CCV just arrived: Help with Tube changes please.

[Inca Roads]

Winged C EL34's biased around 60-65%
V1: Ei
V2-V5 Chinese 8th Gen.

I'm not familiar with the Ei tube. Could someone clarify the manufactuer? All I could find via google was a $49 tube that says it wasn't recomended for guitar amps (via the tubestore.com).

Everywhere I have read about the Ei, they recommend
to steer clear of it for the V1 position.
They Highly recommend it for the Phase Inverter.

http://www.dougstubes.com/preamp-tubes/ ... ecc83.html

 

[dawnofdreamx97]

If the amps is dark , throw in Chinese ruby 12ax7ac5's they rip in the ccv, lots of presence and articulation, the ccv has so many options to darken the sound that i like them alot in the preamp.

also Put winged c's in and Bias to about 30 mv ...

 

[bionicmark]

If the amps is dark , throw in Chinese ruby 12ax7ac5's they rip in the ccv, lots of presence and articulation, the ccv has so many options to darken the sound that i like them alot in the preamp.

also Put winged c's in and Bias to about 30 mv ...

 

[rokker]

Put the rft in 1 i think it may take a tad of the bite off the amp and make it a bit smoother....tried an old rca also in v1 and v4 but it caused the bottom end to decrease. I like the rft in v1 others might if you want the amp a tad darker.

 

[metalmaniac93]

I see most people are prefering the SED Winged C's and these were the same tubes used in the original CCV. Are they that much better than the JJ ARS tubes used in the current model or is it just a matter of individual taste? Wonder why Mark decided on the JJs over the SEDs?

 

[King Guitar]

I see most people are prefering the SED Winged C's and these were the same tubes used in the original CCV. Are they that much better than the JJ ARS tubes used in the current model or is it just a matter of individual taste? Wonder why Mark decided on the JJs over the SEDs?

Mark was able to choose any tube he wanted, he choose the JJ ARS for their tone and reliability fyi...

 

[steve_k]

The SED's always sounded great and were able to handle the onslaught of the 560PV's that the CCV put out. The ARS tubes aren't simply JJ's that you buy off the rack. They are quality tested a couple times over, culled and relabeled from Tesla/JJ. So, they aren't shit tubes by any means and should be very reliable. I have one CCV tubed with SED's and the other with the ARS power tubes and really can't tell much difference, with the ARS tubes even being slightly smoother. The tone changes are in V1-V4 preamp tubes, where the character of the amp can be most altered...especially V1 and V4.

My 2 cents. That and $3 will get you a cuppa from Starbucks.

Steve

 

[metalmaniac93]

The SED's always sounded great and were able to handle the onslaught of the 560PV's that the CCV put out. The ARS tubes aren't simply JJ's that you buy off the rack. They are quality tested a couple times over, culled and relabeled from Tesla/JJ. So, they aren't shit tubes by any means and should be very reliable. I have one CCV tubed with SED's and the other with the ARS power tubes and really can't tell much difference, with the ARS tubes even being slightly smoother. The tone changes are in V1-V4 preamp tubes, where the character of the amp can be most altered...especially V1 and V4.

My 2 cents. That and $3 will get you a cuppa from Starbucks.

Steve

Steve and Brad,

Thanks for the info. I just was curious based on the comments here and I know everyone had their preference and opinions on their desired tones. I have heard and played through the CCV-100 at the LA Amp show in October and all I can say is wow. Looking forward to mine hopefully soon. I might experiment with the V1 and V4 preamp tubes down the road, but based on what I heard, I do not think much or any tweaking will be necessary for me when it comes to tubes.

 

[Gjeven]

Right it runs V1 all the way to the left near the input and goes to the right.

Just to be clear, when you say Left Side and Right side, your indicating this from looking the back of the amp.

V5 is the tube by itself away from the other 4.

 

[glip22]

Right it runs V1 all the way to the left near the input and goes to the right.

Just to be clear, when you say Left Side and Right side, your indicating this from looking the back of the amp.

V5 is the tube by itself away from the other 4.

V1 is always closest to the input. 1-5 Right to left in your pic.

 

[OUTLAW1969]

Right it runs V1 all the way to the left near the input and goes to the right.

V5 is the tube by itself away from the other 4.

Yes, V5 is by itself.

 

[Gjeven]

Out of curiosity, when you guys roll tubes in and out of tube spots how long do you audition a tube configuration before you swap in different tubes?

 

[steve_k]

Sometime, they aren't even hot yet....

 

[glip22]

Sometime, they aren't even hot yet....

