TUBES - What We Use

bbaug14

bbaug14

Active member
There is an unlimited amount of questions/comments/issues etc. concerning what tubes each of us use in both the MOD50 chassis and the modules. In order to consolidate all this information, I want this thread to be where people document what tubes they use in each module, and what they use in the MOD50. That way in the future, if anyone has a question about what tubes someone uses, they can search TUBES and this will come up with everyone's tube choices. Here is the format

Module Name
V1
V2

EXAMPLE
SL2
V1: 12AX7B Silver Dragon (Shuguang)
V2: 12AX7B Silver Dragon (Shuguang)

I haven't changed any of the tubes in the MOD50 chassis yet, so if any of you have, come up with a format that makes sense.

I encourage a short rationale of each tube and how it colors each of the modules - thus, your reason for using that configuration. Perhaps a note at the end of your post will suffice. However, I want to keep this thread clean from talking back and forth about tubes, etc. so please, limit yourself to just posting what you use and why in one post.

I strongly believe this thread can be a great help to the newer guys (myself included) on the forum who have just purchased MOD50/M4's and are looking for ways to personalize their tone. Hopefully everyone sees the benefit of consilidating this information in one place and keeping the cross-talk to a minimum.

Alright, go!
 
Great Idea!
Heres for my dual modules. I have more singles and will update later.

VX, SL and EG3/4 :
V1: Jan Phillips 5751
V2: Tung Sol 12ax7a

The best combo I've found yet.


T/D
V1: JP 5751
V2: JP 5751

Vintage sounding and sweet

EG5
V1: Stock Sovtek 12ax7a
V2: Tung Sol 12ax7a

To my ears, the best combo for me in this module.

SL2
V1: 12AX7B Silver Dragon (Shuguang)
OR: JP 5751- Been favoring this one lately
V2: Tung Sol

Perfect combo(s) for this module depending on what your going for.

* I have changed V1 in the head to a Jan Phillips 5751. Reduces the gain hitting the front of the modules and sweetens up the overall sound. Guys that like real aggressive tones probably won't like this. But if you like a tone with a little less woof and and a little more wood, this works.
I've been favoring the Svetlana 6550 output tubes but these combos sound great with EL34 or 5881 output tubes.
 
This didn't really take off like I thought it would.... :aww: :cry:

Here are mine

SL2
V1: 12AX7B Silver Dragon Shuguang
V2: 12AX7B Silver Dragon Shuguang

VOX
V1: 12AX7 TungSol Russian Issue
V2: 12AX7 TungSol Russian Issue

Bman
V1: 12AX7B Silver Dragon Shuguang
V2: 12AX7B Silver Dragon Shuguang

EG5
V1: 12AX7WA Sovtek
V2: 12AX7WA Sovtek

I really like the Silver Dragons in SL2. Just sounds awesome.

C'mon guys, post your shit!!! :gethim:
 
I use Jan Phillips 5751's in V1 on the VX and COD. That way I can make channel A pretty clean. Everything else is stock.

I did try a NOS Mullard in V1 on the SL2 and MHG, but I really didn't notice any difference to the stock Sovteks.

I just needed a gain change. I'm really not sure what preamp tubes make the biggest tonal change.
 
DLX, VX, SL, COD, BMAN
V1 - JP 5751
V2 - Tung Sol 12ax7

EG3/4, EG5, SL2
V1 - Chinese 12ax7a
V2 - Tung Sol 12ax7

I really like the JP 5751 in low gain - mid gain modules in V1. Really makes it warmer, smoother, and lowers the headroom in modules like the COD, SL, VX, and BMAN, which I really like.

The Chinese 12ax7a's sound amazing in V1 for the higher gain modules. Just adds the right amount of hair, and has a different vibe for high gain modules. The Sovteks do sound great in most modules in V2.

For my input stages I either use a JP 5751 or Tung Sol 12ax7 in the M4 or Mod50. In my VHT 2/90/2, the input stages all have Ruby 12ax7a's, and I use Svet 6550s nearly everywhere for power.

