Hey guys,
I am going to be buying some new tubes here shortly (For a Mark IVA) and figured I would swing my selections by you guys to see if anyone had any other recommendations.
Here she goes:
V1: Mullard or Tung-Sol 12AX7
V2: Shuguang or Tung-Sol 12AX7
V3: Shuguang or Tung-Sol 12AX7
V4: Shuguang or Tung-Sol 12AX7
PI: 12AT7 of some sort, primarily looking at Penta with balanced triodes, however I am not sure yet.
Power: SED Winged 6L6GC's and EL-34s
My main goals:
I am looking for a great lead tone. Harmonically rich, strong sustain, and smooth. I'd like to have a good amount of distortion, but I am not looking for anything super heavy, primarily something similar to Petrucci's tone.
So if you were going to retube for a good lead tone, would this selection look to be about right?
In my humble opinion you have recieved great advice from the previous posts. There are as many right solutions to your questions as your ears can like... One can take the recommendations of others at face value and end up very pleased and simultaneously explore the possibilities of Mad Scientist personal experimentation, depends on how leaky your wallet is...and how finicky your ears are!
When revoicing a Mesa preamp, it's helpful to consult the owner's manual, available on the Mesa website as a download if not already in your hands. From that manual or from the amp's schematic it's possible to learn what each tube's assignment is in the preamp. For instance, in my Maverick the first position tube in the lead or dirty channel is v2. The first position tube in the lead OR clean channel gives the most dramatic effect on tone when changed out, but if there is a second preamp tube in a given channel it needs some consideration as well. It makes a copy of the first tube's signal and passes it on down the tone chain.
If you want to try a Mullard, I humbly suggest trying a REAL one, not the reissue first. Then you will know what a "Mullard" tone really is. A real honest to goodness Mullard shortplate 12ax7 will bring the exact tonal qualities you are seeking in spades. They are legendary for a reason...With that said, purchasing vintage old stock tubes on eBay is a crapshoot, expect one out of three to not work well due to microphonics or other issues. If you can willingly accept that risk you can be a very happy camper in the long run. The vast majority of ebay sellers use tube testers only and do not check for microphonics or sonics in a real amplifier circuit. I have found the reward well worth the risk.
If your ears like sounding like many good sounding others in tone, go for the new production tubes. If your ears like sounding like YOU, go the vintage old stock route and try as many different types as you have conscience in spending your hard earned cash. If your tastes in tone change for some reason it's quick and easy to swap out tubes from your accumulated collection as well. If you are lucky, you have some guitar tube collecting buddies that might loan you some different vintage makes for tube rolling, then get your own of what you like...It's a great idea to have an amp tech as a good personal friend! The tech might have a few used vintage tubes rolling around in a box at the shop from retube jobs.
One thing about the PI position, a balanced set of triodes can add to sustain, at the upper limit of clean headroom especially, if the circuit parts going to and from each set of triodes are balanced as well on each side. It's not just the tube.
Best of luck to you!
