What preamp tubes would make my 101B a tad brighter?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chris in MD
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Chris in MD

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I find my Ecstacy a little dark sounding and was wondering if anyone knew of any preamp tubes that would make it a hair brighter?

I have to run a 10 band EQ in front of the amp to do it now, and maybe thats my only answer.

Im about to order Sovtek 12ax7WA's because maybe mine are just old (original tubes, amp made inn 2005/2006)

Any help is appreciated, thanks!


Chris
 
Of current production preamp tubes, I find that the Tung-Sol Reissue has a nice bright tone, not too shrill or ice-pick, with a nice edge for mid and high gain.

BTW, the V1 position is the position that will have by far the largest effect on the sound. So you might try swapping out only V1 and see if you can get close to the sound you're looking for, and only then try swapping others.
 
First, thanks for the reply.

So the v1, which I understand is the first stage for the blue/red channel (obvs correct me if I'm wrong), will have the most effect?
I did plan on only getting a couple tubes, but I was going to get two of the Sovtek 12ax7WA's for that position and v2, and a 12ax7LPS for the phase inverter.
Now you have me thinking, maybe I get the Tung Sol and one Sovtek? Swap back and forth and see the difference?

What about the v2 position? Just leave it as is or if I throw in a Tung Sol on that one, it would be too bright? What do you have?

Thanks
 
V1 is the first stage for all channels, and so yes will have the most effect. V2 and V3 are later stages for Blue and Red. I think V4 is the PI and V6 the Green channel, and V5 the FX loop buffer; google and you should find a tube assignment.

I run and LPS in the PI; that's a good choice. I personally find the WAs a bit bland. I run NOS in V1 and Tung-Sol RIs or Electro-Harmonix in V2 and V3. I run the Tung-SOl RI in V6 for the Green channel, to give a bright 'pushed' clean sound.

I would recommend starting with the Tung-Sol RI and one LPS and swapping them around. You could try a WA too. The EHs sound to me nice and crunchy, and the Mullard RI is thicker but darker, with gain.
 
_actual time_":17uxf69r said:
I think V4 is the PI [...] and V5 the FX loop buffer
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It is actually the opposite :). V4 is FX loop buffer and V5 is PI :)

_actual time_":17uxf69r said:
I run and LPS in the PI; that's a good choice. I personally find the WAs a bit bland.
Click to expand...
I run LPS in V1 & V5. WA is good tube for bass amps like Ampegs, in guitar amp it sounds very flat. Sovtek WB could be the choice though.

I tried most of the preamp tubes available in my amp (NOS and currently produced) and from my experience Tung-Sol RI's was one of darker sounding tube in my amp. To made it brighter (besides modding it) I used to use EHX in V2 & V3. Lately I switched to chinese there and it gave me a bit more gain and more brightness too.

-> Chris in MD: try my lineup (LPS-chinese-chinese-chinese-LPS-LPS) and You should get brightness You're searching for.

Powertubes play their role here too. I got very bright-flavoured poweramp sound when switched from =C='s to RFT/Siemens'. If You couldn't get them in decent price (I live in Poland and there are still plenty of those tubes here to be found in decent quality) You might try chinese B-STR's. They were brighter in my amp than =C='s. Avoid EHX's, they are much darker.
 
Ruby EL34BHT's.
Ruby Ruby12AX7AC5HG+

These are in my 101b and sound fantastic. The el34BHT's can take the high voltage sound great and don't cost a lot. I was told about these tube from both Doug's tubes and KCA tubes. Also 12ax7lps in the PI
 
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