Best tubes for Marshall JCM 800 2203?

[Phrygian]

Hey guys!

I have an early 80's stock JCM 800 that's never been retubed. It still sounds great but I think it's time to treat it to some fresh tubes lol.

What would you recommend for EL34's and 12ax7's?

My other amps have Tung-Sol's in the pre section, but would these be too bright in a Marshall?

Let me know what you would recommend. Thanks!

Matt

 

[mytone]

Groove Tubes EL34M (Matched Pair)
Mullard double Getter XF2 recreation with welded plates.

Get my vote for now.

http://www.kcanostubes.com/categories/86/1/EL34.htm


Mullard Reissue 12AX7 for the preamp tubes.

 

[Phrygian]

Winged C EL34's. I like the Tungsol 12AX7's and Chinese C9's.

I would NEVER use kcanostubes. They are more expensive than most other tube dealers and the owner is a prick. Try Doug's Tubes

I was thinking Winged C's, Tung's or C9's would come up! I'd be using Doug's, Tube Depot or The Tube Store. I've had great dealings with all.

Thanks!

 

[MrDan666]

Winged C EL34's. I like the Tungsol 12AX7's and Chinese C9's.

Good choice!!

 

[markymarc1979]

Another vote for Winged C's in the power section, and Tung sols in the Pre. I've been using this combo for a while.

 

[Vrad]

Hey guys!

I have an early 80's stock JCM 800 that's never been retubed. It still sounds great but I think it's time to treat it to some fresh tubes lol.

What would you recommend for EL34's and 12ax7's?

My other amps have Tung-Sol's in the pre section, but would these be too bright in a Marshall?

Let me know what you would recommend. Thanks!

Matt

For the EL34's, I'd say the SED are probably my favorite. I've used those for years. Only down-side is they're expensive. But, they do last a long time. The New Sensor Mullards are good (I have them in my Quick Rod) and alot of guys like the JJE34L's. I have a set of GT-EL34 in my Super Lead right now and they also sound terrific.

For 12AX7's, 9th Gen Chinese tubes are very good. Tung Sol's sound great too, but there's one down-side that you may or may not experience with your amp and that's RFI. My Marshall was picking up radio stations. It was driving me nuts!! I did some research and found something that said Tung Sol's can sometimes pick up RFI in a Marshall-style preamp. Sure enough, I swapped out the Tung Sol and the RFI went away. That was a bummer too, because I like how those tubes sound. Oh well...

 

[MrDan666]

My Marshall was picking up radio stations. It was driving me nuts!! I did some research and found something that said Tung Sol's can sometimes pick up RFI in a Marshall-style preamp. Sure enough, I swapped out the Tung Sol and the RFI went away. That was a bummer too, because I like how those tubes sound. Oh well...

There's an easy fix for that, check your PM's

 

[Phrygian]

My Marshall was picking up radio stations. It was driving me nuts!! I did some research and found something that said Tung Sol's can sometimes pick up RFI in a Marshall-style preamp. Sure enough, I swapped out the Tung Sol and the RFI went away. That was a bummer too, because I like how those tubes sound. Oh well...

There's an easy fix for that, check your PM's

I'm getting that with my VHT. Never thought it could be the Tung Sol's.

 

[Vrad]

My Marshall was picking up radio stations. It was driving me nuts!! I did some research and found something that said Tung Sol's can sometimes pick up RFI in a Marshall-style preamp. Sure enough, I swapped out the Tung Sol and the RFI went away. That was a bummer too, because I like how those tubes sound. Oh well...

There's an easy fix for that, check your PM's

PM back... it's a good fix. I have it in there. Got rid of most of it. Swapping out the tube got rid of the rest. Weird. It could have been that particular TS tube. Who knows.

 

[Vrad]

My Marshall was picking up radio stations. It was driving me nuts!! I did some research and found something that said Tung Sol's can sometimes pick up RFI in a Marshall-style preamp. Sure enough, I swapped out the Tung Sol and the RFI went away. That was a bummer too, because I like how those tubes sound. Oh well...

There's an easy fix for that, check your PM's

I'm getting that with my VHT. Never thought it could be the Tung Sol's.

Yeah... weird right? Try swapping it out. I had them in my Quickrod and was picking up faint radio signals as well... If they fix that, that tube would be killer.

 

[Vrad]

My Marshall was picking up radio stations. It was driving me nuts!! I did some research and found something that said Tung Sol's can sometimes pick up RFI in a Marshall-style preamp. Sure enough, I swapped out the Tung Sol and the RFI went away. That was a bummer too, because I like how those tubes sound. Oh well...

There's an easy fix for that, check your PM's

Input resistor? Small cap? I bypassed the input resistor on my JCM800 and I would get radio signals every once in a while.

You get a small cap .001uf and shunt it from the ground of the input to the chassis. It works, I'd say about 80% improvement in RFI rejection. But I swear I can hear some difference in tone. Something in the high mids I can't describe it. I need to confirm this.

 

[johnny q]

I have the same amp and for traditional EL34 tone and reliability it's the Winged C's for sure. The JJ EL34L's sounded really nice but didnt last long and the GT El34M's sounded great but lasted an even shorter duration than the JJ's. The Winged C's, it almost seems like I can't kill them!

In the Pre Amp I love the tone of the New Sensor Tung Sols, but every single one (I'm talking, like a dozen!) make motorboat noises in my Marshalls. I bought them from the same guy and he swears I am the first person to ever complain about noisy Tung Sols I have had great luck with the Chinese C9's in all slots, EH in V1 and V3 and even the Sovtek WC's (Fender branded). JJ's were too dark, Mullard Cv4004's were expensive as hell and sounded weak and RFT's had a shitpile of gain, but too dark for my tastes.

JQ

 

[Les Zombie]

Wing =c= is a good choice, I also tried some eh el34 an they was decent.
C9 and jj in the pre is good too.

 

[Braciola]

Power Tubes aren't going to make as much of a tonal impact than preamp tubes in that amp.
If you could swing some good NOS pre's like Mullard, RTF, RCA, etc. for V1/V2 that would be your best bet.
If not, the current production Mullards pre's are my favorite in that amp.
As far as current production EL34's, the EH's are pretty darn good and reliable.

 

[JTyson]

Holy necrobump
Man do I miss SED Winged =C='s
I still have multiple sets of them in amps that years later are still matched up

 

[skullfxr]

VOS Mullard pre's, and JJE34L power.

 

[psychodave]

Holy necrobump
Man do I miss SED Winged =C='s
I still have multiple sets of them in amps that years later are still matched up

Me too... I’m sitting on like 8 spare quads.

I recently bought a peavey 5150 for cheap and slapped in a nice new quad of Sylvania 6L6’s. The tubes are worth more then the amp.

As for the original question, I prefer and use GE 6550’s in my 2203.

 

[Rick Lee]

This thread was revived by a spammer and it looks like his posts have been deleted. I hope he died a fiery death and has an ugly girlfriend too.