Dual Rec pre-amp problem

[Pmaurer]

I've had to replace my V3 preamp tube twice within the last two weeks....from an issue that had occured when I switch to the 2 or 3 channels, the volume drops significantly. Clean channel is fine. I've only had this dual rec for 3 months! Whyyyyyyyyyy.

 

[mikey383]

What kind of tubes are you using?

 

[Pmaurer]

Just the stock 12AX7s with 6L6 and 5U4Gs

 

[Triple Cheeseburger]

still under warranty?

 

[Pmaurer]

yep!

 

[R_ADKINS80]

I'd call Mesa. I would be willing to bet it has to do with it being a cathode follower possition which is pretty finicky about what kinds of tubes you use in it. Russian tubes in this slot will experience a volume drop especially in spongy mode. My Triple Rec for example: I keep my output at 1:00 and my channel master is around 8:00 for a decent home alone jamming. If I use russian tubes in that slot and set it to spongy I have to crank my channel master to around 11:30 to achieve the same volume. Then when I flip it back to bold it literally wants to blow the windows out of the house.

 

[Pmaurer]

But what I don't understand is why I would be experiencing problems like this when I've been using the tubes that came with this amp in the first place...

 

[R_ADKINS80]

But what I don't understand is why I would be experiencing problems like this when I've been using the tubes that came with this amp in the first place...

Mine did it with the Mesa tubes as well. They were Russian tubes. I called Mesa and they sent me the new Mesa relabelled JJ's. Fixed the problem but sounded like pure crap. I have since put a Russian tube back in my V3 and leave it in Bold with no problems.

 

[Pmaurer]

Wouldn't this be an issue with all newer Dual Recs then? I guess I'm just not understanding this!

 

[R_ADKINS80]

not necessarily. I have seen new amps with russian, chinese and the newest JJ preamp tubes. The russians seem to be most effected.

 

[Pmaurer]

Is there any way of me knowing if they are Russian by the way they look or have writing on them?

And, does the kind of preamp inside the amp really effect sound all that much?

 

[fluff191]

I really like the Shuguang Chinese tubes in the preamp section. Very tasty.

 

[R_ADKINS80]

Russian and Chinese tubes will say so right under the Mesa logo. If it says nothing under the Mesa logo then they are the new JJ tubes. I find it differes from amp to amp in the way tubes sound. My buddie's Triple sounds godly with Chinese tubes. My amp sounds like pure mud and like a Jimmi Hendrix Fuzzface pedal. The JJ's sound kinda bland in my amp. The Russians sound Killer in my amp. I currently have a mix of tubes in mine right now with Russian, NOS German and NOS USA tubes.