List of tubes tried with the Mark V?

[jb's 52]

So...

What tubes have you tried and what are your impressions of them? Brand, bias and experience?

I tried the search function but I think I broke it I'm still running stock tubes and I like them
but I'm sure when I need to re-tube, I'll be wanting to experiment

Thanks!!!

 

[4406cuda]

I am using SED Winged C 6L6s and Tungsol 12AX7s

I am very happy with that tube configuration. The crunch and extreme settings are very smooth and creamy. The cleans are very chimey and bell like.

 

[ixoye777]

I have Tung Sol EL34b's in and to my ears they are a huge improvement over the stock tubes. I found the stock tubes a touch harsh on the mids and highs especially on CH3. The EL34b's smoothed everything out. The only preamp tube I have touched was to replace V1 with a Tung Sol 12AX7. It warmed up CH1 and added a bit more growl to CH3.

 

[eudaimonia02912]

Power tubes, ranking:
1. SED =C= EL34s
2. JJ EL34s
3. Mesa STR 447 EL34
4. JJ 6L6s
5. Mesa STR 440 6L6s

Best preamp tubes for v1-3 in my opinion: NOS RFT
Favorite PI (V7) tube: Mullard Reissue

Unlike the rest of you, I dislike Tung Sols in this amp. They sound too bright to me.

 

[Anonymous]

lots of choices out there. different cabs, speakers, guitars and pickups would also have an influence on the sound.

i have tried different brands and types which included:

6L6's>>>>> mesa, svletana, winged C and Tad's. they all have somthing different and special

EL34's>>>>>mesa, Winged C, tungsol new production and mullard new production. i settled for mullard's ( iwas looking for smooth, creamy, strong bass, lower mids and smooth highs)

preamps:

i settled in V1 mullard RI high gain, V2 Tad, V3 tung sol , V4,V5,V6 (svletana) and V7 sovtek 12AX7 LPS.

i had this tubes running for over 5 months now... they work for me.

one thing to mention: anytime i tried tubes in general, itried them for at least 5 days at mid volume (try differnt settings)

i found that sound is very personal and everything regarding reviews are just guidelines for us.

good luck :wink:

 

[Guitar Ike]

Well I'll throw two-cents at this. I hace a MKIII Red-Stripe 60 watt Non-SimulClass and I've managed to get the most heinous tone out of it after trying various pickup and tube configs.
The Mesa 6L6 STR440's vary a lot by color code. The amp came with Reds. I tried the Greys and they had a lower break-up or clip across the board. Far less overdrive, punch and bottom end available. The Reds have more break-up or clip in low-end and lower-mids and the top-end is fat/thick. Reds have a ton of drive. Then I tried Yellow. Wow !....More balanced and smooth sounding than the Reds. I backed-off the upper-mids and top-end (sliders 4 and 5) on the EQ and WTF ! I'm in MKIIC+ territory. Bone-crushing bottom-end. I'm playing a Les Paul with a Pearly Gates through a C90 4x12. I also use a V1 Bottle Rocket for a 2nd lead and rhythm sound.
The preamp tubes: I tried J J and Mesa. Then Tugsol (too grainy), the best I found......Okay don't knock it til ya try it ....EH. Yeah, Electro-Harmonics. They smoked the others hands down for balanced tone. They have more bite and a singing quality I didn't hear in the others.
And these are spares I had lying around from various Marshalls.
Anyway, that's about two-cents worth.

 

[jb's 52]

Cool cool...

I have a spare pair of Winged =C= EL34s and a pair of EH EL34s I think I can drop in and try there.
I have a couple other homeless 12ax7's as well, Tungsols, Mullards, EH (I think). I'm gonna have to
experiment.

I know it's all subjective and there's a lot of factors but you guys know best about the amp we
all play

Thanks all, keep 'em coming!!

 

[Ascendance]

SED =C= EL34s

I see these all over the internet but the prices varry ALOT! I dont know who to buy from or if i should just get something mesa branded or what ones to get from mesa.

I have a Mark V 90w on the way and should be here tuesday. Its like new and barely been played has everthing including manual and even the tags still on it.

I wana have a good EL34 set to try on it. For the stuff i hear about el 34's on variac mode and other tone experments.

I just dont want to over pay or get tubs that will red plate.

I spent stupid money on some NOS gold lion el84s for my orange combo and they blew out with in a hour. Never wana experance that again.

How about these options on sweetwater.com? Or these on eBay?