20thA - EL34 model - preamp tube rollin' time!!

[Ventura]

Seeing as I'm going to do a little bottle jig with the incoming TJ, thought it might be a good idea to freshen up my 20thA-XTC.

This head is currently running the GL-KT77s. Beautiful bottles. What am I looking for on the preamp side of things? More open/less compression on the RED channel (certainly don't need all the gain). Maybe a little more growl in the BLUE. Can always use a better V1, so we'll see. GREEN can always be lifted a bit...maybe something in V6 to change it up. Who knows.

At this point, looking at the GL-ECC83 for V1 or the revered LPS, ECC83 in V6. Probably keep the C9s in the V2 and V3 slots, might roll some others in there for shits and giggles. Ei Yugi or LPS for PI.

Any other suggestions - let me know!!
Peace,
Mo

 

[Setneck]

If less compression and open tone is Your goal, I'd suggest LPS in V1, V5 and V6. Gain stages V2 & V3 - to taste, but I'd remove chinese from there, as they have the most gain, therefore the most compression. Try EHX or Sovtek WB. NOS RFT's would be also nice in those spots.

Regards, Andy

 

[Ventura]

If less compression and open tone is Your goal, I'd suggest LPS in V1, V5 and V6. Gain stages V2 & V3 - to taste, but I'd remove chinese from there, as they have the most gain, therefore the most compression. Try EHX or Sovtek WB. NOS RFT's would be also nice in those spots.

Regards, Andy

LPS in all them spots, eh? Ever had any noise/hiss issues with all them long-plates in there? Have you any experience with Jan-GE 5751 in the lineup?

Let me know, the order's going in this morning for the new glass

NOTE: What's your call on V4 ??

Thanks so much.
Mo

 

[Setneck]

LPS in all them spots, eh? Ever had any noise/hiss issues with all them long-plates in there?

Yes, put them in V1, V5 & V6. LPS' sometimes tend to go microphonic, so You got to select quiet tube especially for V1.

Have you any experience with Jan-GE 5751 in the lineup?

Never tried them.

NOTE: What's your call on V4 ??

I use EHX here.

Regards, Andy

 

[ericsabbath]

I usually mix rft's and shugs, maybe jj's for loop and phase inverter
my main amp also has some tungsrams

I wouldn't recommend rft for LESS compression
I had a bunch of them and only a couple were less gainy than shugs
they're usually heavy and dark sounding, but without the dullness of JJ's
maybe tung sols or EH's in the first positions of the RED section might clean things up a bit

 

[Setneck]

In my amp (which obviously is modded), RFT's compared to chinese were much more open-sounding. So were Tungsrams, I used to use them in V2 & V3. Nice gain and saturation, but EHX were more creamy, so switched to them.

Tung-Sol RI would be nice in V2, it's darker than EHX though, but brigter than chinese. I'd avoid putting it to V3, as that is CF position.

JJ's, as You said are dull and lifeless. The worst sounding preamp tubes IMO.

Regards, Andy

 

[Ventura]

Interesting. My experience with Tung Sols is that they're bright and a bit too top-endy.

My experience with JJs however, is very much akin to yours, Andy

 

[ericsabbath]

yes, the rft's do sound more open sounding and less noisy, but not really less compressed (for my ears)
the tungsram are less compressed indeed
I don't own any bogner, but both of my amps (modded '73 jmp and zambelli hyperdrive) are in the same ballpark as the xtc (4 stages + cf, fat and middy bogner-like voicing)

good tip on the tung sol extra care
they simply don't work properly in the CF and loop send positions (bad high voltage handling?)

 

[Ventura]

Wel, I pulled out one of my boxes today with a whack of spare preamps in it... Along with some power valves as well. I've got a lot ot play with in the coming days:
Sovtek WA
Sovtek LPS
Chinese B
Chinese C
TAD 7025S
Ruby HG
Ruby HG+
Tung Sol
Gold Lion ECC83
Jan 5751
Ei Yugi

Should be a good few hours of experimentation

Doing both the incoming TwinJet and my beloved 20thA

 

[RockStarNick]

Wel, I pulled out one of my boxes today with a whack of spare preamps in it... Along with some power valves as well. I've got a lot ot play with in the coming days:
Sovtek WA
Sovtek LPS
Chinese B
Chinese C
TAD 7025S
Ruby HG
Ruby HG+
Tung Sol
Gold Lion ECC83
Jan 5751
Ei Yugi

Should be a good few hours of experimentation

Doing both the incoming TwinJet and my beloved 20thA

Any tone reports from your tube rollin'?

You've got a good selection there. Curious to hear the results.

 

[Heritage Softail]

I would be interested to hear how the 5751 worked out for ya. Love that tube for a change up. A little compressed feeling, gain down, volume up a RCH, just feels more dynamic.

Jus42dave sent me a few mullards. Put one in V1 in my old standby DSL100. I like that tube. The last 2 mornings jam time with them has been good. Maybe he still has some.

I'm getting the 1970's Tesla tubes LP Freak had up. Excited to see that in the mailbox.

Tubes, it's more than a feeling.

 

[Ventura]

Wel, I pulled out one of my boxes today with a whack of spare preamps in it... Along with some power valves as well. I've got a lot ot play with in the coming days:
Sovtek WA
Sovtek LPS
Chinese B
Chinese C
TAD 7025S
Ruby HG
Ruby HG+
Tung Sol
Gold Lion ECC83
Jan 5751
Ei Yugi

Should be a good few hours of experimentation

Doing both the incoming TwinJet and my beloved 20thA

Any tone reports from your tube rollin'?

You've got a good selection there. Curious to hear the results.

Still waiting for the amp AND the tubes!!

Doing the XTC this weekend

I would be interested to hear how the 5751 worked out for ya.

Damn straight - this with the Ei Yugi, the LPS and some of them caviar ECC83 Gold Lions? Things will be good in Mo-Land.