New tubes-cant stand it any longer

[Deadfall]

Happy with my amp...but pulled the pin based on what I've seen you guys posting.Got me some sed winged el34x4-and some tung sol 12ax7X6 on the way.Shudder to think it could be any better but I have had some issues with dialing too much treble into it.Will keep you updated

 

[Spewnz]

if its possible you should record the amp before and after the tube change with the same settings to really hear the tonal characteristics.

 

[ESlinker]

Maybe a dumb question but why did you only order 6 12ax7's instead of 7?

 

[Heritage Softail]

The amp will probably lift off the ground and enter a low earth orbit, pelting the masses with thundering riffs and lightning leads..... :shock: :shock:

 

[eudaimonia02912]

Cool beans on the Winged Cs. I'm in the minority camp here that doesn't care for the Tung Sols.

 

[Deadfall]

Maybe a dumb question but why did you only order 6 12ax7's instead of 7?

Cause Ima dummy I guess hehe.Was thinkin it only took 6 to be honest but I've got a couple extra still in the box from when I had the tremoverb.He was sellin em in a pack of six and I was in a hurry stewing up a deal with Lord Meestursparkle.More on that later...what is it they say about a fool and his money?

 

[golfnguitarz]

I am with ya. The treble is killing me. Maybe it's new speakers that aren't broken in yet, dunno, but I pulled the trigger and my =C= EL34's should arrive today. I am hoping channel 2 will get to the point where I would like it and channel 1 doesn't take too big a hit. Everything is a tradeoff I guess.

 

[Barry]

Question regarding all this tube swapping . I assume you guys did a demo with the mark V before you bought it and you must of loved since you bought it . How did it fall out of favor so quickly with you ? I dont have a problem witht the stock tubes and besides all the R&D was done with them .

 

[Deadfall]

Question regarding all this tube swapping . I assume you guys did a demo with the mark V before you bought it and you must of loved since you bought it . How did it fall out of favor so quickly with you ? I dont have a problem witht the stock tubes and besides all the R&D was done with them .

Mine certainly hasnt fallen from favor...just want to be sure I'm not missing out on any tonal possibilities hehe.Also pulled the pin on an additional 2x12 vert rectifier cab.Finally got mine and love it so much better than the c90 in my combo I'm just gonna run 2 of the vert cabs in my man-cave.Use just the combo itself alone when I go jam with friends etc.The tube thing just proves furthermore,that even when you have the best,you are never truly happy lol.

 

[ESlinker]

I know the EL34's are the big thing with the Mark V, but how about Winged Cs 6L6s or any other brand of 6L6s? Would they also tame the high end a bit like the EL34s and make channel 2 sound better or is that wishful thinking?

 

[Heritage Softail]

I know the EL34's are the big thing with the Mark V, but how about Winged Cs 6L6s or any other brand of 6L6s? Would they also tame the high end a bit like the EL34s and make channel 2 sound better or is that wishful thinking?

I bought the =C= 6L6 first, just to get a better Metal amp, they do sound a bit better, but I also swapped to Tung Sol RI in the front end at the same time. The amp got a bit more gain and I 'think' I can hear a little more clarity between notes in chords at the mid gain level. Cranked the amp sounds more pissed off and exactly like a 6L6 amp 'should' sound in my head. Plenty of internet tube stores have tube profiles to look over.

The EL's move the lead tones, when playing a Les Paul, closer to that classic rock Les Paul tone. Neither set of 6L6 tubes did that. I like to play a few types of music, Pat Metheny, AC/DC, Metallica, Dire Straits, SRV, NuMetal, lots of late 80's and 90's classic rock. The two sets of tubes with a few different guitars cover them better. And for $60 for a quad of JJ EL34's, it is a very cheap way to open a few more tonal options to an already great amp. The JJ's were an experiment. The final set of EL34's or E34L's is yet to be determined.

 

[arvee72]

Question regarding all this tube swapping . I assume you guys did a demo with the mark V before you bought it and you must of loved since you bought it . How did it fall out of favor so quickly with you ? I dont have a problem witht the stock tubes and besides all the R&D was done with them .

I recently tilted my V combo back to hear it a bit more clearly when jamming with the band. It was then that I noticed the highs ripping through the mix (which is a good thing in some cases), but I can't help but wonder if EL34's would smooth it for the better. I mean, the option must exist on the V for a reason.

 

[Barry]

Most Mesa amps have the bias switch to give you the option of tube choice but to capture the true intention of the mark series design the 6L6 would be the better choice . I know Im going to catch flack for saying this .

 

[4406cuda]

I put in SED 6L6s and Tungsol 12AX7s, and I think it is the way to go.

 

[golfnguitarz]

I put in SED 6L6s and Tungsol 12AX7s, and I think it is the way to go.

Curious as to what differences you heard with the SEDs

 

[arvee72]

Most Mesa amps have the bias switch to give you the option of tube choice but to capture the true intention of the mark series design the 6L6 would be the better choice .

I think that's a fair statement. I'm trying to counter a bit of the sizzle that occurs with my SSL-1 equipped ESP Vintage Plus Strat in high gain applications (leads). Sure, I could experiment with other pickup configs, but I think ESP has their Japanese instruments very well balanced.

From the Mark 5 manual:

"In our experience weaker more vintage style pickups accentuate the upper harmonic region and are wonderful for shimmering, bell-like harmonics and clarity in low to medium gain applications. When you are looking for higher gain performance, these types of pickups will present some challenges as all those upper harmonics can get buzzy and thin sounding as the gain increases. You will likely find it necessary to roll the TREBLE and PRESENCE back substantially when searching for a high gain sound that is focused and pure with these pickups."

Maybe EL34's would work well for me in this scenario..

 

[Deadfall]

Got my TS-12ax7s in today..dunno why he didnt pack the el34s in with em.Ima just wait and do em all at once I suppose.Not bein lazy....just figured I would wait as the powertubes will prolly change things considerably.Having said that hell...the amp is great,just wondering what else it could do.
When I got my .50 cal way back in the day the tubes were fine...not so sure about the ones they stock nowadays.What about those covers on the preamp tubes....are they really necessary?Any of you guys just leave em off?Not like Im lettin the kids play in there or anything.Just wondering...

 

[arvee72]

I just posted some clips comparing 6l6 to EL34 in the Mk5

http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=46036&p=331156#p331156