Phase Inverter Tube
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espboogie123
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v6 position. Phase inverter usually last one or the tube nearest to power tubes. Did you get pure JJ preamp tubes?? I find JJ tubes to be dark and the roadster is an already dark machine.
espboogie123
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Mix of Tung sol, EH, penta labs/Shuguang Sovtek. YOu'll be ok with the jj's but jj12ax7 tend to dull the tone when placed in all spots. Tung sol in or Mesa spax7 in v1 is nice. The rest are to preference.
94Tremoverb
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Be careful with Russian-made tubes (Sovtek, EH, Tung-Sol) in the cathode-follower positions - probably V3 and V4 on this amp if it's the same as the standard Rectifiers. Personally I think all the standard Sovtek types sound like cr@p anyway, so I wouldn't use those at all. You really don't want a JJ in V1 either... I agree with espboogie that a Tung-Sol would be much better - or more or less anything! JJs are muddy and flat-sounding and are particularly effective at strangling the tone in this position.
But really, if you care about your tone just go NOS. Really.
But really, if you care about your tone just go NOS. Really.
Hmm. So if I install my new JJ's, except in V1 position, that would make a big difference?
I also bought JJ power tubes and rectifier tubes. Do they add too the "darkness" too? I'm bummed out.
Here I thought I was pumping so new life into my amp.
I also bought JJ power tubes and rectifier tubes. Do they add too the "darkness" too? I'm bummed out.
Here I thought I was pumping so new life into my amp.
The cathode follower positions in the Roadster are V3 & V5. Avoid using EH, Tung-Sol, & Sovtek tubes there. The JJ's are OK in those positions, and the 9th generation Shuguang are very good.
I find the JJ EL34 OK for the money, and don't think they will darken the amp much. They are actually a good tube, but lack some of the harmonics and complexity of the SED =C= for example. Do you have the EL34 or E34L?
Rectifier tubes are more a matter of feel. BTW- if the old ones worked you do not need to replace them, They either work or don't. Did you get 5U4GB's or did Bob push you into the GZ34/5AR4?
What do you have in the preamp now? Are they Mesa labeled tubes? If they are, and are marked "Russian" (not Russian-1 or Russian-2) then you already have JJ's in there. Just compare them to your JJ's, and if they have the same short, flat plate structure they are the same JJ's you just bought.
If they are marked "Russian-2" they are Electro Harmonix, a good sounding current production tube. If they are "Russian-1" they are Sovteks, which are rather dull and lifeless sounding tubes IMO.
The Tung-Sol Reissue is a good V1 tube, bright, clear and punchy. The JJ is fine in V2 after the TS. For V3 & V5 a safe bet is the Shuguang Chinese. V4 and V6 are a matter of personal taste, you may find that the dark nature of the JJ warms up the reverb in V4, and the high-gain nature of the JJ makes the amp a little more aggressive in V6.
Good Luck,
Dom
pboogie said:
I find the JJ EL34 OK for the money, and don't think they will darken the amp much. They are actually a good tube, but lack some of the harmonics and complexity of the SED =C= for example. Do you have the EL34 or E34L?
Rectifier tubes are more a matter of feel. BTW- if the old ones worked you do not need to replace them, They either work or don't. Did you get 5U4GB's or did Bob push you into the GZ34/5AR4?
What do you have in the preamp now? Are they Mesa labeled tubes? If they are, and are marked "Russian" (not Russian-1 or Russian-2) then you already have JJ's in there. Just compare them to your JJ's, and if they have the same short, flat plate structure they are the same JJ's you just bought.
If they are marked "Russian-2" they are Electro Harmonix, a good sounding current production tube. If they are "Russian-1" they are Sovteks, which are rather dull and lifeless sounding tubes IMO.
The Tung-Sol Reissue is a good V1 tube, bright, clear and punchy. The JJ is fine in V2 after the TS. For V3 & V5 a safe bet is the Shuguang Chinese. V4 and V6 are a matter of personal taste, you may find that the dark nature of the JJ warms up the reverb in V4, and the high-gain nature of the JJ makes the amp a little more aggressive in V6.
Good Luck,
Dom
espboogie123
Well-known member
Sorry I wasn't clear on my post. Usually v1, tungsols or a mesa spax7 works nicely. A JJ or EH can be inserted in v2 and mix of chinese penta labs/shuguang can be placed in v3/v4/v5. Sovtek lps or Mesa is a good v6 phase inverter tube. Your JJ power/rectifier tubes will probably not darken the amp. Actually, you purchasing the jj el34's will probably bring the mids out a bit more.
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