musicbox said:
It's a shame tubes are so expensive these days, with full retubes runing around $100. Wouldn't it be nice if one could just buy a full complement of a few different brands, and mix them around and find the absolute best tone without breaking the bank? Or switch them in and out for different venues or recording situations. I guess those with the resourses can!
yeah, it can get pricey to experiment. I've found with preamp tubes that you should:
1) find a good vendor that tests them well
2) ask the vendor and ask your buddies to find some good types and combinations (tubes with shorter plates that resist microphonics are a MUST for hi-gain amps like Mesas)
3) Get a "variety pack" You don't necessarily need that $50 NOS wonder in V1, V2, and V3 - maybe just V1. Get some other good tubes for the other positions and mix and match to find what sounds best
4) Find a tube model with high output and high gain, get one with balanced triodes, and keep it in your V5 phase inverter slot. its not involved with your gain stages so who cares what the sonic characteristics are. you just need to make sure it works well so you get 100% of your power tubes' potential.
power tubes on the other hand, are more of a crapshoot. fortunately, Mesas get most of their sound from the preamp, not power tube distortion/breakup, so the power tube choice is more about getting a good balance across the frequency range and getting a reliable, long-lasting tube.