help with tubes on my Mark III

[pegagos]

These are the preamp tubes I have:

(1) RCA 12AX7A NOS
(3) RFT ECC83/12AX7 NOS
(5) JJs High Gain (one of them is balanced)
(3) Mesa branded 12AX7
(1) Set of dougs tubes (Toung Sol, JJ, Penta, shuguang and LPS)

These are the power tubes I have:

(2) Mesa STR-450 NOS
(2) Ruby -=C=- 6l6GC
(4) JJs 6l6GC
(2) JJs E34L (not EL34)
(2) Mesa STR-447 (el34)
(2) Mesa STR-440 (6l6)

I've been using the JJs on both the preamp and power section but I just got the NOS tubes (RCA, RFT and STR-450) and the winged c 6l6. I just want some suggestions on what combination to use.

Thanks in advanced

 

[zodiac272]

Hey nice selection...

for me i would try

V1 RCA
V2 RFT
V3 RFT
V4 Tung Sol
V5 Sovtek LPS

The tung sols are great in any spot as well, but i like the NOS tung sol better mainly cause they are more durable/reliable.

for output, try Mesa STR 450 inside pair, STR 447 outer pair. see how all 6L6 sounds too... 4x JJ 6L6



let us know how it goes

scott

 

[pegagos]

Thank you Scott. I will definitely will try that preamp combination. I just got the NOS tubes today so that will be my first config I will try.

on the power section I dont think I can use the str450 in the inside sockets cause they are el-34 (mesa branded siemmens NOS). I will try those on the outside sockets. I'll start with the -=c=- on the inside sockets and take it from there. I will definitely try the 4jj 6l6.

I have a jam tomorow night so I will get to test out my first config at drum levels. I will report with my findings.

thanks again

 

[swbo101]

Those mesa branded siemmens NOS (STR-450) are great. I had a them several years back in my Mark IV and loved them.
They are a bit pricy now. I paid $70 for the pair at the time. They sound great in class A with a Les Paul.

Also I love Tung-Sols in the V1. That's just my taste but a RCA there is pretty good as well.

 

[pegagos]

I went with the following tubes per Scott's suggestion:

V1 RCA
V2 RFT
V3 RFT
V4 Tung Sol
V5 Sovtek LPS
and the STR-450 and -=c=- 6l6gc.

Wow. what a difference. I don't know which one made the biggest difference but all together sounded pretty good. I usually mess with the amps knobs in between songs but I noticed when I was done that I didn't touch my amp at all during jam night. It was a very balanced sound. I didn't say anything to my band mates about the new tubes to see if they noticed and say something. They did as soon as hit the open G on my les paul on my R2 channel. I was very happy jamming last night.

It was scary getting into NOS tubes with so many choices out there, but I am very happy that I did. Maybe one day I'll score on a good mullard and put that in the mix, but right now I am very happy with what I have.

Thanks for your help

 

[zodiac272]

Thats great, I'm glad i finally gave good advise! :lol:

+1 on the tung sol in V1. I use them there too. an all around great tube. As far as buying NOS, you can score good deals on ebay, just keep looking. I usually never pay more than $15-20 per tube... where did you get your RFT's?

keep on keepin on!

scott