So I just retubed my dual rectifier with the JJ high-gain E34L kit along with GZ34's. I had GT EL34's and 12AX7's in there before and it sounded pretty good. But because that is how the amp came when I bought it, I figured I'd retube and and it would sound better. Well, I'm not sure what I think of it. It's different for sure, but something seems lacking. For one thing, the gain is a lot more noisy even at gain levels where the sound isn't totally saturated. I knew there was going to be more gain and I'd likely have to dial the gain down a little, but it's odd how it's more noisy. I went with the HG option because Jay (who was very cool) at Eurotubes explained that even if I didn't want more gain, I'd get more headroom. Also, I went with the E34L instead of a EL34 because it was explained that the E34L would tighten things up.
So.... I still need to do some messing around. I wish I could A/B the tube setups more easily so I still have the sounds fresh in my head. I can't put my finger on it, but I don't think it sounds optimum. Any ideas on why I could be perceiving this new setup to be lacking?
I also ordered a HG KT77 retube kit for my Marshall TSL 100 and the difference was huge. It sounds so much better with the KT77's (which I re-biased). I don't know how much of what I like is the KT77's and what is from the JJ HG preamp tubes. Ether way, I was expecting a similar jump in quality whey I retubed my DR. Any thoughts are appreciated....
So.... I still need to do some messing around. I wish I could A/B the tube setups more easily so I still have the sounds fresh in my head. I can't put my finger on it, but I don't think it sounds optimum. Any ideas on why I could be perceiving this new setup to be lacking?
I also ordered a HG KT77 retube kit for my Marshall TSL 100 and the difference was huge. It sounds so much better with the KT77's (which I re-biased). I don't know how much of what I like is the KT77's and what is from the JJ HG preamp tubes. Ether way, I was expecting a similar jump in quality whey I retubed my DR. Any thoughts are appreciated....