Uberschall Tube Rolling Underway...

[Ventura]

Purple Mod TJ:
=C= 6550s in the power section
V1 - GL-ECC83
V2 - TAD7025
V3 - TAD7025
V4 - JAN5751 or Ei Yugo
V5 - Ruby HG+12AX7
V6 - LPS

Rev.2
JJ EL34-II (new tubes, great reviews, I've never been a fan -of JJs- but the consensus says they're killer)
V1 - TungSol 12AX7
V2 - TungSol 12AX7
V3 - TAD7025
V4 - TAD7025
V5 - C9
V6 - LPS

Will see how these play out... Will take some time to settle in of course, so no immediate reviews or thoughts for another few days...

I've got some JAN-GE 5751, EiYugo, Svetlana, Sovteks, Mullards, etc. I'm not one for rolling too much - I'd prefer to set it, forget it, and punch it. But we'll see.

It's been a while since we've had a tube rolling thread here on the ol' Bogner page, so hey, I'm back, and, well...

...rolling

Mo

PS: If anyone wants to know what happened with the 20th editions I own - pretty simple:
20thX - GL-ECC83 V1 followed by TAD7025, PI - LPS, GL-KT77 (those KT77s are keepers...hands down KEEPERS!!)
20thSheevs - GL-ECC83 V1 followed by TungSols and TADs, PI - LPS, and Sovtek KT88 pair

 

[Ventura]

If yer all wondering WTF TungSols are doing in a Rev.2, well, for those of you who've played a Rev.2 - it can be a touch "dark"; which does go away once the throttle gets past noon on the MV. That said, getting the MV past noon on this amp isn't a daily occurrence for most mortals who live in any populated area of the world (given a 10KM radius or so ) So - thought to brighten it up a touch at sub sonic boom levels, and when the gigging/jamming commences, can always pull back the reigns on the presence or treble if it's a but too shrill.

All in theory of course, we'll know more in a week or so.

But the Rev.2 is fkn sublime, I have to say...

 

[John4021]

Good to have you back in the fold Unkle Mo

 

[xXDaveyJonesXx]

Good to have you back in the fold Unkle Mo

 

[Ventura]

Good to have you back in the fold Unkle Mo

Thanks Gentry!! Good to be back... Unpacked my guitars, amps, about 2 miles of cables, 100+ pedals/FX, need to load up my new iMac with DAW software, monitors, the whole fkn kit-and-kaboodle

It's a work in progress. But in short - ya, it'll be nice to be part of this scene again, and hopefully we can breathe some new life into this forum as the last few clips I've heard have been...

...crickets

PEACE!!!!!
Mojo

 

[leib10]

Welcome back!

Curious about the JJ EL34-II... never heard of this tube before.

 

[Ventura]

Welcome back!

Curious about the JJ EL34-II... never heard of this tube before.

Ya, same here... They came recommended to me by a couple of different boutique amp techs, as well as a friend who gigs his Rev2 a lot. They're pretty new on the scene - check the spec and site info directly from JJ's website. From what I can see and what I've been told - phenomenal tubes with extended range, clarity, longevity, and can handle high voltage. They're not bank-breakers, but they sound as though they should be - great tone - and my Rev.2 buddy said hands down, that's his powertrain for his amp (and he's been gigging his Rev.2 for about 10 or so years now and has also rolled a lot of different glass through its back-end).

We'll see. Better power handling than the E34L with less booming bass (like the Rev.2 "needs" more bass ); high plate handling; and crisp extended sonic range. Christ for the price they're worth the experiment alone.

I'm picky about tubes - but I gotta say, when it comes to the TJ and Rev.2, really, it's about V1, PI, and maybe a little PT. One's signal gets so mashed up with the gain stage that by the time the PI gets it, it's already beaten and bloodied. So, for me - just get the signal to the powertubes and go from there

XTC, Shiva, etc are a little more "discerning" in their "handling of the signal and tone". I find fussing over preamps too much on the TJ or R2 is like polishing a sledgehammer

PEACE!!!

