scott from _actual time_
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- Jul 7, 2006
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i'm trying to reduce the sizzly high-end on the high gain channels in my Mark V. i like thick high-gain sounds, but the stock JJ preamp tubes were too bright for me.
i've put a Tung Sol reissue in V1. i've tried several tubes in V3: JJ 83S (too bright, probably since it's the same tube as the stock ones), Penta Labs Chinese version of the 9th gen Shuguang 12AX7 (not quite enough gain), unlabeled Chinese tube from 10 years ago (nicely thick but a bit sizzly in the high-end), Sovtek 12AX7 WXT+ (also thick but sizzly).
i've heard of good results in V1 and V3 with Mesa SP12AX7s from the mid-90s. does anyone know what tube brand/manufacturer Mesa used for the SP12AX7s 15 years ago? any chance it's the same brand they're using for these tubes nowadays? (these tubes are the ones with the gray shrink-wrap tubing on them).
i know Mesa's regular preamp tubes these days are JJs. is the SP12AX7s a different original brand, or is it just a JJ selected for lower microphonics?
or (last question, i swear ), does anyone have a recommendation for a different tube to try in V3. it's the 3rd Gain Stage for Ch1/Ch3, 4th Gain Stage for Ch2. should i try a Tung Sol reissue there too, or the Electro-Harmonix 12AX7? or would a long plate tube be a better one to try, like maybe the JJ 803S or the New Sensor Mullard reissue?
thanks very much for any suggestions.
i've put a Tung Sol reissue in V1. i've tried several tubes in V3: JJ 83S (too bright, probably since it's the same tube as the stock ones), Penta Labs Chinese version of the 9th gen Shuguang 12AX7 (not quite enough gain), unlabeled Chinese tube from 10 years ago (nicely thick but a bit sizzly in the high-end), Sovtek 12AX7 WXT+ (also thick but sizzly).
i've heard of good results in V1 and V3 with Mesa SP12AX7s from the mid-90s. does anyone know what tube brand/manufacturer Mesa used for the SP12AX7s 15 years ago? any chance it's the same brand they're using for these tubes nowadays? (these tubes are the ones with the gray shrink-wrap tubing on them).
i know Mesa's regular preamp tubes these days are JJs. is the SP12AX7s a different original brand, or is it just a JJ selected for lower microphonics?
or (last question, i swear ), does anyone have a recommendation for a different tube to try in V3. it's the 3rd Gain Stage for Ch1/Ch3, 4th Gain Stage for Ch2. should i try a Tung Sol reissue there too, or the Electro-Harmonix 12AX7? or would a long plate tube be a better one to try, like maybe the JJ 803S or the New Sensor Mullard reissue?
thanks very much for any suggestions.