Bogners and preamp tubes

[glip22]

Lately I am finding the Bogners sound best with the Chinese preamp tubes. I have the Shiva 20th and Twin Jet. The 20X also squeeled at high volume with the NOS tubes. I have gone through quite a few of some top NOS and new production and keep going back to the Chinese other than the PI tube. My Bogners seem prone to squeeling in the preamp. They do not do it with Chinese.

 

[leib10]

It's hard to believe, but these boutique amps really do sound best with cheap preamp tubes. My Rev Blue sounded dead when I started putting Russian and JJ tubes in.

 

[RockStarNick]

100% agreed.

At the very least, you need a great, quiet, high gain Chinese C9 tube in the V1 slot. The glassy-ness and springy nature of the Chinese tube is crucial for that Bogner snappy, stretchy sound. I think they compliment one another. The Brightness of the C9 tubes, and the thickness of the Bogner signature sound.

The V2 and V3 gain stages are fun to play around with. I've tried some JJ ECC803 Long plate tubes in there, some JJ's, etc etc. If you need to darken things up, or make them more midrangey. The different combination of tubes can create a complexity in the sound that 2-3 Chinese tubes in a row cant, in my opinion.

I'm running a Sovtek LPS Balanced tube for the PI. I've always found that chinese tubes in the PI aren't "hard" sounding enough. They're elastic, glassy qualities kinda make things mushy when they're used in a PI slot.

 

[RG955TT]

Same here, I ended up with a Tubestore Preferred 7025 in V1, Ruby AC5 HG+ in V2 and V3, penta lab in FX loop V4, Sovtek LPS in V5 phase inverter and tunsol in V6 which really made the clean channel come to life. The thing I noticed that varied a lot was the compression in the higher gain channels depending on what I put in there, some compress to much. While most of these are high grade the chinese sound great especially in V2 and V3 where all the gain is made. My 2 cents for what it's worth.

 

[glip22]

Same here, I ended up with a Tubestore Preferred 7025 in V1, Ruby AC5 HG+ in V2 and V3, penta lab in FX loop V4, Sovtek LPS in V5 phase inverter and tunsol in V6 which really made the clean channel come to life. The thing I noticed that varied a lot was the compression in the higher gain channels depending on what I put in there, some compress to much. While most of these are high grade the chinese sound great especially in V2 and V3 where all the gain is made. My 2 cents for what it's worth.

Your .02 cents works for me. I may need to order some tubes up. Everything else squeels like a pig in the Bogner.

 

[Ventura]

100% agreed

Chinese B or C, no better in a Bogner!!

V.

 

[glip22]

100% agreed

Chinese B or C, no better in a Bogner!!

V.

Well why didn't anyone tell me this before I spent 20 hours swapping tubes

 

[RockStarNick]

100% agreed

Chinese B or C, no better in a Bogner!!

V.

Well why didn't anyone tell me this before I spent 20 hours swapping tubes

But wasn't the tone journey fun?

Dude, I wasted TONS of money on tubes when I first had my older Shiva. Just reading the hype on the internet, buying a complete JJ re-rube from Eurotubes, installing it, and it sounded like someone threw not one, but 3-4 packing blankets over my amp. It just turned to mush.

 

[Ventura]

100% agreed

Chinese B or C, no better in a Bogner!!

V.

Well why didn't anyone tell me this before I spent 20 hours swapping tubes

I thought this was common knowledge when it came to the gainier Bogners

Chinese kick ass. Period. And I believe - direct from the source at thetubestore.com - that the preferred series 7025S are the same as the TAD 12AX7C are the same as the Chinese/Shuguang 12AX7C.

Peace,
V.

 

[RG955TT]

Honestly I tried a bunch of tubes in mine and I thought there was a definite difference between the preferred 7025S and my other chinese 12ax7's, overall warmer and nicer sounding with no emphasis in any area, just nice. The TAD 7025S seemed to be too gainy and for me at least that preferred 7025S was a keeeper in V1. Your mileage may vary....

 

[Ventura]

Honestly I tried a bunch of tubes in mine and I thought there was a definite difference between the preferred 7025S and my other chinese 12ax7's, overall warmer and nicer sounding with no emphasis in any area, just nice. The TAD 7025S seemed to be too gainy and for me at least that preferred 7025S was a keeeper in V1. Your mileage may vary....

I went through this with Jon at thetubestore.com and wasn't overly 'thrilled' with the response - it's just a rebrand. But at the same time, they are selected due to outstanding sonic qualities and longevity.

I found the preferred to be a bit brittle sounding in some applications. But hey, gotta trust yer ears, not yer eyes.

Peace,
V.

 

[dulrich1227]

whoa glad i saw this thread before i started chasing .. lol 1st question ... the LPS dont light up right? .. I picked up the cameron uber from Brad .. it has the sovtek lps in 4 & 6 groovetube in v1 , 234 are ARS china ...

 

[Ventura]

whoa glad i saw this thread before i started chasing .. lol 1st question ... the LPS dont light up right? .. I picked up the cameron uber from Brad .. it has the sovtek lps in 4 & 6 groovetube in v1 , 234 are ARS china ...

Chinese 12AX7B or C straight across the board, m'man... No need for ANYTHING else.

Peace
V.

 

[just42dave]

100% agreed

Chinese B or C, no better in a Bogner!!

V.

Well why didn't anyone tell me this before I spent 20 hours swapping tubes

I thought this was common knowledge when it came to the gainier Bogners

Chinese kick ass. Period. And I believe - direct from the source at thetubestore.com - that the preferred series 7025S are the same as the TAD 12AX7C are the same as the Chinese/Shuguang 12AX7C.

Peace,
V.

lol they are..
I got tons ofo the good square getters

 

[leib10]

What's the difference between Chinese B's and C's?

 

[Ventura]

What's the difference between Chinese B's and C's?

A's are medium grade, B's are better, C's are top select.

Microphonics, low noise floor, even gain structure, longevity, etc.

V.

 

[Lasse Lammert]

I'm actually preferring high grade selected JJ for my Rev2 (with =C= KT88 in the power amp)