Guitar Gear Forum

JJ is solid. I love Svetlana El34s'. Especially in my 800. Also, I have a stash of Mesa/Ruby 6L6s' that sound great.

In my experience, tube rolling makes a difference in old amps. New stuff is designed for current tubes. So it isn't too important.

I use JJ everywhere (usually, unless I still have stock tubes that sound good, or I stumble on something NOS).

Sometimes, I'll tube roll 12AX7's in V1 if it makes a difference.

I'm biased against Sovteks. They have never sounded good to me. ( and I normally like Russian gear)

turbopablo wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 2:19 am
In my experience, tube rolling makes a difference in old amps. New stuff is designed for current tubes. So it isn't too important.

I agree with this. Maybe not just old amps, but traditional amp designs. I hear a lot more difference with my Super Lead, 2204 and 1987x than with say my DSL or ENGL rigs.

The 1987x is not old (2022) but it's a plexi so it's definitely sensitive to tube changes.

With the DSL the differences are subtle at best.

In the 5153’s I’ve found JJs are clearly what the amp was designed around. In these amps I hear a massive difference in the midrange honk using other types. I’ve had some succes with Mullards as they are generally warm and fat. But almost all others eventually my ears will hear this harshness in the mids and it’s almost always the non JJ tube causing it. So in the preamp I only use JJs in the 5153. Power amp isn’t AS big but even that recently I had some Sovtek el34s and I was hearing this harshness again and I resided to swap them out with the JJs and all was good. I honestly think out of all the amps I’ve owned the 5153 is the most specific to basically one tube type and they all were designed and ship with JJ tubes.

I do feel with the 6l6 there is more options on the power tubes. Sovtek 6l6wxt+ pretty much is always a winner in 5150’s of all makes

Guitarbilly wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 2:43 pm

turbopablo wrote: ↑Mon Jul 08, 2024 2:19 am
In my experience, tube rolling makes a difference in old amps. New stuff is designed for current tubes. So it isn't too important.

I agree with this. Maybe not just old amps, but traditional amp designs. I hear a lot more difference with my Super Lead, 2204 and 1987x than with say my DSL or ENGL rigs.

The 1987x is not old (2022) but it's a plexi so it's definitely sensitive to tube changes.

With the DSL the differences are subtle at best.

It's funny. I swap tubes in my 800 and Silver Jube reissue and hear an immediate difference. With my Mesa MarkIII, it doesn't matter one bit. Vintage or new, it sounds like it always does.

Yeah Mesas in particular are not very sensitive to tube changes especially in the power amp, which are all set in the cold side and not adjustable.

Old Marshalls and Fenders are the square opposite, you can really change their tone and feel with different tubes and bias.

I like both approaches. Mesas are definitely easier to retube these days. But I also love tinkering with the Marshalls.

For preamp tubes, I have always loved the Ruby HG's but not too long ago, I got a couple of these and they sound really good in my Jubilee and SLO.

https://www.tubeampdoctor.com/en/7025-h ... m-selected

For power tubes, I've always run Ruby EL34 BSTR's.

I have quite a few NOS preamp tubes with my favorite being an RCA black plate 12ax7. I have 2 other blackplate RCA's but neither of them sound as good as the first one I got and all were bought from reputable sellers who properly test. just different sounding tubes. The good one is highly susceptible to microphonics though which is why I don't use it. It's a liability on stage with cab vibration, drums, etc.

I pretty much stick to JJs, both pres and power tubes. I use a combination of their ECC803S, ECC83MG, and E83CC tubes. If I can get away with an 803 in V1, and definitely in the PI. If the amp is more susceptible to vibrations I use the 83MG (I am actually starting to prefer this to the 803, but both are really good). I use the 83CC in pretty much all the other positions, especially the gain stages. I will use the original ECC83S in positions that don't affect tone, like the effects loop buffer. As far as their power tubes, it is hard to go wrong with any of them. My 6L6 amps always get JJs, as they are the best to my ears. That is also the case for EL84s. I have tried a few different 6V6s, but I generally prefer the response I get from JJs - the others sound sweet when driven but a bit squishy. As far as EL34s, man are you covered. For me the EL34-II are my favorites, but if you need less low end the standard EL34 is great. Their KT77s sound excellent in my Rivera amps - and have become my go to tube for all of them. The E34L is also great for amps that you need more linear of a sound. I like them in amps that have channels that sound completely different, like those that incorporate American and British channels. I haven't tried many 6550s, but the response I got from the JJs in my Peters head was outstanding! The only other 6550 I have tried were EHs and they died almost instantly in the amp I put them in. They made me a bit hesitant to try them again.

So based upon my experiences, and tube quality/longevity, I choose JJs. I also order them specifically from Eurotubes. They have great customer service and have provided the best quality tubes.

Cole

This Euro Tubes/JJ Advertisement has been brought to you by: Cole Justesen. Everyone, give Cole a round of applause! /s

I kid, I kid. I'm not sure what is in the Synergy modules or SYN-2 rack preamps, but I use JJs in my Fryette Power Station PS-2A (6L6GC, ECC803S). I have some ECC83S tubes on hand, but maybe I should try out the MG and CC.

My Jet City 100LTD has all JJ tubes (EL34/12AX7). My 50H has Electro Harmonix 6L6GC and Tung Sol 12AX7 tubes. Finally, my 50C12 (50H 1x12 combo) has the stock tubes in it. I've been meaning to re-tube since I got it, but it sound fine and I haven't had any issues with the stock tubes. I only use it for band rehearsal anyway. I use the 100LTD to record with since it has a lower floor noise than my other amps.