Roc8995

Your problem is probably more due to the fact that there are few places on earth where you can properly crank a 50 watt Marshall without getting arrested. However, a new set of tubes can help. Don't expect miracles, but you can probably pull a bit more gain out the amp. For high gain tubes, email Bob at Eurotubes.com (go to the website for contact info) and ask for a high gain set of tubes for your specific amp. He'll make sure you get a high gain set of JJs.

__________________
Hi, I'm Colin.

Jarrott

Very nice sticky! Right after I read through it I popped open my XXX to take a look at the tubes and I was very disappointed to see Sovtek's . I'll definitely have to order some in from JJs to give my amp that extra gain I so desire .

__________________
My gear:
'96 Ibanez S540FMTT
'91 Standard Gibson SG [w/ Bare Knuckle Warpigs]
Peavey Triple XXX 112

anguskilminster

In my Marshall 30th Anniversary I'm using Harma 6L6 output tubes (matched quad) and TAD preamp tubes. I got all these from www.watfordvalves.com , their site lists tubes for guitar & audio amps, as well as 60's jukeboxes!! The Harma power tubes are wonderful, my amp was running Sovtek 5881's before, now it sounds ferocious at full tilt, in a good way of course

boba899

Very good, but you use the term 'dark' ALOT, and i dont really understand what tone you mean when you say that. Do you mean as if the turn down the presence on an amp, that kind of dark, or a more rounded tone, not like a twangy tone?

Also, if your willing to help, what tubes sound i get for my peavey valveking? I'ma fter a bit mroe gain, plus ive heard chaning to tubes in a VK makes the WORLD of difference from the stock ones. Any help is great

__________________

godofshred

pre-amp nos tubes

i use a mullard , and a mazda valve 12ax7

the mullard is amazing, incredibley agressive but very quiet. definatley livens up an amp, fantastic with el34 amps that need a little more sizzle or oomph

the mazda is basically a mullard clone, and does it very well. Although, its a tad noisier than the mullard and doesnt seem to bring out the amps livelyness compared to tme mullard

GT el34R powertubes
i used them for a while in the laney, before i went with jj's.
very nice tube, long lasting but have a alightly harsh tone to them. great headroom, and add an overdrive..incredible crunch. compared to jj's el34L, they had a tab less headroom, and i prefer the jj's distorted tone better, its more agressive and tones down better.


hope that helps

__________________
Field Marshall of the 7 string/ERG legion - ERG=8=7>6, face it. Pissing off bassists is fun NEW THREAD!
Blackstar HT5c for sale, PM ME!
EH NYC Big Muff for sale, PM ME!

Roc8995

'Dark' refers to a treble which is compressed and not harsh, and usually less prominent. The overall sound is voiced more towards the bass end of the spectrum than a 'bright' amp. To simulate this on an amp, turn your treble all the way up and mids to halfway. That's 'bright.' Now turn the mids town to 4 of 10 and the treble all the way down. That's 'dark.'

For a Valveking, JJ power tubes and tung-sol preamps are my recommendation, although if you want more gain, JJ preamps are the way to go.

godofshred:
I added your reviews to the list. I'd kill for some Mullard 12AX7s. Where did you get yours?

__________________
Hi, I'm Colin.

mr_hankey

So, can anyone recommend me a good 6V6 for my Fender Champ?

And how often do rectifier tubes need to be replaced?

Are Shuguang (Chinese) tubes any good?

Roc8995

The 6v6s I hear the best things about are JAN/GE:http://kcanostubes.com/content/esto...=48&product=234
and Mazda:
http://kcanostubes.com/content/esto...=48&product=213

Rectifier tubes don't need to be replaced until they die, as they aren't in the tone circuit. NOS ones can last a lifetime, new production ones typically last 5-10 years. Your best bet is just to buy an extra one and keep it handy.

__________________
Hi, I'm Colin.

That_Pink_Queen

The JJ 6V6s are FANTASTIC. AMAZING tubes.

__________________
I'm not very active here on UG currently.
I'm a retired Supermod off to the greener pastures of the real world.

That_Pink_Queen

Yep, it really will make no difference. A tube guitar amp isn't a precision piece of engineering remotely. You'll here absolutely no difference. A matched triode really is pointless.

And btw, who's saying having a matched triode even equates to good tone? Unmatched IMO is just as good as matched, it really does make no difference.

__________________
I'm not very active here on UG currently.
I'm a retired Supermod off to the greener pastures of the real world.

boba899

This matched triode thing, is that the same as when they sell matched tubes, or is that different?

__________________

Roc8995

Different- matched power tubes are necessary, while the ones we're talking about are matched sections within preamp tubes, referred to as a 'balanced' tube.

__________________
Hi, I'm Colin.

boba899

Ah i see Thanks a loooad for your help.

__________________

godofshred

i got mine from my techie here in the UK. for £20, a good deal..but i got over £100 worth of tubes that day, so he dave me a good deal on it.
the mazda is from a mate

__________________
Field Marshall of the 7 string/ERG legion - ERG=8=7>6, face it. Pissing off bassists is fun NEW THREAD!
Blackstar HT5c for sale, PM ME!
EH NYC Big Muff for sale, PM ME!

mr_hankey

Does anyone know how Koch tubes are? Are they just rebranded?

De Amazing Blob

When I get my B-52 I'm going to be switching out all the tubes because the stock ones suck... But I was just wondering if I really need to replace the Phase Inverter (what the heck is that anyway?), the effects loop, reverb, and rectifier tubes. Also, would I best off putting the same type of tubes? (12ax7, 12ax7, 12at7, and 5ar4, respectively). Thanks

Roc8995

Koch are rebranded, though I don't know what type. The following is a list of current production non-rebranded tubes:
Sovtek
Svetlana
Ei (Factory shut down recently, but some places still sell them)
Electro-Harmonix
JJ
Shuguang
Tung-Sol
Some Groove Tube power tubes. All GT preamp tubes are rebranded.

If you have a tube that's not on this list, it's either NOS or rebranded.

__________________
Hi, I'm Colin.

Roc8995

Phase inverter tubes affect the tone, so I'd replace that. Reverb tubes aren't as important soundwise, so you can leave those. The rectifier is tricky- a NOS rectifier is the way to go, but only if you have the cash. It will sound a bit better, and last 25+ years. Unfortunately, they're pretty expensive. The JAN Philips is the only NOS one I know of under $100:
http://kcanostubes.com/content/esto...=28&product=149

__________________
Hi, I'm Colin.

Y0UNGBL00D

what are some of the warning signs (if any) and what effect occurs when tubes are going/have gone out? My VS100R has a 12AX7 in it, and i was just curious. it's been cutting out lately and i'm about to take it in for repairs.

--M