Ecstasy Preamp Section Retube

[steve_k]

An LPS can work well in V1 to tighten an amp up. They work well in the PI position too as they are well balanced. Don't run it in gain stages (2, 3 or 6) though.

 

[Ventura]

I also thought EHX was a rebranded Chinese/Shuguang?

To the best of my knowledge, the following are simply rebrands of varying quality/spec Chinese/Shugs:
TAD
Ruby
JJ
EHX
Preferred Series
Groove Tubes

So it goes.

 

[steve_k]

I also thought EHX was a rebranded Chinese/Shuguang?

To the best of my knowledge, the following are simply rebrands of varying quality/spec Chinese/Shugs:
TAD
Ruby
JJ
EHX
Preferred Series
Groove Tubes

So it goes.

Chinese (Shuguang) generally refer to Chinese 9th Generation tubes. Of those you listed above - TAD, Ruby, GT have a rebranded one. Others are ARS, and Penta. Then, you have the unlabeled ones. JJ, nor EHX has a Chinese 9 in their inventory.

 

[RSRD]

The only problem I see with the LPS is that its more likely to be microphonic than most tubes so V1
is a risky proposition.

 

[steve_k]

The only problem I see with the LPS is that its more likely to be microphonic than most tubes so V1
is a risky proposition.

Wrong. It has much less chance of being micro-phonic that about any other tube around. Try one. If you don't like it there, try it in V5. If you don't like it there, it will ride the PI in any high gain Marshall. If you don't like it there either, you are only out $14.

Steve

 

[RSRD]

I'm going off of what my tube seller said and he's been working with tubes for 20+ years. That said, I'll give them a shot in V1. I'll send you my paypal if the amp catches fire.

 

[just42dave]

I have extras of all these we are discussing
ei ehx tung ge etc hit me up with a price and I can get ya a cocktail..

 

[just42dave]

as well as about 90 12ax7c 8th gen foil getters

 

[RSRD]

Dave, what's your thought on some pres for a Bogner xtc classic to get it a tad more aggressive and hi fi without losing its openess?

 

[steve_k]

as well as about 90 12ax7c 8th gen foil getters

I am running a little short on 8's myself....

 

[steve_k]

I'm going off of what my tube seller said and he's been working with tubes for 20+ years. That said, I'll give them a shot in V1. I'll send you my paypal if the amp catches fire.

nothing gonna catch fire....

 

[zewango]

Bogner used to ship XTC's loaded with LPS in every spot.
I use them in V1 and PI in all my amps.

 

[RSRD]

Great info guys. Gonna go for it. Trying GE, EHX and the LPS. Will record the riffage and compare all 4.

 

[steve_k]

Rolled some tubes in mine yesterday after all the 101B talk. Didn't like the Mullard or 5751 in V1, which we talked about earlier. Ended up with:

V1 - LPS
V2 - GT Gen8 Chinese
V3 - GT Gen8 Chinese
V4 - C9
V5 - EI Yugi
V6 - JJ

Winged C's in the power section. With the Red Channel gain mod, it just kicks ass. Really helps out on the shared EQ for dialing in the blue/red channels.

Steve

 

[Setneck]

Rolled some tubes in mine yesterday after all the 101B talk. Didn't like the Mullard or 5751 in V1, which we talked about earlier. Ended up with:

V1 - LPS
V2 - GT Gen8 Chinese
V3 - GT Gen8 Chinese
V4 - C9
V5 - EI Yugi
V6 - JJ

Funny . During last rehearsals I replaced EHX in V2 & V3 for GT chinese too. Really like the sound. Before modding my amp chinese seemd to me muddying the tone. Now they simply shine, beefy but very cutting. They match very well with LPS in V1 and PI.

Regards, Andy

 

[steve_k]

Rolled some tubes in mine yesterday after all the 101B talk. Didn't like the Mullard or 5751 in V1, which we talked about earlier. Ended up with:

V1 - LPS
V2 - GT Gen8 Chinese
V3 - GT Gen8 Chinese
V4 - C9
V5 - EI Yugi
V6 - JJ

Funny . During last rehearsals I replaced EHX in V2 & V3 for GT chinese too. Really like the sound. Before modding my amp chinese seemd to me muddying the tone. Now they simply shine, beefy but very cutting. They match very well with LPS in V1 and PI.

