Grateful Dead Music Forum

So Im pretty sure I need to get new tubes for my amp. I turn it up to 5, then 10 and it is pretty much the same volume. What new tubes do you think I should get. I was thinking Fender Groove Tubes maybe? Got any suggestions guys?

That's because it's a Linear pot vs. audio taper. Nothing wrong with the tubes.

However, a huge upgrade is to toss a 12DW7 into V2 which is half an UA and half an AX.

On the 2nd channel schematic you'd see that it grabs the AU for the first gain stage then the AX secondly creating a sweeter OD.

Eurotubes has a set with this and Bob there is 100% on to something with that suggestion and is a very nice guy taboot!

I've had multiple phone calls with him talking tubes, amps, combos vs heads, tube ratings, what the gain is per half, balanced, etc....

In my experience, all new production preamp tubes are crap...just total crap. Tried a lot of old and new preamp tubes in my Mesa MkIII over the last couple nights, and in the ones where TONE matters - V1,2 and 3 in the case of the Mk III- 30-40 yr old USED RCA's and GE's consistently kicked the asses of every single newer (less than 10 yr old)tube in my collection, whether it was JJ, EH, GT, Sovtek (LPS or WB). Weirdly, the Sov LPS works nicely as my Fender Super Champ's V2, but only because I currently only use that amp in a non-GD situation where I like it to be pretty grungy and grainy.

Well I thought it was the tubes. Because when I first bought it, it was loud as shit at 2. But now it needs to be cranked all the way up. Any suggestions Strummin?

Here here! RCA preamp tubes are the best. I put 7025 (12AX7) NOS in my Heritage Patrio and I was ABSOLUTELY ASTONISHED at the difference it made in the tone. Unbelieveable. Now I need the $$$ to put them in the Fender Super.

Peace,

Gil

spacehead333 wrote:Well I thought it was the tubes. Because when I first bought it, it was loud as shit at 2. But now it needs to be cranked all the way up. Any suggestions Strummin?

Ok, that is different. I'd imagine your tubes are shot but I cannot imagine preamp tubes going after only a few years.

Yeah it has been steadily decreasing in volume. Each show I have to turn it up more and more. So tubes? Not preamp tubes though?

my hot rod deluxe got some electro harmonix tubes put in about a year ago, and they sound great! way better than the groove tubes it came with.

spacehead333 wrote:So Im pretty sure I need to get new tubes for my amp. I turn it up to 5, then 10 and it is pretty much the same volume. What new tubes do you think I should get. I was thinking Fender Groove Tubes maybe? Got any suggestions guys?

Do you use the clean channel or the overdrive channel?

The master is linear. The other 2 pots on the grids are both audio taper, volume and drive. The Groove Tubes don't last long nor do they sound all that great. You won't realize this until you put in a set of real 6L6GC. Try the Tung-Sol 6L6-STR.

I use Clean all the time nothing else

So you guys think I just need new tubes? What is some good tubes if im always using clean? How much do they cost?

spacehead333 wrote:So you guys think I just need new tubes? What is some good tubes if im always using clean? How much do they cost?

Power tubes:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Matched-Pair-GE-6L6 ... tronics_R2

Preamp tubes:

http://cgi.ebay.com/RCA-12ax7a-tubes-te ... 1|294%3A50

I buy my tubes from www.eurotubes.com

Even if you didnt need tubes right you do need to have a spare set laying around.

jonarobb wrote:

spacehead333 wrote:So you guys think I just need new tubes? What is some good tubes if im always using clean? How much do they cost?

Power tubes:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Matched-Pair-GE-6L6 ... tronics_R2

Preamp tubes:

http://cgi.ebay.com/RCA-12ax7a-tubes-te ... 1|294%3A50

Things to note:
1 - those are tight tolerances between each side of the 12AX7s.
2 - those have an amplification factor of 110+ which is hotter than many new 12ax7s.

My limited knowledge is that would make the amp more aggressive but I'm sure Jon could better advise.

Also every person I trust says NOS for preamp no question.
They also say NOS is preferred for poweramp - but some sway either way since pre's can last a lifetime but powers cannot.



FTR - I've worked with Bob @ Eurotubes for many orders and he is a class act with a solid product. Not saying better or worse.
I've been happy. And many botique amp mfg dudes say his are the best of the new stuff.

strumminsix wrote: Things to note:
1 - those are tight tolerances between each side of the 12AX7s.
2 - those have an amplification factor of 110+ which is hotter than many new 12ax7s.

My limited knowledge is that would make the amp more aggressive but I'm sure Jon could better advise.

Those numbers are not the amplification factor, or gain rating. Those are standardized numbers in relation to the sellers tube tester, which in this case is a Jackson. Example being one of my testers has a rating of 60 being a good tube. So you would see ratings such as 70/71, 75/75, etc...