Tubes for my Ecstasy 101B *READ FIRST*

[King Loudness]

Hey guys,

I've got an '05 101B that needs tubes. Currently it's got five Penta tubes and one JJ in the preamp section. The power tubes are Rubys. I got a list from Steve King that suggested I use the following tubes:

V1 - Sovtek LPS
V2 - Ruby HG+
V3 - Ruby HG+
V4 - Ruby HG
V5 - Sotvek LPS
V6 - JJ

Power tubes - Ruby

Problem is, I'm in Canada and the Canadian dealers here (Tube Store, L&M) don't stock Ruby. What would you guys recommend as a good balanced tube set for the Ecstasy from what Tube Store stocks? I like having a classic Fender clean, a very smooth blue channel and a nice biting red channel.

Thanks,

W.

 

[Setneck]

Ruby's are just rebranded chinese, so any good selected Shuguangs will do fine.

The set of preamps Steve recommended is very good, so go for it.

Eventually think about =C='s for poweramp.

Andy

 

[Ventura]

Go with what Reinhold would recommend:
Chinese/Shuguang 12AX7B (high grade) pres throughout the small bottle sockets; and either =C= EL34s or even KT77 (Gold Lions) in the bog bottle sockets.

In Canada (over here on the other coast, m'brae ), we can also other from http://www.tubesandmore.com which is Antique Electronic Supply - and they've had Ruby. Furthermore, Laura here at RT, valvequeen, will help you out too. Otherwise straight up glass from Jon at thetubestore.com as he's been ace in the delivery/value department (Canadian cat to boot!).

Peace,
Mojo

 

[cheesey]

Im in Canada too , just retubed my '97 101B. Ruby el34 BHT , v1 thru v4 ruby 12ax7 hg+ matched, v5 EI Yugo ecc83 balanced triodes. v6 ruby hg+
Dougs Tubes , quick and easy.

 

[TheMagicEight]

Penta tubes are Chinese.

 

[Setneck]

Generally speaking, there's no problem in poweramp in XTC, as =C='s are THE tubes there IMO. I used a RFT/Siemens' tubes for a while, but =C='s are more punchy and fuller sounding.

As for the preamp - after 4 years of struggling with the XTC I'd strongly advise two things: no JJ's in XTC (in both preamp and poweramp) and to start with LPS in V1 & V5.

The essential thing are gain stages' V2 & V3 tubes and here I see two way outs: chinese or EXH's. Clean channel is to-taste-thing IMO. I have LPS here for ultra-clean sounds.

Regards, Andy