What tubes?

[LP Freak]

I'm getting ready to retube my JCM 800 Aldrich mod. What power and preamp tubes do you guys recommend? I've got Winged C EL34's and Sovtek LPS's in it now and they sound great. Should I replace them with the same or try something different?

 

[dawnofdreamx97]

you're right on the money... just be careful with the LPS in a cathode follower gain stage...instead try some good ruby 12ax7 ac5 chinese 9th gen's, i do like the LPS in v1 on my camerons though.

 

[LP Freak]

These are the tubes Mark put in it. I know he likes the Winged C's but I've never been a big fan of Sovteks. I have to say, they do sound good in this amp but I didn't know if there might be something even better.

 

[steve_k]

you're right on the money... just be careful with the LPS in a cathode follower gain stage...instead try some good ruby 12ax7 ac5 chinese 9th gen's, i do like the LPS in v1 on my camerons though.

I do too. Just replaced V1 with an LPS last night. Get's some of the grain out and adds a little more punch. Ruby HG+ and AC5's the rest of the way across. Got a matched and balanced one in V5 for the PI to keep them power tubes pumping equally.

Nick, maybe you can clarify this:

V1 is input, Ch1 and Ch2
V2 is Ch2
V3 is Ch1 (cathode follower position)
V4 is?
V5 is PI only

Steve

 

[parntz145]

It really depends on the amp, but I always found this to be a great combo.
V1-Tung-sol
V2-Chinese 9th GEN or if the amp needs some thickness put a JJ 12ax7.
V3-Tung-sol
I dont use a loop so I would always throw a cheap tube in that slot.

This combo at least to me was great. It added depth and great punch.

 

[steve_k]

It really depends on the amp, but I always found this to be a great combo.
V1-Tung-sol
V2-Chinese 9th GEN or if the amp needs some thickness put a JJ 12ax7.
V3-Tung-sol
I dont use a loop so I would always throw a cheap tube in that slot.

This combo at least to me was great. It added depth and great punch.

I tried some of the new Tung Sol's in it and the Cameron sounded OK. But, it sort turned the top end a little creamy. Loads of low end balls though. I like the Tung Sol's in stock Marshall's.

Steve

 

[Superunknown]

For power tubes, I run NOS Svetlana or SED's in my Camerons. I love the EH pre-amp tubes in my Cameron modded Marshalls. Chinese sound great as well.

I run the following in my CCV and have yet to find any better combination:

CCV:
V1= Sovtek LPS
V2= Chinese 9th
V3= Chinese 9th
V4= Sovtek LPS
V5= Sovtek LPS
V6= Sovtek LPS

 

[parntz145]

It really depends on the amp, but I always found this to be a great combo.
V1-Tung-sol
V2-Chinese 9th GEN or if the amp needs some thickness put a JJ 12ax7.
V3-Tung-sol
I dont use a loop so I would always throw a cheap tube in that slot.

This combo at least to me was great. It added depth and great punch.

I tried some of the new Tung Sol's in it and the Cameron sounded OK. But, it sort turned the top end a little creamy. Loads of low end balls though. I like the Tung Sol's in stock Marshall's.

Steve

Im Talking in the mods only. I hate the Tung-sol's in the CCV. Which is wierd because as far as new tubes go the Tung-sol's are one of my faves. They just dont sound good in a CCV.

 

[steve_k]

Mark couldn't have picked a worst position in the chassis to put V1 and V2! What was he thinking? Got to pull the chassis to change tubes as there is no way I can squeeze my hand around and in front of the the big Mercury iron

Got some EI's in today to try out.


SK

 

[jerrydyer]

designing a chassis that accomodates everything is really hard. Im redoing mine right now. Have everything laid out on a cardboard model. Im have two of his boards right in front of me and as far as layout and noise control, these are laid out the best they could be. Unfortunately, other little annoyances pop up. I think you can remove the front no problem .. the chassis is still attached to the bottom of the head box. tinker away with the tubes