Eric
 
Just Joe":dhpftvyy said:
Great info - I need to change a few tubes

Where are you guys getting them from?

j
Click to expand...

I've gotten mine from thetubestore.com for years. Jon's a great guy. I've had a few hiccups here and there with tubes, but Jon has always been #1 for customer service for me, so I've had no reason to try anyone else.

Eric
 
Give this thread some time. I had like 12 modules sitting on my desk while I inspected what I had placed in there. I'm still trying to nail down what I like most in some of these.
 
Just tried a JP 5751 in V1 of the T/D - WOW!!! I initially wasn't loving this module as much as I thought I would - sounded kind of 'flat' to me - but now I sure am - it's not just lower gain but it sounds more Fender-y/jangly/harmonic with the 5751. Thanks for the recommendations - I have a second 5751 that I'll try in some other modules (BMan, VX . . . ).
 
jasco":2zn6vv3t said:
Just tried a JP 5751 in V1 of the T/D - WOW!!! I initially wasn't loving this module as much as I thought I would - sounded kind of 'flat' to me - but now I sure am - it's not just lower gain but it sounds more Fender-y/jangly/harmonic with the 5751. Thanks for the recommendations - I have a second 5751 that I'll try in some other modules (BMan, VX . . . ).
Click to expand...
The 5751 in the VX along with an Tung sol in V2 is MAGIC!!!
 
So I just re tubed 3 of my modules with JJECC83s - SL2, VX and DLX. Also put 1 ECC83s and 1 ECC81 in the M4. And...replaced everything in my PV 50/50 - 2 quads EL84 and ECC81/83s. Definitely brought the life back.
However after looking through all the posts about tubes, I ordered a couple JP 5751's. Going to try them in DLX and VX...
 
^ yep.

Many times, the wrong tubes can make a great rig sound downright bad.

I had some microphonic Shuguang 9th gen in one of the chassis tube positions on my M4. It really brought everything to hell. Don't ever overlook those two. I ended up putting a NOS RCA 12AX7 and a GE 12AT7 in there, and it brought everything to life BIG time.
 
guitarslinger":3bzwe51j said:
^ yep.

Many times, the wrong tubes can make a great rig sound downright bad.

I had some microphonic Shuguang 9th gen in one of the chassis tube positions on my M4. It really brought everything to hell. Don't ever overlook those two. I ended up putting a NOS RCA 12AX7 and a GE 12AT7 in there, and it brought everything to life BIG time.
Click to expand...

Supposedly those NOS RCAs are just the absolute bomb in guitar amps. Long plate? Short plate? Black plate? Grey plate?

How much did you have to pay for that one?
 
RockStarNick":v8fwbpkr said:
guitarslinger":v8fwbpkr said:
^ yep.

Many times, the wrong tubes can make a great rig sound downright bad.

I had some microphonic Shuguang 9th gen in one of the chassis tube positions on my M4. It really brought everything to hell. Don't ever overlook those two. I ended up putting a NOS RCA 12AX7 and a GE 12AT7 in there, and it brought everything to life BIG time.
Click to expand...

Supposedly those NOS RCAs are just the absolute bomb in guitar amps. Long plate? Short plate? Black plate? Grey plate?

How much did you have to pay for that one?
Click to expand...

Long, Gray Plate.

Found it at the local electronic graveyard.

It buries the needle on my tester. About as NOS as it can get. :rock: :rock: :rock: :rock: :rock:
 
I'm new to this with Egnaters. With Mesas it was easy- no tubes but Mesa tubes. No thinking involved.

I am thinking about playing around with this with the 4212 at some point.

It looks like it has pretty standard Groove Tubes in there now.

What would you guys recommend to play around with at some point?

I like really clean, shimmery cleans, "kkerraaangy" kinds of slight overdrive, and good blues-rock distortions.

Not crazy about over the top heavy metal distortions.

Thanks!
 
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