need help picking tubes

[oneamongthefence]

So i have a mesa tremoverb with a gmajor running in the loop all controlled by a gcp. The type of music i play is kind of a rock/alternative/progressive. I've had the tremoverb for like 4 years i think and i have never changed the tubes. It still sounds great, but i figure it's probably time to change them since i hear that new tubes make an amp sound great (like new strings on a guitar). I was just going to get the basic mesa 12ax7's for my preamp tubes from guitar center, but after doing some reading on here i saw that there might be some better options for me. Are the 12ax7's much different from the spax7's? are the electro harmonix preamp tubes good? where is the best place to order tubes from?

Anyways, i would really appreciate your ideas and suggestions as i have no clue what to do. Thanks in advance!

Also, to help with sound reference for my sound, here is my bands typical sites:
http://www.myspace.com/themonarchband
http://www.facebook.com/themonarchband

For best reference to my distorted sound listen to "Relapse"

 

[gonzald1]

go to eurotubes.com these guys are awesome. they will give you several options to choose from. gluck.

 

[oneamongthefence]

thanks for the reply. I've checked out the site and am thinking about getting the high gain re-tube kit for the tremoverb.
From the site:

"This kit uses a matched quad of the JJ 6L6GC's for power, three hand picked high gain ECC83S's for V1, V2 and V3, two standard ECC83S's for V4 and V5 along with a balanced ECC83S for the phase inverter in V6. Scorching lead tones and better note definition!"

Would those be good choices? I've never heard of JJ tubes (of course i don't know much about tubes though), and the fact that he only sells that brand seems a little one sided. However the prices seems very good so i may give them a try.

Anyone have any other suggestions for me to consider?

 

[espboogie123]

The only problem with eurotubes is that...they only provide pure JJ tubes. Their power tubes and rectifier tubes might be sufficient, but I would not recommend placing pure JJ preamp tubes. Mesa spax7 tubes are essentially the same as the rebranded mesa 12ax7 but hand selected and tested to be high grade and low microphonics. The Mesa spax7 or tungsol is a great V1 preamp tube. Dougstubes or Tubedepot is where I order my tubes from. Mainly tubedepot because they ship fedex, while doug ships usps. EH tubes are good but are not good in cathode follower positions.

 

[94Tremoverb]

I would definitely stay away from JJ preamp tubes in this amp. The Tremoverb is quite a dark amp anyway, and JJs will make it muddy. I would go with all Chinese Mesa 12AX7s or SPAX7s for the preamp, maybe with a Tung-Sol in V1. JJs are OK for the power tubes for reliability although I would still go for the Mesa Chinese for tone, if you're sticking with 6L6s - maybe the JJs if you're swapping to EL34s. You don't need to change the rectifiers unless they aren't working.

But really, you should consider NOS or just used old-production preamp tubes. It's a great amp and you *will* hear the difference. You don't have to spend a fortune - no Mullards or Telefunkens, and probably not RCAs - but you'll get noticeably better tone and life expectancy from any old-production US or European tube. NOS power tubes are getting expensive and used ones are risky unless you have the facilities to test them properly, so I would have to advise to go for new-production on those (which is a shame, because the old ones sound great).

But I would not use anything other than old-production tubes in mine, honestly.

 

[oneamongthefence]

The only problem with eurotubes is that...they only provide pure JJ tubes. Their power tubes and rectifier tubes might be sufficient, but I would not recommend placing pure JJ preamp tubes. Mesa spax7 tubes are essentially the same as the rebranded mesa 12ax7 but hand selected and tested to be high grade and low microphonics. The Mesa spax7 or tungsol is a great V1 preamp tube. Dougstubes or Tubedepot is where I order my tubes from. Mainly tubedepot because they ship fedex, while doug ships usps. EH tubes are good but are not good in cathode follower positions.

thanks alot. That's kind of what i was wondering. So do you think a Tungsol 12ax7(highgain version) in v1 and mesa 12ax7/spax7 in the rest of the slots would be good?

 

[oneamongthefence]

I would definitely stay away from JJ preamp tubes in this amp. The Tremoverb is quite a dark amp anyway, and JJs will make it muddy. I would go with all Chinese Mesa 12AX7s or SPAX7s for the preamp, maybe with a Tung-Sol in V1. JJs are OK for the power tubes for reliability although I would still go for the Mesa Chinese for tone, if you're sticking with 6L6s - maybe the JJs if you're swapping to EL34s. You don't need to change the rectifiers unless they aren't working.

But really, you should consider NOS or just used old-production preamp tubes. It's a great amp and you *will* hear the difference. You don't have to spend a fortune - no Mullards or Telefunkens, and probably not RCAs - but you'll get noticeably better tone and life expectancy from any old-production US or European tube. NOS power tubes are getting expensive and used ones are risky unless you have the facilities to test them properly, so I would have to advise to go for new-production on those (which is a shame, because the old ones sound great).