 

[Adleneknot]

MOOOOOOOOOO!
Welcome back bro!!
Rev2 rules!!!! try the EH6CA7 bro and let me know ;-)

 

[Ventura]

MOOOOOOOOOO!
Welcome back bro!!
Rev2 rules!!!! try the EH6CA7 bro and let me know ;-)

Woot woot Bro!! Be well my friend

Lasse had recommended my using the 6CA7 quite a while ago. Put it this way, if these new version 2 EL34 don't work out - than 6CA7 it'll be

 

[maddnotez]

What did you have in the Rev 2 prior?

I am having a tough time deciding what to throw in mine. Curious about these new JJ's. The description sounds better than the E34L.

 

[Ventura]

What did you have in the Rev 2 prior?

I am having a tough time deciding what to throw in mine. Curious about these new JJ's. The description sounds better than the E34L.

All original glass. Yep - original. Came loaded with beat-to-shit ARS EL34s in the power section and beat to shit 12AX7 in the preamp section. Not 12AX7B or C or A, just "12AX7" chinese rebrands of some sort... Crazy old.

I'm putting some Svetlana 12AX7s into it today, LPS in PI slot, GL-ECC83 V1, and the new JJ EL34-II series powertubes. Will know more later. Never been a fan of JJ, but apparently these new EL34-II series powertubes are the bees knees.

Mo

 

[maddnotez]

What did you have in the Rev 2 prior?

I am having a tough time deciding what to throw in mine. Curious about these new JJ's. The description sounds better than the E34L.

All original glass. Yep - original. Came loaded with beat-to-shit ARS EL34s in the power section and beat to shit 12AX7 in the preamp section. Not 12AX7B or C or A, just "12AX7" chinese rebrands of some sort... Crazy old.

I'm putting some Svetlana 12AX7s into it today, LPS in PI slot, GL-ECC83 V1, and the new JJ EL34-II series powertubes. Will know more later. Never been a fan of JJ, but apparently these new EL34-II series powertubes are the bees knees.

Mo

Let me know the results.

I don't have a lot of experience with tubes but I liked the JJ E34L's in my Pitbull that I used to have.

 

[PBGas]

Nice to see you rolling again, Mo! Well done!

 

[Ventura]

Alright...

I'm not making any sweeping decisions JUST yet, but the tubes weren't an hour in before one of them shitted itself. These are the JJ EL34-II I'm talking about. It's okay - not a death sentence - things happen. The retailer is sending be a brand new matched quad (and yes, did ask if I wanted to try a different tube actually) of the same as I simply want to know...."are they good/great/awesome"

So - jury's still out. And not passing judgment as I have had "new tubes" pop on me here and there...not a lot, but definitely here and there.

As for preamps - still rolling but the LPS stays. TungSol, Chinese, TADs, GoldLions, Svetlana 12AX7s, etc. It's a simple amp - doesn't need to be complicated. I'm guessing tube selection ought to be similar - KISS - Keep It Simple Studid

Will report back later when the replacements have arrived and been "settled into" their new surroundings.

Unkle Mo

 

[Ventura]

Nice to see you rolling again, Mo! Well done!

 

[maddnotez]

Alright...

I'm not making any sweeping decisions JUST yet, but the tubes weren't an hour in before one of them shitted itself. These are the JJ EL34-II I'm talking about. It's okay - not a death sentence - things happen. The retailer is sending be a brand new matched quad (and yes, did ask if I wanted to try a different tube actually) of the same as I simply want to know...."are they good/great/awesome"

So - jury's still out. And not passing judgment as I have had "new tubes" pop on me here and there...not a lot, but definitely here and there.

As for preamps - still rolling but the LPS stays. TungSol, Chinese, TADs, GoldLions, Svetlana 12AX7s, etc. It's a simple amp - doesn't need to be complicated. I'm guessing tube selection ought to be similar - KISS - Keep It Simple Studid

Will report back later when the replacements have arrived and been "settled into" their new surroundings.

Unkle Mo

Tough luck. I've heard others complain about JJ's not lasting long. I had a set of E34L's for like two years with lots of hours and no issues at all.

