M4, modules and TUBES question...

[hank]

are the M4 and modules "tuned" for the tubes that they come with or is there real tone improvement to be had by swapping 'em out for other types?

I ask because, as I understand it, manufacturers often use the standard Sovteks because they're rugged and reliable, not necessarily because they provide the best tone. On the other hand, I've also read that some amps/pre's are "tuned" for the tubes they come with.

 

[3 Mile Stone]

My opinion, they are not really tuned to go with one brand. They have been coming with the Sovteks, which I personally think are the worst of the lot but I guess are utilitarian enough and readily available so ...

I honestly think the modules are wonderful at rendering different timbres of tone depending on what you put in them. The Sovteks come out immediately (I tried them but, no) and I go with EH, Tung Sol, JJ or NOS. It's a lot of fun to experiment.

 

[jmgman69]

My opinion, they are not really tuned to go with one brand. They have been coming with the Sovteks, which I personally think are the worst of the lot but I guess are utilitarian enough and readily available so ...

I honestly think the modules are wonderful at rendering different timbres of tone depending on what you put in them. The Sovteks come out immediately (I tried them but, no) and I go with EH, Tung Sol, JJ or NOS. It's a lot of fun to experiment.

I totally agree.The EHs in the EG5 are pretty nice,I have some 8th gen chinese tubes in my SL2 that are insane.The modules react so differently to tubes it's sick.I love it......

 

[AdamB]

But the modules still sound very good with the stock tubes don't they?

So they can only get better?

 

[jmgman69]

But the modules still sound very good with the stock tubes don't they?

So they can only get better?

They sound great,but you can flavor them

 

[3 Mile Stone]

You will not be disappointed in ANY Egnater product ever. These are just tubes and they sound fine, it just gets better when you start putting the good tubes in.

 

[AdamB]

Sweet, thanks guys!

Think i might buy some EH gold or harma 12ax7's while i've got some cash and waiting for my mod50

 

[richedie]

Do you guys recommend changing out the preamp tunbes in the modules or the tubes in power section? I have the MOD50 and the MHG/Bassman. I would interested in tryin pream pand power amp tubes and open for suggestions. I was thikning of the JJ E34L series and maybe some better preamp tubes?

However, mine came with the SED EL34 tubes which are supposed to be great and the good Electroharmonix preamp tubes as well.

 

[EWSEthan]

Do you guys recommend changing out the preamp tunbes in the modules or the tubes in power section? I have the MOD50 and the MHG/Bassman. I would interested in tryin pream pand power amp tubes and open for suggestions. I was thikning of the JJ E34L series and maybe some better preamp tubes?

However, mine came with the SED EL34 tubes which are supposed to be great and the good Electroharmonix preamp tubes as well.

I like the EH preamp tubes in high gain modules like EG5 or MHG. Im interested in trying some Shuguangs in my SL2 since thats what Bogner uses.

If you want to try new power amp tubes, check out the Tung Sol 5881s. They are nice and tight and punchy, but very clear sounding and feel more stiff than EL34s. Im using 34s now myself, but I might be going back to 5881s. I cant decide.

 

[richedie]

Do you guys recommend changing out the preamp tunbes in the modules or the tubes in power section? I have the MOD50 and the MHG/Bassman. I would interested in tryin pream pand power amp tubes and open for suggestions. I was thikning of the JJ E34L series and maybe some better preamp tubes?

However, mine came with the SED EL34 tubes which are supposed to be great and the good Electroharmonix preamp tubes as well.

I like the EH preamp tubes in high gain modules like EG5 or MHG. Im interested in trying some Shuguangs in my SL2 since thats what Bogner uses.

If you want to try new power amp tubes, check out the Tung Sol 5881s. They are nice and tight and punchy, but very clear sounding and feel more stiff than EL34s. Im using 34s now myself, but I might be going back to 5881s. I cant decide.

I thikn I also have EH tubes in my Bassman and it sounds great.

I do not like stiff....I thick, smooth and chewy...even for modern tones. I thikn that is why I never likes Rectifiers (Mesa) - always felt stiff. maybe I shoulod stay with the SED Winged EL34s?

What about various JJ tubes????

 

[EWSEthan]

Do you guys recommend changing out the preamp tunbes in the modules or the tubes in power section? I have the MOD50 and the MHG/Bassman. I would interested in tryin pream pand power amp tubes and open for suggestions. I was thikning of the JJ E34L series and maybe some better preamp tubes?

