New tubes for my used Series 2 Rectoverb 50

[redskies193]

Hey everyone just bought my Rectoverb 50 last week and I'm loving it so far! I'm thinking I should buy some backup tubes since I dont know when they have last been changed and I'm wondering if theres another tube combination I should try out. It currently has 6L6 power tubes and I'm not sure what the preamp tubes are. I play mostly blues/classic rock sounding stuff, think Neil Young/Black Keys/Rolling Stones and I was wondering if I should try EL34s? Or maybe some low gain preamp tubes?

Any help would be appreciated I'm a tube noob I just upgraded from my transtube marshall.

 

[lerxst88]

If you like vintage-y distorted sounds go for EL-34s! If you do lots of clean stuff where you want headroom, stick with 6L6s.

And hey if you have the means, buy a pair of both and see what you like! Worst case scenario is you sell the tubes you dont want on ebay or here! (I might even be interested come to think of it!)

 

[fluff191]

First thing I do when I get an amp is change out (at least) the power tubes and then I will always have the old ones as backups.

EL34's are very nice sounding in a Recto, but the difference in tone is not a massive one compared to the 6L6 IMO. A bit more mids and a little less low end. The 'feel' of the amp will change a bit though.

As for preamp tubes, Electro-Harmonix's are a very good choice that are affordable and sound very good in a Recto. Very quiet and robust tube. Just make sure you have a Chinese pre (Shuguang, Penta, etc.) in the 3rd and 4th positions of the Cathode follower.

Hope that helps.