I'm leaning towards those E34L's again but still debating.

 

[Ventura]

UPDATE:
So apparently the EL34-IIs are out of stock... ETA? Uncertain.

I may just bypass this and consider it all an "omen" re: JJ tubes

Next up? KT77s or 6CA7 - we'll soon see

(or just straight up EL34 and be done with it, less talk, more )

Mojo

 

[maddnotez]

UPDATE:
So apparently the EL34-IIs are out of stock... ETA? Uncertain.

I may just bypass this and consider it all an "omen" re: JJ tubes

Next up? KT77s or 6CA7 - we'll soon see

(or just straight up EL34 and be done with it, less talk, more )

Mojo

Aren't those extra Bassy anyway? That's what I got out of the description on Eurotubes. If so, that doesn't seem like something the Uberschall wants unless you have a para eq or a specific Can or something.

 

[Ventura]

I thought the E34L were considered the bass driven tubes, not the EL34-II model. ANYWAY - I'm still in limbo with my Rev.2 as hey, no powertubes to screw around with....

But of the ROLLING that happened this afternoon and well into the evening (6+ hours of it!?!?! Fuck I wanted an Axe-FX and just be done with it halfway through... )

Purple Mod TJ:
- Jan-GE5751 V1
- LPS PI
- TAD7025S throughout
=C= 6550 running at 34mA
(tried many variations, along with C9, Ei Yugo, GL-ECC83, LPS, TS, etc. The 5751 leading in V1 opened up the amp, made it dead quiet, and just gave it this incredible hammer of immediacy when playing. I always felt the TJ had a bit too much gain on tap anyway (at least under a mic it did), but this cleaner 5751 upfront changed everything. Made it articulate - powerful - and very potent... Out of all 3 amps I tubed tonight, I spent the most time on the TJ as it really had me impressed with the tones I was copping out of Ch.1 My GAS for a JJ100 suddenly melted away, interesting that... )

20thA Shiva:
- GL-ECC83 V1
- Svetlana 12AX7 throughout
- LPS PI
Sovtek KT88 duet biased to just shy of 40mA +/- 2mA

20thA XTC:
- GL-ECC83 V1
- Svetlana 12AX7 throught
- LPS PI
GL KT77 biased up to 32mA +/- 1.5mA

Played with LPS, Ei, 5751 in all main slots in all three amps. It's a sensitive little preamp that Ei, but when it shone, it was awesome - however - turn the MV up and it started to get nervous it seemed....hard to explain, lot of noise. LPS were gold in the PI, and actually not bad in the V1 spots. As mentioned above, 5751 in the TJ kicks ass (to my liking anyway) in the V1 spot. LPS was just a deadringer good choice - not perfect - not shitty - but the best sounding PI tube in all 3 amps tonight. The Ei worked well in the PI slot for some amps on some channels; and well in V1, or V"X" dependent - but never across the board for the amp, and not at higher volumes. Maybe someday I'll find a nice socket for them

I'm done - ears still ringing. But out of the lot.... Ch.1 on the Purple Mod TJ had me drooling. Unbelievable punch.

Still awaiting powertubes for my Rev.2 - if the replacements are too far off, going to go with 6CA7s and roll from there.
FWIW, the Svetlana 12AX7 are awesome - they let the amp do the talking - not shrill - not dark - just clear, clean, quiet and neutral. I still dig the horsepower and clarity of the GL-ECC83 in V1 for some amps - but otherwise, I am DONE!!!

GOOD NIGHT!!!
Mo

 

[Ventura]

Update:

JJ's new EL34-IIs are a couple weeks out, so I've opted for their "new" release of KT77s for my Rev.2

Should be here in a couple days and will let you know the outcome.

If these suck - then my overall attitude and outlook on JJs will be reconfirmed - they suck and that's that. LOL.

Anyway - as I know the Rev.2 simply wants a power section that can handle higher plate voltages, here it is - KT77s or 6AC7s - my dealer just sent the KT77s and that's that. IMHO most of the tone comes from the stack and PI before it hits the PTs. That's just my opinion - YMMV.

Peace,
Mo