Regards, Andy

Which power tubes are you running, Andy and how hot are you biasing them? The JJ's can get a little squishy sometimes, but manageable and decent tone. But, I opt for SED's in the 101B, just because of the plate voltage being around 520V, the JJ's scare the shit out of me. I have the SED's biased pretty cold, as the amp seems to respond better and not so tight all around. One thing about a 101B, it is one of the most tube influenced amps around. I have rolled a lot of tubes in many amps, but none as responsive to tube changes/set up as this amp.

Steve

 

[Setneck]

Which power tubes are you running, Andy and how hot are you biasing them? The JJ's can get a little squishy sometimes, but manageable and decent tone. But, I opt for SED's in the 101B, just because of the plate voltage being around 520V, the JJ's scare the shit out of me. I have the SED's biased pretty cold, as the amp seems to respond better and not so tight all around.

I use =C='s almost exclusively, especially when gigging. Occasionally during recordings I switch to NOS RFT/Siemens or NOS Tesla. =C='s are the most ballsy and complex, and RFT's are more bright and cutting (I always record solo's with these). Tesla's are close to =C='s (both are based on Mullard Xf2 plans), but with some vintage vibe in it.

I bias my amp around 30mA which is less than recommended 65% of plate dissipation (which is 32mA and that is the value Charlie from Bogner recommended). I do so because I have exactly the same feeling as You - XTC biased a little colder sounds more organic, "sweeter", more punchy. The leads are more fluent. Maybe doing some chugga-chugga is harder, but keeping bass knob relatively low and switching Excursion to M helps making the tone tighter. But definitely leads and cleans sounds better to me with slightly colder bias.

I definitely don't like any JJ tubes, preamp or power. "Puddle of mudd" is my opinion about all of them. People like them because they are cheap but in any amp I tried or heared them (Bogner, Marshall, Splawn, Landry, Mesa, Diezel, Morris) they sounded like poop.

One thing about a 101B, it is one of the most tube influenced amps around. I have rolled a lot of tubes in many amps, but none as responsive to tube changes/set up as this amp.

You've said it bro. XTC is totally sensitive to the tubes. Changing only one tube of the V1-V3 or even changing only PI makes this amp responding totally different. It is my 4th year with XTC and I still keep experimenting with preamp tubes.

As for the powertubes there are no better tubes overall than =C='s for that amp IMO, with NOS Tesla and RFT's following, but in certain applications.

Regards, Andy

 

[Setneck]

Bogner used to ship XTC's loaded with LPS in every spot.

Mine came with LPS in all positions except V3 & V4, where the chinese were sitting. These are cathode follower positions where most tubes are failing due to high voltages present there, especially those with spiral fillaments (so most of all Sovtek LPS, Tung-Sol RI, etc.). So I don't think Bogner would put LPS there. You can go with chinese tubes there without any fear though.

I use them in V1 and PI in all my amps.

I also use LPS as a PI in all amps I play. After Telefunken smooth plates and Ei (which is actually TFK smooth clone, even produced on Telefunken tooling, which "Elektronska Industrija" bought when TFK stopped making tubes) this is the best PI tube IMO.

Regards, Andy

 

[steve_k]

Bogner used to ship XTC's loaded with LPS in every spot.

Mine came with LPS in all positions except V3 & V4, where the chinese were sitting. These are cathode follower positions where most tubes are failing due to high voltages present there, especially those with spiral fillaments (so most of all Sovtek LPS, Tung-Sol RI, etc.). So I don't think Bogner would put LPS there. You can go with chinese tubes there without any fear though.

I use them in V1 and PI in all my amps.

I also use LPS as a PI in all amps I play. After Telefunken smooth plates and Ei (which is actually TFK smooth clone, even produced on Telefunken tooling, which "Elektronska Industrija" bought when TFK stopped making tubes) this is the best PI tube IMO.

Regards, Andy

Then, "Elektronska Industrija" got bombed and turned into a parking lot....

I keep a drawer full of Yugi's. Nice, open tubes and great for PI spots in amps that need to breathe.

 

[Setneck]

Then, "Elektronska Industrija" got bombed and turned into a parking lot....

Funny that they are actually dementing the bombarding: "During the war and UN embargo against Yugoslavia (1992.-2000.) the factory has been passed trough a very difficult period. However, in spite of rumors spreaded over, hereby we claim that we are not destroyed in the NATO bombing during the war in 1999. Moreover, we are very alive and ready to serve our customers' needs".

http://www.eierc.com/rc/who_we_are.htm

Andy