Full retube for Roadster - Recommendations?

[Holy Diver]

Hi all,

I am looking to do a full retube of my Roadster. I would appreciate any advice/recommendations?

I have tried JJ E34Ls in the power section but overall much prefer the stock 6L6s that it came with - not sure what they are?

At the moment I use silicon diodes for my two high gain channels and tube rectification for my clean channels. Always found this to be tighter/more crisp sounding but that may also be down to the stock rectifier tubes.

Aiming for a tight well-rounded tone that sounds a bit more alive than what the stock tubes offer. I mainly play metal (lots of styles) and am more concerned about higher gain sounds than clean - but definitely didn't think the clean with the E34Ls was anywhere near up to scratch...

I also use a boost and eq (at the moment)

Thanks

 

[KH Guitar Freak]

Some have commented that the stock 6L6s are TADs, but they look the same, not to mention Mesa did reply to me saying that they don't know anything about rebranded TADs. I would however suggest those Winged C 6L6s as IMO they are actually better than the stock valves. That being said, the stock ones aren't crap either...

 

[Holy Diver]

Some have commented that the stock 6L6s are TADs, but they look the same, not to mention Mesa did reply to me saying that they don't know anything about rebranded TADs. I would however suggest those Winged C 6L6s as IMO they are actually better than the stock valves. That being said, the stock ones aren't crap either...

Yeah - having used the stock 6L6s for two years I bought a set of JJ E34Ls after hearing a lot of good things about them here. I used them for over a year but decided to go back to the stock set after playing alongside a friend with a triple rec w/ stock tubes. My clean was awful compared to his and overall I definitely prefer the 6L6s - by quite a bit actually

 

[screamingdaisy]

The current stock preamp tubes are JJ ECC83s and the stock 6L6s are a Chinese tube they buy off Ruby.

Personally, I like the stock 6L6s... however I'm not really a fan of JJ in any amp. I find them darker and smoother than other preamp tubes, and they're always quite a bit lower in gain. Replacing them generally gives a "took the blanket off my cab" kind of feel.

When I first bought my Roadster I liked the tone but found it a little muffled. I stuck a Tung-Sol 12AX7 in the V1 and it woke the amp right up. I'm happy enough with the results that I haven't bothered experimenting with replacing any of the other tubes, although I wouldn't be surprised if swapping out a few more further improved the results.

The only real concern in a Roadster is the V3 and V5 positions. They're cathode follower positions and New Sensor tubes can't handle the voltages present in those locations. For those two spots your only current production choices are JJ or Chinese. Chinese are usually brighter and higher gain than JJ.

Some people have had good results with the "Amp Kits" suggested by Doug of www.dougstubes.com. I've never tried them myself, and I'm sure a lot of the "wow" factor from trying his kits is the simple "blanket off the amp" results from ditching the stock JJs... but whatever, his suggestions are good place to start.

 

[Holy Diver]

The current stock preamp tubes are JJ ECC83s and the stock 6L6s are a Chinese tube they buy off Ruby.

Personally, I like the stock 6L6s... however I'm not really a fan of JJ in any amp. I find them darker and smoother than other preamp tubes, and they're always quite a bit lower in gain. Replacing them generally gives a "took the blanket off my cab" kind of feel.

When I first bought my Roadster I liked the tone but found it a little muffled. I stuck a Tung-Sol 12AX7 in the V1 and it woke the amp right up. I'm happy enough with the results that I haven't bothered experimenting with replacing any of the other tubes, although I wouldn't be surprised if swapping out a few more further improved the results.

The only real concern in a Roadster is the V3 and V5 positions. They're cathode follower positions and New Sensor tubes can't handle the voltages present in those locations. For those two spots your only current production choices are JJ or Chinese. Chinese are usually brighter and higher gain than JJ.

Some people have had good results with the "Amp Kits" suggested by Doug of http://www.dougstubes.com. I've never tried them myself, and I'm sure a lot of the "wow" factor from trying his kits is the simple "blanket off the amp" results from ditching the stock JJs... but whatever, his suggestions are good place to start.

I got my Roadster back in March 07 - do you think the stock tubes were as what you stated back then as well or have they changed?

Yeah it is the blanket off the speakers feel that i am trying to get away from for sure - i will check out dougstubes - thanks

 

[screamingdaisy]

I got my Roadster back in March 07 - do you think the stock tubes were as what you stated back then as well or have they changed?

Yeah it is the blanket off the speakers feel that i am trying to get away from for sure - i will check out dougstubes - thanks

I read that Mesa switched to JJs in 2008. The way to confirm it is to look at the preamp tubes. If they say "Russian 2" on them they're Sovteks. If they say nothing on them then they're JJs.

If you're getting a 'blanket over the amp' effect with Sovteks it may be that your power tubes are wearing out. Generally that sounds like a loss of harmonics, then a loss of treble, then a loss of volume.

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

I LOVED my Roadster...one of the best if not THE best amp I've ever owned.

Tung Sol 12AX7 in V1
EH 12AX7 in V2
Mesa Chinese in V3 and V5
Mesa Russian2 (or EH 12AX7, they are the same) in 4 and 6.

Tong Sol EL-34Bs in the power section...these tubes are THE tubes for the Roadster IMO...they brighter and tighten the gain channels in a very pleasant way, without taking away from the cleans. To be honest, I liked the clean channel MUCH better with these than with the stock 6L6s...I expected to have to compromise a bit, but it was definitely not the case.

Enjoy!

Eric

 

[LithiumZero]

I've tried lots of tube combos in the Roadster and settled on this....

TAD 6L6's - They sounded better than the Winged C's (which were also excellent) and are cheaper to buy

V1- Tung-Sol
V2 - JJ ECC83S - High Gain rated
V3 - Penta
V4 - stock russian tube
V5 - Chinese C9
V6 - Sovtek LPS

I also run JJ GZ34 rectifier tubes

 

[Holy Diver]

"The Ruby 6L6GCMSTR's are the same as stock Mesa STR-440's. Our 6 x 12AX7 kit contains the following:
 
V1 = Tung-Sol
V2 = high gain JJ
V3 = Penta Labs
V4 = Penta Labs
V5 = Penta Labs
V6 = Sovtek LP/LPS
 
The EH's are 5U4GB's, a different style than the coke bottle style Mesa's, but 5U4GB's none the less. Should be equal in supplied voltage."

Hi guys,
The above is what dougstubes recommended? What do you think overall?

 

[plapnab]

Wow!? No love for the E34L's?? I have to say, I went from stock 6L6's to these and I really like what they did. Specifically, liked how they took away so much mid scoop yet kept the Mesa deepness and low end. Also, I found that the stock 6L6's didn't cut through a mix very well especially with the cleans (fattened them up). Oh well, that's just my humble opinion...maybe cause I'm much more on the hard rock side than heavy metal. :lol:

 

[Holy Diver]

Hi all,

I checked out the stock tube compliment of my Roadster. It is as follows:

Mesa 12AX7 Chinese 1
Mesa 6L6 GC STR 440
Mesa 5U4GB

Can't blame JJ preamp tubes for tone so?