The quest for perfect tone

[Michael.L.]

LMAO!!!!
Cheers, Mick

 

[Michael.L.]

Thanks Michael for the info. Read it a few times until it finally became clear.
I have a 88 Mesa 50 caliber head with the EL84 power tubes. I had changed the Groove tube EL84s to stock Mesa tubes to match the bias and ordered a matched set of JJ brand 12AX7 tubes with one tube designated for the Phase Inverter. Although I did not really hear a difference it sounded cleaner. With this amp I usally play at low volumes. The lead/gain channel always sounded ok but not crisp or as edgy as my 88 Marshall 40 watt Valvestate. That has a bitching gain channel. I also have a Vox amp with a better gain channel

What would you recommend for the preamp tubes/V1 to give it the bite I am missing. From what I read this may have something to do with my sound preference. Other then that it is a very clean sounding amp and sounds great

Thanks

Hey intrique45
The V1 position to me also seems to be the significant position as to you're overall tone-this is the one where I too notice the difference more than other positions-can't answer why, just that it does-for me anyway

Try as many as you can get your hands on-especially for the Mesa- "beautiful amp by the way"
Like I said I'm going to try the Genalex and give them ago
To be honest -my favourite in V1 is the EI 12ax7 from late '90s
****ing problem with these are they become so god damn microphonic in no time and if you can get hold of a couple of tested/screened ones-that's the way to go-again problem is you don't know how long before they shit themselves again

These EI's are probably the closest things you'll get to the NOS telefunkens and the like

For me, they were the most harmonic and sweetest of all, but drove me mad
after a while with major inherent problems with microphonics

Thanks for the feedback guys
Just remember though, you can fart around with all this shit, but at the end of the day,,, TONE is in your "FINGERS"

Cheers, Mick from OZ!!!

 

[Michael.L.]

Hey tone freaks
I dug this one up for my own curiosity

Hope it helps to some degree!!!

Cheers, Mick from OZ!!! Best 12ax7 tubes - Page 2 - Telecaster Guitar Forum

Thread Tools
September 12th, 2010, 09:25 PM #41 (permalink)
AnalogTubes

Tele-Meister

Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 134
I think we are one of the larger stocking tube dealers in the US. So I have no shortage of tubes of any kind. I can and do use whatever tubes I believe give my gear the best sounds. All I can say IMHO is the Genalex tube line is the best sounding tubes on the market today. I'm so impressed with them that after weeks/months of testing we changed out about 108 other tubes to Genalex. Did we use 100% Genalex, no. There were other tubes that were used to give us and our clients some different flavors.

Some unsolicited client comments about the Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 tube:
I cannot believe it is the same amp. I am hearing little nuances and a harmonic clarity and richness that was not apparent before!

Michael - I have had my amp for 15 years. I've tried everything including very expensive NOS tubes and most of the current tubes. I put these tubes in my amp and I was beyond amazed. My amp has never sounded this good. I got tone that I had never heard before. This is so full sounding and detailed that I doubt I'll ever use another tube again.



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[Lowdown]

Anyone looking to bring their amp back to life without spending a small fortune on NOS tubes,I suggest this -

V1 - TungSol / V2 - Mullard / V3 - EH
All CP's,but IMO the best of the CP tubes.

Tubes,like pups are just another part of the sound chain that is entirely up to the individual and how they play,what they play,what they play through and with...
But the above 3 preamp tubes for anyone looking to upgrade their tone on a budget are a great starter.

In nutshell,V1 & V2 are your gain stage.V3 handles your tone.
Check out this. Very in depth. Very informative.

 

[Michael.L.]

Anyone looking to bring their amp back to life without spending a small fortune on NOS tubes,I suggest this -

V1 - TungSol / V2 - Mullard / V3 - EH
All CP's,but IMO the best of the CP tubes.

Tubes,like pups are just another part of the sound chain that is entirely up to the individual and how they play,what they play,what they play through and with...
But the above 3 preamp tubes for anyone looking to upgrade their tone on a budget are a great starter.

In nutshell,V1 & V2 are your gain stage.V3 handles your tone.
Check out this. Very in depth. Very informative.

Nice call Lowdown
Another great response!! I've used this combo set up also and was great!!!
But like I previously stated V1 JJ ecc83 v2 EH 12ax7 and v3 Sovtek 12ax7 LPS-my plexi just sounds better with this combo-personal only
Like I had previously stated and you suggested
It all comes down to personal preference
I'm in for new tubes vs the NOS

I'll keep you guys posted when I sus the Genalex stuff out and make direct comparisons!!!


Cheers, Mick from OZ!!!!

 

[Rich]

Like Lowdown is saying, the bottom line is this: one size does not fit all. For example, I run a couple of old Telefunken 12AX7s in V1 of both my blackface Champ and my Blues Jr; I like the thicker sound I get out of those amps with that preamp tube. That same type of Telefunken sounds like crap in V1 of my Mesa Stiletto as it makes the amp sound muddy; I run JJs across the board in the preamp section of the Mesa.

Modern amps are designed and voiced with modern tubes (with some boutique exceptions) and may or may not sound "better" with old/NOS tubes. Experiment and find what works best for you in your amp.

 

[Michael.L.]

Like Lowdown is saying, the bottom line is this: one size does not fit all. For example, I run a couple of old Telefunken 12AX7s in V1 of both my blackface Champ and my Blues Jr; I like the thicker sound I get out of those amps with that preamp tube. That same type of Telefunken sounds like crap in V1 of my Mesa Stiletto as it makes the amp sound muddy; I run JJs across the board in the preamp section of the Mesa.

Modern amps are designed and voiced with modern tubes (with some boutique exceptions) and may or may not sound "better" with old/NOS tubes. Experiment and find what works best for you in your amp.

Hey Rich
The reality is, and I mean the reality
Bogner uses, and only uses the Chinese gen 9 in their pre amp stage
and when I purchased my 1959slp -this is what they came standard with
across the board with winged c el34 in the power stage
I've got to admit these gen 9 tubes, how to tell apart from gen 8 is the hexagonal "go getter as opposed to square halo"
amazing difference
gain is at 110% and they don't sound like that "wasp in the jar sound"
but still
if you can get yourself some EI that have been screened/tested
best 12ax7 tube -somewhat based on the Tele bar none!!!

Cheers, Mick

 

[john9]

Wow, excellently stated and extremely comprehensive!

 

[Michael.L.]

Thanks guys,
Nice feedback Rich and John,

And again, like most you guys said, it is extremely a personal issue, as personal as guitars, speakers and so on!!!

Well done guys,
Cheers, Mick from OZ!!!!
I'll post some more when I nut out the Genalex that I've ordered