Mesa tube alternatives for Lone Star Classic?

[Rock-On!!]

What are you guys using in place of the Mesa tubes that came stock in the amp. It’s not really that I dislike the Mesa products, but I just had one fail and plan to replace all four.

I read somewhere about a color code on the tubes. The ones from my amp look to read GRN. How do I equate that to a wing C, EH or other brands? I am just looking for some clean headroom that I can drive with pedals, I get my other fix from a Marshall Jubilee.

Ant recommendations of what to stay away from?

Thanks in advance,

 

[Dreads]

in v1 I have a (NOS)jan-philips 12ax7-wa, then I have 9th gen shuguangs in the next 2 positions.. also, I switched (happily) to Ruby EL34 bstr power tubes.. I forget what I have in the other pe-amp positions.

I also have a (NOS)GE 5U4GB Rectifier tube. This amp sounds incredible. Best money I ever spent switching from the lousy stinking crud that came with such an expensive amp (I bought it with a hard wood bubinga case for around $2,400. I forget the exact amount.)

All my MESA farting & squeeling went away when I switched to non MESA tubes. I bought my tubes online from DOUG's Tubes.
http://www.dougstubes.com/

I LOVE this amp!!!! LOVE IT! Doug will be more than happy I am sure to recommend tubes that'll make your amp sing with creamy goodness.

 

[Rock-On!!]

I ordered some new 6l6 tubes from Doug’s Tubes. While talking to him he also suggested trying a couple of new preamp tubes. I picked up one Tung-Sol 12ax7 and one Sovtek 12ax7LPS. I think he suggested the Tung-Sol in the V1 position, but I can’t remember where he suggested putting the Sovtek. Where would these tubes be most beneficial. I have some other various brands of 12ax7s that I might play around with in other locations, but I would like to use the new tubes where they would make the most improvement.
Thanks,

 

[Rock-On!!]

Her is a layout of the tube chart.

The other new tubes I have are;
1-Sovtek12ax7WA
1-Sovtek 12ax7LP
1-EH 12at7 EH
1-Sylvania 12ay7

 

[speedy mcfeely]

I have a LSS, but the preamps are the same. I run a (NOS) RCA 5751 in the V1 and V2 spots, and a (NOS) Phillips 12AT7 in the reverb spot, then JJ 12ax7 in the other spots. Sounds killer, so smooth, and creamy in the OD channel, and sparkly like one of those rap guys gold teeth on the clean channel.

 

[Timbre Wolf]

I'll say, up front, that I don't have access to a LSC, and I'm just wingin' an answer because Rock-On!! asked me to, in another thread.

Both Dreads' and Speedy McFeeley's replies sound completely viable. The fact that they're different is your first clue that this is a complicated question - one that depends on your taste, patience, and access to tube options.

Given your tubes, I'd recommend the Russian "Tung-Sol" for V1, but also try the 12AY7 there, to see what the cleaner response does for you. Try the LPS in V2, and the other Sovtek 12AX7 in V3. I'd try the 12AT7 in V4 (reverb) to see how you like it, but then give it a go as the phase-inverter, and check out the response you get at your highest playing volume. If the 12AT7 in the PI/V5 yields too much clean at top volume, then try a 5751 or get another long-plate 12AX7 for that duty.

Then I'd recommend getting a couple more tube options - they don't have to be too awfully expensive, but I do recommend NOS. Get a good black-plate 5751, and also a black-plate 12AT7. Try 'em both, one at a time, in all preamp positions, just to become familiar with the effect they can have.

This kind of tube subbing can take a lot of time, but ultimately be very rewarding. The LSC is a complicated amp, and it is great that you're looking at the tube task chart, and thinking about what tube does what in which mode.

Here is an example of my re-tubing/optimizing process, for a relatively simple amp (tweed Bandmaster clone): I posted it in this thread at The Gear Page. I mention this to show how complicated it can be, and no matter what theories you hold in your mind, you've got to test them by putting the tubes in place. You may be surprised at what you come up with.

Don't forget to put all the extra tubes aside and kick out the jams, too. 8)

- Thom

 

[Rock-On!!]

Thanks for the suggestions,

Ok,
This is what I have in now.
V1-Tung-Sol 12ax7
V2-Sovtek 12ax7LPS
V3-Sovtek 12AX7LP
V4-Mesa 12AX7
V5-EH 12AT7

It may just be that it has been a while since I played the amp (two weeks) and I don’t have a reference to go by, but it doesn’t seem quite clean when the volume is high.

Any thoughts?

 

[Timbre Wolf]

Sorry - I can't really tell what might make the amp more distorted now - there are too many factors involved in the settings. If you're still wondering after tweaking the settings a while, you may want to swap each tube, one at a time, to get a feel for what each one does.

- T

 

[Rock-On!!]

Thanks,
I think I am going to do just that.
Put back all the Mesa preamp tubes then swap them out one at a time until I find what works best.
Looks like a long night

 

[Timbre Wolf]

Looks like a long night

A couple of long nights will give you the depth of understanding that will last a lifetime. In retrospect, you'll be thinking no sweat!!

- Thom

 

[Rock-On!!]

I put all the Mesa preamp tubes back in and still had some hair on the clean channel.

I only have two (working) Mesa 6l6s’, so I tried them in the two center locations and it cleaned right up.

Will it hurt to run the amp with two wing Cs’ and two stock tubes? Or, do you think the Cs’ will smooth out after some time?