Has anyone run STR-415s and Shuguang 12ax7s in their reissie yet?

[MaceFremonti]

I have a complete set to try but have been happy with the stock tubes so far....

 

[bandit2013]

Not yet. To start with, I do not have Shuguang 12AX7 (those look similar to the Beijing tubes but with a halo and not the square foil getter). I did not feel like pulling out the STR415 from the JP2C. What I did try (with my hearing impairment) was a full quad of STR448 (grey) power tubes. No bad. As for preamp stuffings. I did run a full set of the Beijing 12AX7 tubes. Then tried an RFT in V3 and the rest were Mullards. CV4004 V1, V2, V4 and a Mullard long plate balanced triodes in V5. Not bad but could not tell if things were better or worse. It would be best to wait for my hearing to restore itself. Just today I put back the original tubes and thought it sounded harsh (note that my hearing is more muffled so all of the midrange content is not audible.)

Just for S&G I wanted to see if the Faceplate I had removed from the Mark VII would fit in the Reissue. Nope. It probably would fit if I took off the metal corners. The piping around the faceplate made it nearly impossible to insert. However, I did sort of like the change, if it would have fit, I would have taken a picture.

As for the power tubes, Just try the STR415. What would be more accurate is to just use a pair of the STR415 in the center and leave the STR445 in the outer pair as they do have a similar sound to the 6CA7 tubes. The STR415 pins will be a bit small so they may feel like a lose fit. STR445 pins are on the large side. Perhaps when my hearing comes back I will get into tube rolling the reissue. May be interesting. Looking forward to hearing the STR415 tubes in the amp as well. At the moment, it would be wasted effort to do so until I can get the fluids to drain out of my ears.

 

[Appleridge]

I did just that. I ended up changing back to the stock 12ax7s but left the 415’s. The change was negligible to be honest, but the 415’s provide a more organized sound if that makes sense (to me anyway). The old 12ax7s I have (mesa square getters) were a little too raw. I didn’t try rolling them though, so maybe one or two would have been good somewhere.

 

[bandit2013]

In the Facebook Mesa owners group, there was a suggestion by a member Tony Batal to run
V1 = Tung Sol, V2+V4 = Mesa Chinese Beijing Square Foil getter (6N4-J), V3= RFT and V5=Sovtek LPS



I have the same preamp tubes in my box of stuff so I tried it. Left the power tubes with the STR445 (green, they were shorter than the yellows that were stock) Since I have hearing issues, I could not tell if there was much of a change. Bummer. That made me try running all Mullard CV4004 and a long plate Mullard 12AX7 in place of the LPS. STR448 (grey) as substitutes for the STR415 (did not want to remove them from the JP, waiting for hearing to improve).

 

[tonyelbatal]

In the Facebook Mesa owners group, there was a suggestion by a member Tony Batal to run
V1 = Tung Sol, V2+V4 = Mesa Chinese Beijing Square Foil getter (6N4-J), V3= RFT and V5=Sovtek LPS



I have the same preamp tubes in my box of stuff so I tried it. Left the power tubes with the STR445 (green, they were shorter than the yellows that were stock) Since I have hearing issues, I could not tell if there was much of a change. Bummer. That made me try running all Mullard CV4004 and a long plate Mullard 12AX7 in place of the LPS. STR448 (grey) as substitutes for the STR415 (did not want to remove them from the JP, waiting for hearing to improve).

Hey man, hope all is well.

The preamp tubes I suggested will make the amp sound more “clear” and the lower mids crunch sounds better with the German RFT tube. The most noticeable difference of course is V1. A Tungsol or C8 in there will open up the amp. But that depends on taste of course. I run these in every IIC+ original I own and it worked similarly on the Reissue IIC+.

What is your favourite for V1 so far?

 

[bandit2013]

I have shared a few things with Mr. Paul Azzi. I did recommend him to join the forums. I was the one who sent him a JAN/Phillips 5157 in hope to fix the issue he had with his reissue. Not to worry, mine does it too. Not that I am going to max out volume 1, treble and the lead drive with a high lead master. Running the amp with reasonable settings still sounds great. I can get the JP2C to push lots of feedback too but not without a guitar plugged in.

 

[bandit2013]

Hey man, hope all is well.

The preamp tubes I suggested will make the amp sound more “clear” and the lower mids crunch sounds better with the German RFT tube. The most noticeable difference of course is V1. A Tungsol or C8 in there will open up the amp. But that depends on taste of course. I run these in every IIC+ original I own and it worked similarly on the Reissue IIC+.

What is your favourite for V1 so far?

I did not get very far with tube rolling the amp. Shortly after getting it I lost my hearing as a secondary issue from having covid a week prior. Not the first time this happened to me. Just today, I was able to regain my hearing near normal so I can dive into seeing what works now. It has been at least 2 or 3 weeks, lost track of time how long I could not hear much if anything at all.

 

[tonyelbatal]

I did not get very far with tube rolling the amp. Shortly after getting it I lost my hearing as a secondary issue from having covid a week prior. Not the first time this happened to me. Just today, I was able to regain my hearing near normal so I can dive into seeing what works now. It has been at least 2 or 3 weeks, lost track of time how long I could not hear much if anything at all.

I am sorry to hear that man… I can’t imagine how this feels and I’m glad you are regaining your hearing now…

Have you had a chance to play an original Simulclass (DRG) IIC+? I did a video comparison on my YouTube channel against the Reissue. Some prefer the original, other the reissue. In the room, I vote day and night for the original as it has more clarity and note definition as well as much better lower mids compared to the reissue.

I was able to get the reissue to sound and feel closer to the originals somehow with the preamp tubes I recommended. The stock Mesa (JJ) 12AX7 make the amp sound more modern and darker. Which works well for rectos but not Mark amps, in my opinion.