Need help rectoverb tubes

[mwalluk]

I recently picked up a rectoverb series II combo. It's used. It came with gt 12ax7-r pres. Not a huge fan of them so I'm swapping tubes. How much of an effect does the v3-v5 spots have on the tone? Right now I'm running an ei yugo - genalex gold lion ri - jj - penta and sovtek lps in the v spots. The tone is slightly more compressed, darker and slightly mushy. Any thoughts what I can do? I wanna brighten up the amp, tighten up low end and make chords present and cut through the mix.

I have Tungsol, ehx, and a few other pres.

 

[mwalluk]

I have gt 6l6 ge in power, but thinkin of replacing then with Mullard el34

 

[mwalluk]

Clarification: I don't like JJ's. I know V3-V4 are cathode follower spots so I'm kind of stuck with either JJs or Chinese in those positions.