You've got to be joking me!!?!?!??!! (Retubing)

[LnTh]

So I got my recto like a week ago and was happy. The tubes were obviously old though and I decided to get some fresh tubes.

I don't know crap about tubes. I just read some descriptions and got some pointers. Besides that, just gambled.

Here's what my order looks like:

Tung-Sol 12AX7
JAN-Philips 5751
Electro-Harmonix 12AX7-EH
Sovtek 12AX7-LPS
Sovtek 12AX7-LPS
4 x Winged "C" (SED) 6L6GC

They came in today and I swapped all the tubes with my old ones:
5xSovtek 12AX7WA
4xSovtek 5881WXT

Result:
I installed the new tubes the same order as listed above. Tung-Sol in V1 and Sovteks in V4 and 5. The difference was amazing. Jan-Philips was really clearing out that nasty gain rectos usually have like it was advertised. Something was still missing though.. Just a little something somewhere.

I thought what the hell and swapped Jan Philips and Tung-Sol so V1 was JP and V2 was TS. I fired up aaaaaand

OH MY ****** GOD! There's my missing ingredient!!!!


Like I said, I have no idea about tubes or technical parts but does that make sense? Can same exact tube setup sound different when swapped around like that? I think I've read that it DOES make a difference. Well they must cause the second time I fired the amp up, I ruined a good pair of jeans!!!

The sound now is extremely clear, full and articulate. The nasty hairy gain is gone. It's much more fluid and smooth now. I'm loving my recto even more 8)

 

[6L6C]

yeah a swapping tubes or swapping the order can make a huge difference.

My current:


For my Mark IV

V1 Tung-Sol reissue 12AX7
V2 high gain JJ ECC83S
V3 Penta Labs/Shuguang 12AX7C
V4 Unlabled/Shuguang 12AX7C
V5 balanced Sovtek 12AX7LPS

Power section (4) winged=c= SED 6L6GC

 

[LnTh]

yeah a swapping tubes or swapping the order can make a huge difference.

My current:


For my Mark IV

V1 Tung-Sol reissue 12AX7
V2 high gain JJ ECC83S
V3 Penta Labs/Shuguang 12AX7C
V4 Unlabled/Shuguang 12AX7C
V5 balanced Sovtek 12AX7LPS

Power section (4) winged=c= SED 6L6GC

Sounds like you shopped in dougstubes
Great guy. He was suggesting Tung-Sol in V1 but knowing my taste in tone I HAD to try Jan Phillips in V1. It worked! Actually I'll buy my spares from Doug probably next week!

 

[123thefirst]

The 5751 is a lower gain preamp. While it might be perfect for getting a smoother tone, you might miss that extra oomph if you're addicted to super high gain sounds. Then again, the amp probably already has more than enough gain and the Tung Sol's extra gain compensates.

 

[LnTh]

The 5751 is a lower gain preamp. While it might be perfect for getting a smoother tone, you might miss that extra oomph if you're addicted to super high gain sounds. Then again, the amp probably already has more than enough gain and the Tung Sol's extra gain compensates.

Yep. I'm definitely not a gain freak. I was looking into taming down the amp and 5751 made the tone so much smoother and less gain. I'm loving it

 

[6L6C]

Sounds like you shopped in dougstubes

You would be correct sir! And also less than 10 miles from me.