J
jiml
Guest
went shopping for some 12ax7's yesterday, lotsa options out there, i need 5 for my amp..who makes the best preamp tubes? nos? groove tubes? sovtech?
DrewB
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2001
- Messages
- 1,440
Need more info...
What is your amp? For Marshalls, I understand that Ei and JJ/Tesla 12AX7s are the way to go (Eis have a bad rep for being microphonic, but Lord Valve tests them to weed out the bad ones). I can't comment on what's best for Fenders, because I don't keep up on them.
Go to http://www.google.com and search for "Mook's taste tests" and see what he has on 12AX7s. He gets pretty specific on the whole setup, where volumes were set, and what he heard. That should be a good starting point...
What is your amp? For Marshalls, I understand that Ei and JJ/Tesla 12AX7s are the way to go (Eis have a bad rep for being microphonic, but Lord Valve tests them to weed out the bad ones). I can't comment on what's best for Fenders, because I don't keep up on them.
Go to http://www.google.com and search for "Mook's taste tests" and see what he has on 12AX7s. He gets pretty specific on the whole setup, where volumes were set, and what he heard. That should be a good starting point...
J
jiml
Guest
it's a 50w soldano reverb o sonic combo..thanks for the tip, i know mook from the , ehem, prs forum..
DrewB
Well-known member
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- Jul 15, 2001
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Soldano
For a higher gain amp like a Soldano, I would think the JJ/Teslas would probably be your best bet. Hopefully someone who knows Soldanos better than I do will chime in soon.
For a higher gain amp like a Soldano, I would think the JJ/Teslas would probably be your best bet. Hopefully someone who knows Soldanos better than I do will chime in soon.
crushingday
New member
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2001
- Messages
- 24
I have had good luck with Svtk LPS's
I have tried many tubes in my egnater amp and I have found that the Sovtek LPS's are the richest and fullest tube I have heard. I never though much of their WA's. WB's, or those awfull WXT's. I have had good luck with the Ei's but I feel the Sovtek LPS' give me my best tone.
I use an Egnater ie4 all tube preamp (7-12ax7's) into a VHT stereo TWO-FIFTY-TWO el34 powered amp into various 4x12 cabinets. I hope this help good luck in your search!
Sincerely Ross T- Crushing Day
I have tried many tubes in my egnater amp and I have found that the Sovtek LPS's are the richest and fullest tube I have heard. I never though much of their WA's. WB's, or those awfull WXT's. I have had good luck with the Ei's but I feel the Sovtek LPS' give me my best tone.
I use an Egnater ie4 all tube preamp (7-12ax7's) into a VHT stereo TWO-FIFTY-TWO el34 powered amp into various 4x12 cabinets. I hope this help good luck in your search!
Sincerely Ross T- Crushing Day
TedB
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- Jul 16, 2001
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Between the Ei, Sovtek LPS, and JJ/Tesla, I don't see any reason to consider anything else.
In a tiny nutshell:
The Ei is a fine tube that gives a wealth of harmonics. I find this tube best suited to vintage-type gear (Vox, early Marshalls, etc.).
The JJ/Tesla is a very warm and round tube. I find this tube best suited to amps that tend to be very bright ('70s and later Marshall Lead models).
The Sovtek LPS is a very nice, full-sounding tube for Fenders and some Marshalls. The drawback is these tubes do not like more than maybe 40V of potential at the cathode, and thus they do not hold up well in some positions.
With this in mind, the safe bet seems to be the JJ/Tesla for your amp, although I may suggest the LPS for V1 (usually closest to the instrument jacks) and PI (usually closest to the power tubes). Use the Ei if you want more of that vintage 'chime'.
In a tiny nutshell:
The Ei is a fine tube that gives a wealth of harmonics. I find this tube best suited to vintage-type gear (Vox, early Marshalls, etc.).
The JJ/Tesla is a very warm and round tube. I find this tube best suited to amps that tend to be very bright ('70s and later Marshall Lead models).
The Sovtek LPS is a very nice, full-sounding tube for Fenders and some Marshalls. The drawback is these tubes do not like more than maybe 40V of potential at the cathode, and thus they do not hold up well in some positions.
With this in mind, the safe bet seems to be the JJ/Tesla for your amp, although I may suggest the LPS for V1 (usually closest to the instrument jacks) and PI (usually closest to the power tubes). Use the Ei if you want more of that vintage 'chime'.