But I would not use anything other than old-production tubes in mine, honestly.

Thanks for the help. That is exactly what i needed to hear. I think i will put tungsol in v1 and mesa in the rest.

Also, last question, are power tubes equally important to change as well? i have 2 mesa 6L6's that i haven't put in yet. Just wondering if i should pick up another 2.

 

[espboogie123]

The tungsol will be good. I think the mesas will be fine, but I would put a (chinese tube)penta labs or shuguang 9th or Chinese Mesa in your v3 and v4 cathode positions.

 

[oneamongthefence]

The tungsol will be good. I think the mesas will be fine, but I would put a (chinese tube)penta labs or shuguang 9th or Chinese Mesa in your v3 and v4 cathode positions.

where would i find chinese mesa's? they aren't on any of these sites.

 

[gonzald1]

thanks for the reply. I've checked out the site and am thinking about getting the high gain re-tube kit for the tremoverb.
From the site:

"This kit uses a matched quad of the JJ 6L6GC's for power, three hand picked high gain ECC83S's for V1, V2 and V3, two standard ECC83S's for V4 and V5 along with a balanced ECC83S for the phase inverter in V6. Scorching lead tones and better note definition!"

Would those be good choices? I've never heard of JJ tubes (of course i don't know much about tubes though), and the fact that he only sells that brand seems a little one sided. However the prices seems very good so i may give them a try.

Anyone have any other suggestions for me to consider?

well.. i have a roadster and my experience with JJ preamp tubes nothing can match it so far. go with your taste of sound. that's what i go for. i modded my roadster so that i can use other brands of power tubes. good luck to you and keep rockin'

 

[oneamongthefence]

so i was thinking about getting this kit from dougstubes.com:
- V1 Tungsol 12AX7
- V2 High Gain JJECC83
- V3 Penta 12AX7
- V4 Penta 12AX7
- V5 Shuguang 12AX7 9th gen
- V6 Sovtek LP/LPS

Only thing is i want to switch out the jjecc83 with a mesa spax7.
Here's more what i was thinking:
-V1 Tungsol
-V2 Mesa spax7
-V3 Penta
-V4 Penta
-V5 Mesa 12ax7
-V6 Mesa 12ax7
your guys thoughts? Should i use the shuguang and the sovtek instead of the mesa's for v5-6?

 

[FXR]

My two cents. The cocktail lists seem to change. Maybe they change with stock? I see a lot of Chinese tubes being pushed in some cocktails that I'm pretty sure was not the case a while back. My opinion on the Penta and even the Mesa Chinese is not a good one.

YMMV

 

[212Mavguy]

For right now, if your amp isn't broke and you like your tones, don't "quick fix" it with new production tubes... :shock:

With that said, take some serious spare time researching vintage tubes for that amp, starting with 12ax7's. Since you can research a Boogie Board member's posts, check out the posts from Timbre Wolf, and also shredd6 if they can be found, mine are available as well FWIW.

TW has done some exhaustive personal research and posted his results in tables for 12ax7's and 12at7's, they are VERY worth the major PITA to dig them up. His forum posts are right on. Some good stuff on VOS and NOS can be found 8-12 pages back in the tubes section here also. VOS=vintage old stock...used vintage tubes, NOS=new old stock, unused except for testing or VERY briefly running in circuit to check for operating function. I STRONGLY prefer using VOS tubes in my amps. I get mine from winning eBay auctions. 5 years ago 4 out of 5 were fine, now it's 2 out of 3. So expect to get some less than wonderful ones. Still worth the time and $$$.

Over time, certain members post truly brilliant contributions and then they tend to happen less and less often, about that time a new member having the tone "goods" knowledge tends to take the stage. Currently, 94tremoverb is one of those nicely shining lights, take his words to heart. You saw earlier in this thread his preference for vintage tubes in his amps. There is a reason, called "tone." 8)

 

[stokes]

I'd say you should go with new power tubes first.I,like some of the other guys here,use only old stock tubes.They can be expensive but will make a world of difference.Pre-amp tubes can last a lifetime,not so much with current production,but they should still outlast your power tubes,so you can change preamp tubes till your blue in the face and not realize the improvement if you still have your old power tubes in there.Get some good power tubes,have them biased up right and then start experimenting with the preamps.Mavguy and Timber Wolf have some of the best posts regarding preamp tube comparisons,so change those power tubes then do a search and look for these guys opinions and descriptions of the tonal differences in your preamp tubes.

 

[212Mavguy]

Power tubes...have them biased right...

Dead f-ing right, stokes. If your mesa is out of warranty then consider installing a bias mod kit and bias test kit. They are starting to come out of the woodwork. Power tubes biased into their sweet spot will improve your tone very, very, much over power tubes not biased into sweetness.

Peace.