gatom21greyhound
Member
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2006
- Messages
- 15
- Reaction score
- 0
What EL34's and 12AX7's would you recommend to re-tube a Stiletto Ace?
Re-tubing Siletto Ace
- Thread starter gatom21greyhound
- Start date
Help Support The Boogie Board:
Old BF Shred
Well-known member
I guess it all depends on what you look to accomplish by replacing the old ones....Is it to improve something about the tone? Or do you just want something that lasts longer?
As far as a rugged, reliable EL34, SED =C= are the best I've used...they are built "Ford Tough" and keep going gig after gig (at least for me). They have excellent clarity, tone wise, as well. Some people want more low end from the Ace. In which case GT EL34M seem to have more lows, IMO.
For 12ax7, I use vintage tubes like Telefunken, Amperex, Sonotone.....hard to find and pricey, however.
The standard JJ 12ax7 sounds good and tames some of the brightness the Ace is known for (try it in the V2 position to affect all modes).
The highest gain 12ax7 I've tried is the new TungSol re issue. Ballsy, but smooth...still bright sounding like the stock Mesa tubes, however.
It all depends on what qualities are important to you.
Good luck!
As far as a rugged, reliable EL34, SED =C= are the best I've used...they are built "Ford Tough" and keep going gig after gig (at least for me). They have excellent clarity, tone wise, as well. Some people want more low end from the Ace. In which case GT EL34M seem to have more lows, IMO.
For 12ax7, I use vintage tubes like Telefunken, Amperex, Sonotone.....hard to find and pricey, however.
The standard JJ 12ax7 sounds good and tames some of the brightness the Ace is known for (try it in the V2 position to affect all modes).
The highest gain 12ax7 I've tried is the new TungSol re issue. Ballsy, but smooth...still bright sounding like the stock Mesa tubes, however.
It all depends on what qualities are important to you.
Good luck!
gatom21greyhound
Member
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2006
- Messages
- 15
- Reaction score
- 0
If I used the GTel34 was rating would I use?
Thanks for your help.
Thanks for your help.
MusicManJP6
Well-known member
gatom21greyhound said:
GTs with rating between 4 and 6 are considered to be within Mesa spec.
Try a TungSol RI in V1 and V2 and JJs in the rest of the slots. Also try TungSol EL34Bs! They are a nice thick sounding tube.
fishyfishfish
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 14, 2007
- Messages
- 1,164
- Reaction score
- 2
Big +1 on the NOS pre amp tubes. You don't even need to do the whole set, just V1 and V2. Huge improvement in tone, even in my Dual.
I put an old no-name organ pull (Square getter) in my F30 and improved the amp tremendously. As for power tubes the old winged C from svetlana are good. Grove Tube bys tubes in bulk from the same people that everyone else buys from and charges a little on the high side for the same thing (IMO) so you might want to try Doug's tubes or the Tubes Store.
Good Luck!
I put an old no-name organ pull (Square getter) in my F30 and improved the amp tremendously. As for power tubes the old winged C from svetlana are good. Grove Tube bys tubes in bulk from the same people that everyone else buys from and charges a little on the high side for the same thing (IMO) so you might want to try Doug's tubes or the Tubes Store.
Good Luck!
gatom21greyhound
Member
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2006
- Messages
- 15
- Reaction score
- 0
What do you think about the following to contain brightness and white noise?
V1 - Tungsol 12ax7
v2- - 5751
v3 - JJ ECC83
v4 - 5751
V5 - JJ ECC83
With SED C Winged EL34's or GT34M.
Thanks to all for your help......
V1 - Tungsol 12ax7
v2- - 5751
v3 - JJ ECC83
v4 - 5751
V5 - JJ ECC83
With SED C Winged EL34's or GT34M.
Thanks to all for your help......
212Mavguy
Well-known member
Try swapping the 5751 and TS v1/v2 for giggles and listen to your ears. If the Tungsol 12ax7 is a reissue, call it that in print, the reissue is a far cry construction and tonewise from the original. :wink:
A decent, moderately used 5751 should tend to be quieter for noise and be less shrill and more girthy in tone(s) than most if not all of the brand new production 12ax7's. I have had better luck using a lesser gain tube in front of a higher gain one as far as successive/cascading gain stages for a given channel. 5751 is less gain than 12ax7 by design...only your ears have the answer fo sho. It's YOUR tones...Peace.
A decent, moderately used 5751 should tend to be quieter for noise and be less shrill and more girthy in tone(s) than most if not all of the brand new production 12ax7's. I have had better luck using a lesser gain tube in front of a higher gain one as far as successive/cascading gain stages for a given channel. 5751 is less gain than 12ax7 by design...only your ears have the answer fo sho. It's YOUR tones...Peace.
PilotSSW
Active member
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2009
- Messages
- 41
- Reaction score
- 0
I love the 5751's but I dont think you will loose much noise with them in those positions. In my experience I've really only had luck with them in V1 to drop gain intentionally and in the phase inverter to lower the amps overall output a bit.
Keep in mind that when you use the 5751 you will probably loose alot of gain, but like others side it should be morth girthy, a little throatier and you should notice some more low mids, but overall the gain drop is the most noticeable change.
If you want more low end and a smoother high end in that amp, I would try Kt-77s, I use them in my stiletto ace and lonestar combos and just love them. That shrill top end that both amps had was gone and the bass was tighter than either 6l6's or El-34's. If your dead set on the EL's then give the E34-L a try its a great tube, with more headroom and tighter bass. The E34-L is more modern sounding, the EL-34 is more vintage sounding, saggier bass, mushy midrange, etc ... Also the stock mesa tubes are generally cheap (they are rebranded chinese and russian tubes), I hated the rectifier that came with my lonestar. Try a GZ34 that will really tighten the bass if you like rectifiers.
I hope some of my recommendations help, of course use your ears and your guts when you make up your mind, you know what your aiming after far more than I do. Best of luck !
P.S. Since everyone's recommeding tube vendors, I'm going to suggest Eurotubes, some people like them, some dont, it's all preference; but you can give those guys a call and they always and will never hang up on you. They're prices are fantastic too, I love what I've bought from them.
~ Sean
Keep in mind that when you use the 5751 you will probably loose alot of gain, but like others side it should be morth girthy, a little throatier and you should notice some more low mids, but overall the gain drop is the most noticeable change.
If you want more low end and a smoother high end in that amp, I would try Kt-77s, I use them in my stiletto ace and lonestar combos and just love them. That shrill top end that both amps had was gone and the bass was tighter than either 6l6's or El-34's. If your dead set on the EL's then give the E34-L a try its a great tube, with more headroom and tighter bass. The E34-L is more modern sounding, the EL-34 is more vintage sounding, saggier bass, mushy midrange, etc ... Also the stock mesa tubes are generally cheap (they are rebranded chinese and russian tubes), I hated the rectifier that came with my lonestar. Try a GZ34 that will really tighten the bass if you like rectifiers.
I hope some of my recommendations help, of course use your ears and your guts when you make up your mind, you know what your aiming after far more than I do. Best of luck !
P.S. Since everyone's recommeding tube vendors, I'm going to suggest Eurotubes, some people like them, some dont, it's all preference; but you can give those guys a call and they always and will never hang up on you. They're prices are fantastic too, I love what I've bought from them.
~ Sean
rocksalt7
Well-known member
The Tung Sol 34B's worked really well for me and they seem to be holding up pretty well too. I've got Tung Sols in the V1 and V2 slots as well; stock Mesas elsewhere. :mrgreen:
