Cameron HG Jose Marshall - Preamp tube recommendations

[Babylon Falls]

Just picked up a cameron modded SLP reissue, would like to get some recommendations on preamp tubes. Amp currently has Sovteks installed.

Thanks

 

[jcj]

What are you going for with the swap? Darker?

 

[Babylon Falls]

What are you going for with the swap? Darker?

Not necessarily looking to change...the amp sounds incredible as is. I was just curious what others have used.

Thanks

 

[fearhk213]

Mine sounds really good with a Tung Sol in V1. Mine has a monster low end and the Tung Sol adds some nice clarity and depth. I tried it with a standard chinese and the TS was much better IMO. The chinese was maybe a bit more aggressive, but it seemed more linear and the amp didn't have enough "character." I haven't tried it with a Sovtek. I have some LPS in another amp so if I remeber tonight or tomorrow I'll compare the two.

 

[MrDan666]

Mine sounds really good with a Tung Sol in V1. Mine has a monster low end and the Tung Sol adds some nice clarity and depth. I tried it with a standard chinese and the TS was much better IMO. The chinese was maybe a bit more aggressive, but it seemed more linear and the amp didn't have enough "character." I haven't tried it with a Sovtek. I have some LPS in another amp so if I remeber tonight or tomorrow I'll compare the two.

Dont use the LPS in V2 of the Cameron, as far as i know those LPS Sovteks fail in the cathode follower stage and can cause problems! Mark mentioned this

 

[fearhk213]

Mine sounds really good with a Tung Sol in V1. Mine has a monster low end and the Tung Sol adds some nice clarity and depth. I tried it with a standard chinese and the TS was much better IMO. The chinese was maybe a bit more aggressive, but it seemed more linear and the amp didn't have enough "character." I haven't tried it with a Sovtek. I have some LPS in another amp so if I remeber tonight or tomorrow I'll compare the two.

Dont use the LPS in V2 of the Cameron, as far as i know those LPS Sovteks fail in the cathode follower stage and can cause problems! Mark mentioned this

I was just going to put it in V1. I knew about the cathode follower-LPS issue, but good looking out though

 

[Babylon Falls]

Mine sounds really good with a Tung Sol in V1. Mine has a monster low end and the Tung Sol adds some nice clarity and depth. I tried it with a standard chinese and the TS was much better IMO. The chinese was maybe a bit more aggressive, but it seemed more linear and the amp didn't have enough "character." I haven't tried it with a Sovtek. I have some LPS in another amp so if I remeber tonight or tomorrow I'll compare the two.

Dont use the LPS in V2 of the Cameron, as far as i know those LPS Sovteks fail in the cathode follower stage and can cause problems! Mark mentioned this

I was just going to put it in V1. I knew about the cathode follower-LPS issue, but good looking out though

Thanks for the information...I have some TungSols in my Bogner, I will try those.

Thanks for the tip on the V2

 

[jaybird]

Mine sounds really good with a Tung Sol in V1. Mine has a monster low end and the Tung Sol adds some nice clarity and depth. I tried it with a standard chinese and the TS was much better IMO. The chinese was maybe a bit more aggressive, but it seemed more linear and the amp didn't have enough "character." I haven't tried it with a Sovtek. I have some LPS in another amp so if I remeber tonight or tomorrow I'll compare the two.

FWIW - Mark does not like the Tung Sol's. I tried one in V1 in my amp and went back to the chinese.

 

[fearhk213]

Mine sounds really good with a Tung Sol in V1. Mine has a monster low end and the Tung Sol adds some nice clarity and depth. I tried it with a standard chinese and the TS was much better IMO. The chinese was maybe a bit more aggressive, but it seemed more linear and the amp didn't have enough "character." I haven't tried it with a Sovtek. I have some LPS in another amp so if I remeber tonight or tomorrow I'll compare the two.

FWIW - Mark does not like the Tung Sol's. I tried one in V1 in my amp and went back to the chinese.

Different strokes for different folks I guess . It sounds like doodoo in V1 of my Cameron Uber and I wouldn't outfit the entire Jose w/Tung Sol's, but for some reason it sings in V1 of my particular HG Jose. Which brings up another point for the O.P. Being these are mods on various models of amps with different components etc, you'll find more sonice difference from mod to mod than say your typical production amp. That said some pre amp tubes will sound better in one amp and not as good in others. So just take what we say and experiment.