6:09 am
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The only modern preamp tubes I'd ever consider are JJ, Mesa, and GT. the reason being, they do their own screening of bad tubes. The Sovtek factories don't do a very good job at it, if at all. I have dealt with my share of bad Sovtek and Tung Sol pre-tubes. 10- years ago, I was buying, testing, and turning around NOS tubes for extra cash. I also did re-tubes locally for musicians and producers who wanted to go high end. The amount of bad modern Tung Sols I encountered was astonishing, and about half of them were only months old.
Triodes hugely mismatched, getters falling apart, or completely DOA. I'm not exactly sure why I encountered so many of that brand considering it comes from the same factory as Sovtek, but it sure opened my eyes to the screening problem. GC just buys them direct, the factory send them out unscreened, the consumer becomes the screener. Hence the "if you get a bad one, simply bring it back" policy. Problem is, the tube only needs to last 30-days.

Oddly, I never encountered those problems with power tubes. In that market, I'd have no problem buying Tung Sol or basically anything that isn't Shuguang.

Mesa and GT buy them, put them through rigorous testing, weed out the bad, then put their stamp on them. Jj is not a relabeler, they are their own entity.

Your JJ should last as long as your last one and I would say the same for Mesa tubes and GT as well.

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Post subject: Re: What a difference new tubes make.
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2015 11:57 am
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a year ago I got a great deal on a peavey ultra 60 amp.

when I got it home, I eplaced the stock speaker with an eminence texas heat that I had in another project.

it was a bit noisy when I fired it up, so I replaced all4 preamp tubes, as well as the power tubes.

I put a pair of 12ay7's in the clean/crunch channel because they have a lower gain. the noise was gone, and I have more gradual control over the gain. I may even try 12au7's sometime just to see what happens.

changing tubes is a fairly inexpensive way of altering you amp's sound- unless you have one of those 12 tube ones :roll:


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