However, mine came with the SED EL34 tubes which are supposed to be great and the good Electroharmonix preamp tubes as well.

I like the EH preamp tubes in high gain modules like EG5 or MHG. Im interested in trying some Shuguangs in my SL2 since thats what Bogner uses.

If you want to try new power amp tubes, check out the Tung Sol 5881s. They are nice and tight and punchy, but very clear sounding and feel more stiff than EL34s. Im using 34s now myself, but I might be going back to 5881s. I cant decide.

I thikn I also have EH tubes in my Bassman and it sounds great.

I do not like stiff....I thick, smooth and chewy...even for modern tones. I thikn that is why I never likes Rectifiers (Mesa) - always felt stiff. maybe I shoulod stay with the SED Winged EL34s?

What about various JJ tubes????

I would stick with the EL34s then. I havent tried the JJs. Maybe someone else will chime in. Im using the Groove Tubes EL34s that came with my head (dont know who actually makes them since Groove Tubes rebrands a bunch of tubes)

 

[richedie]

Interesting...mine came with the SED tubes.

 

[hank]

I did a quick swap in my TD module. Pulled the 2 Sovtek 12AX7WA's and popped in a couple of Chinese 9th Gen (PentaLabs Select). Definite improvement. Clearer, brighter and just generally more musical to my ears! I tried it with my tele (swamp ash with single-coils) and my Godin (mahogany with humbucker). They both sounded better. I'm pretty sure I don't care for those Sovteks. I've got to try them in my other modules. And I've got to try some other tubes. I've got:
Tung Sol RI
Mullard RI
JJ ECC83S
JJ ECC803S
Jan GE 5751
Amperex 12AU7
Engl branded 12AX7
Ruby 12AX7A

I'm basically a noob at this tube stuff so any additional info or advice is appreciated

 

[Jeff Hilligan]

I'm kinda unclear here. Mullard and Tung Sol were never produced in Russia. Yet today thats where they are coming from. Can you say re label

 

[hank]

I'm kinda unclear here. Mullard and Tung Sol were never produced in Russia. Yet today thats where they are coming from. Can you say re label

yup, they are RI - "reissues". The general concensus is that the Mullard RI do not sound like the original Mullards but some people still like them. The Tung Sol RI are liked a lot by a lot of people as far as tone but have some reliability issues and don't seem to last very long.

 

[richedie]

So I guess there is no standard tube or tubes for the modules or power amp because it seems we all got our amps with different tubes. Interesting! Why is that?

 

[Jeff Hilligan]

Reissue is not a reissue of the orginal tube..Mullard for example was not made in Russia and the russian tubes that are labeled Mullard are not even close to the orginal mullards made in England. I dont care what tubes everyone uses, our amps ship with the Henry Ford Model T of tubes..reliable, one color and does the job of production. We promote our customers to knock themselves out and drop in whatever you want. We ship with 5881's and WA pre amp tubes. They never fail and are consistent. This is what is needed when you produce amps in some larger scale.

It does not hurt anyone to put some name on a tube. But they are just using the name!

 

[richedie]

Mine came with EH preamp tubes and SED winged EL4 power amp tubes.

 

[hank]

Reissue is not a reissue of the orginal tube..Mullard for example was not made in Russia and the russian tubes that are labeled Mullard are not even close to the orginal mullards made in England. I dont care what tubes everyone uses, our amps ship with the Henry Ford Model T of tubes..reliable, one color and does the job of production. We promote our customers to knock themselves out and drop in whatever you want. We ship with 5881's and WA pre amp tubes. They never fail and are consistent. This is what is needed when you produce amps in some larger scale.

It does not hurt anyone to put some name on a tube. But they are just using the name!

Oh, you don't have to justify it. How is a manufacturer supposed to guess which tube tone, the preference being subjective, that any given customer prefers? Sovtek, JJ, Chinese 9th Gen, EH, etc? You're doing the best thing.

Besides, the tube is just one component in the whole tonal system of guitar, pickups, amp, effects, cabinets, speakers. What works best in my rig won't necessarily work best in someone else's rig. Some people need/want to brighten their tone a bit, some need/want to darken it a tad. That's why you get conflicting reports on various tubes.

It's interesting to know what other people are using and their take on various tube. But in the end I'll take full responsibility for tweaking my tone to my liking

 

[richedie]

Anyone know why they all ship with different tubes?