tubes in a DR two channel RevG

[nwoforlif]

Hi

I just bought a DR S/N 14171 about three weeks ago. I have changed the amp's power tubes to Mesa 6L6 STR440's the color is yellow for all of them. I heard that these power tubes break up sooner than say the blue colored ones. Is this correct? Also who makes the STR440's I heard it was a Sovtek tube. I heard the Tube Amp Doctor 6L6's were killer in this amp.

My second question is when should I change out the 12ax7 tubes? Which 12ax7 tubes should I go with? I play mostly KSE or Mudvayne type of metal. The amp was built in 2000. I called Mesa to find this out. Mesa also told me never to change the 12ax7 tubes unless they fail. This is BS since I know that all tubes wear out due to the heat in them and sound more dull over time. I opened up a mesa 12ax7 Russian 2 tube box in a music store and it looked identical to a Electro Harmonix 12ax7 tube. The SPAX7 looked like a Chinese tube

My third question would be anybody here know what types of tubes this amp originally shipped with?

Thanks

 

[mikey383]

I can't really answer your first question, since I don't use Mesa tubes in mine.

Second question: Preamp tubes don't wear out unless they go bad. They don't wear out like power tubes do. When they go bad, they tend to let you know right away by drastic volume changes, microphonics, or just don't work at all.

I like the JJ 12ax7s in my Dually. I use a chinese C9 in the V1 spot, which will shape the overall tone of the amp, and JJs in the other spots. They have more gain than any other tube I've used, and they aren't as dark as a Russian tube, but not as bitey as a Chinese tube.

I think in 2000 they came with Russian tubes. They used to use all Chinese in the early to mid 90s, and then they switched, I believe.

 

[nwoforlif]

Thanks.

That answered alot about this amp. BTW the two channel DR sounded better to me than the 3 channel. I had a chance to A/B both heads cranked to 2-3 o'clock on the master volume. The 2 channel head seemed to open up way more. The three channel sounded so dark. The cabinet was a oversized rectifier cab.

I think I want to try your suggestion with some JJ preamp tubes from the tubestore. I live close to the guys store and can see him in person. I want shitloads of gain because I mostly play nu-metal and death metal. That's why I bought this head for. I will sometimes go back to classic rock but not often.

I can't really answer your first question, since I don't use Mesa tubes in mine.

Second question: Preamp tubes don't wear out unless they go bad. They don't wear out like power tubes do. When they go bad, they tend to let you know right away by drastic volume changes, microphonics, or just don't work at all.

I like the JJ 12ax7s in my Dually. I use a chinese C9 in the V1 spot, which will shape the overall tone of the amp, and JJs in the other spots. They have more gain than any other tube I've used, and they aren't as dark as a Russian tube, but not as bitey as a Chinese tube.

I think in 2000 they came with Russian tubes. They used to use all Chinese in the early to mid 90s, and then they switched, I believe.

 

[domct203]

The STR-440 is a chinese made tube, supplied by Ruby I believe. The STR-430 is a Sovtek.

The Mesa 12AX7 Russian-1 is a Sovtek, The Russian-2 is Electro Harmonix.

Hope that helps.

Dom

 

[mikey383]

One tube you may want to try is the JJ ECC803 (I think that's right) - it's a copy of the old Telefuken design. I had one in the V1 spot in my amp, and I liked the way it sounded, but my buddy knocked my head off the cab one day and it killed that tube. I haven't got around to buying a new one yet, so I just put in my second fav - the chinese C9

 

[nwoforlif]

Hi

If you every heard a telefunken 12ax7 in V1 you would eat those words very quickly bellow. I did. NOS tubes sound far more superior to today's crap from china and russia. The old mesa 12ax7 tubes that were in my DR sounded so fizzy and dark. I'm am glad to be rid of them now. I went the NOS route and am very glad I did. It opens the amp up bigtime. Shredd6 is so right, any NOS tube will sound better than today's crap. It is also not expensive if you shop around and are cheap like I am. hehehe

I will keep the power tubes mesa just because it is too late for the 440's I put in it. I have some hours on them and like how they sound. I will go to SED =C= next though.

NWOFORLIF

One tube you may want to try is the JJ ECC803 (I think that's right) - it's a copy of the old Telefuken design. I had one in the V1 spot in my amp, and I liked the way it sounded, but my buddy knocked my head off the cab one day and it killed that tube. I haven't got around to buying a new one yet, so I just put in my second fav - the chinese C9