Me too. You have to be fast to hear the differences. I was rolling last night and hit on a nice find. A put an NOS RCA black plate in the V1 spot ind it made a nice difference over other new and NOS. The BP gave a huge percussiveness and made the amp clearer than any others I tried. The PI makes a big difference in this amp. Its staying in for now. My old Tesla Rosnovs killed everything else in V1 and V4. EI, NOS Mullard, Siemens, French Mazda grey plates, Philips, old la radio technique. Penta 7025F in the foloowers. Winged C's in the power section. Played around with bias adjsutments. The top end is smoother and the amp is a little moe articulate at 34-36 ma instead of 45-48 where I had them biased.

 

[Inca Roads]

If the amps is dark , throw in Chinese ruby 12ax7ac5's they rip in the ccv, lots of presence and articulation, the ccv has so many options to darken the sound that i like them alot in the preamp.

also Put winged c's in and Bias to about 30 mv ...

Well, I left in the ARS Power Tubes for now.....Winged C's are
definitely part of the future plan.
Went straight across the board with the Ruby HG+ Pre's
and I gotta say, I think it's a huge improvement!!!
I really dig these tubes for now but I will experiment a little
with V1 & V4 in the coming weeks.
Thanks Nick and Mark Fitzpatrick
Thank you all for the knowledge: Pyscodave, Steve K, Superunknown etc.....
Rick

 

[dawnofdreamx97]

If the amps is dark , throw in Chinese ruby 12ax7ac5's they rip in the ccv, lots of presence and articulation, the ccv has so many options to darken the sound that i like them alot in the preamp.

also Put winged c's in and Bias to about 30 mv ...

Well, I left in the ARS Power Tubes for now.....Winged C's are
definitely part of the future plan.
Went straight across the board with the Ruby HG+ Pre's
and I gotta say, I think it's a huge improvement!!!
I really dig these tubes for now but I will experiment a little
with V1 & V4 in the coming weeks.
Thanks Nick and Mark Fitzpatrick
Thank you all for the knowledge: Pyscodave, Steve K, Superunknown etc.....
Rick

you're welcome!

 

[Gjeven]

Getting some Ruby HG+'s, a Sovtek LPS and some Penta Chinese 9th gens today. Think I'm going to try the HG+ in V1, the Chinese 9's in V2/V3, leave the tungsol in V4, and the LPS in V5.

Probably will try a Chinese 9th in V1 also.

 

[50MkII]

Anyone try the TAD EL34B STR in the power section? I read a review in the November issue of TQR that stated the results of them compared to the Flying C's (that they said sounded good and "widely regarded as among the best sounding contemporary EL34's being made today") and NOS Mullards (they considered to be the best of all EL34' they had tried until they tried the TAD EL34B STR) resulted in all other tubes mentioneed "sounded murky, dull and flat compared to the TADs, and the difference is impossible to ignore (or live with)." I contacted TAD to find out if the EL34B STR would hold up to the plate voltages put out by the CCV. Their response was it can stand up to 800v with the more critical system here being G2. Not knowing what this translates to in the CCV I thought it might be worthwhile to chime in here. Many possibilities tube-wise.

http://www.tubeampdoctor.com/images/File/TAD-Datasheet_EL34B-STR Version1.3-08.07.11.pdf

 

[Gjeven]

Getting some Ruby HG+'s, a Sovtek LPS and some Penta Chinese 9th gens today. Think I'm going to try the HG+ in V1, the Chinese 9's in V2/V3, leave the tungsol in V4, and the LPS in V5.

Probably will try a Chinese 9th in V1 also.

I finally got around to try out different tubes yersterday/today. I like the chinese tubes I put in over the old tubes, did tighten up things a bit, especially noticeable when chugging on the strings. I didn't notice too much difference between using Ruby HG+ and the Pentalabs in V1. Are the ruby HG+ and Pentalabs both 9th gen Chinese tubes?

 

[steve_k]

Getting some Ruby HG+'s, a Sovtek LPS and some Penta Chinese 9th gens today. Think I'm going to try the HG+ in V1, the Chinese 9's in V2/V3, leave the tungsol in V4, and the LPS in V5.

Probably will try a Chinese 9th in V1 also.

I finally got around to try out different tubes yersterday/today. I like the chinese tubes I put in over the old tubes, did tighten up things a bit, especially noticeable when chugging on the strings. I didn't notice too much difference between using Ruby HG+ and the Pentalabs in V1. Are the ruby HG+ and Pentalabs both 9th gen Chinese tubes?

Yes, the HG+ and Penta are the same tube Chinese 12AX7-C. BTW, HG and HG+ stands for High Grade, not High Gain. It has been culled a little more for microphonics and matching.

Hint for a CCV - run anything in V1 but a Chinese. Try a regular JJ 12AX7 or an LPS in V1 only. Chinese in V2-V4. Either a Chinese or an LPS in V5.

Steve