Have you ever had preamp tube overload?

[ledvedder]

Over the years, I've amassed so many different types of preamp tubes, I think that sometimes I just go into overload with them. Trying to determine what combination sounds best with each amp. Tungsol, Sovtek, JJ, Mullard, Ruby, Sylvania, RFT, etc. Then, there's the variants... 12ax7b, 12ax7c, 5751, 12at7, ecc83s, ecc803s, LPS, etc.

Sometimes, I just think it's a meaningless exercise.

 

[RaceU4her]

if youre questioning if its worth it its probably not. to me different boosts and speakers are way more fun and make more a difference than tubes

 

[SpiderWars]

if youre questioning if its worth it its probably not. to me different boosts and speakers are way more fun and make more a difference than tubes

Yep. If I'm rolling preamp tubes I try to do it in the morning when my senses are at their peak and only do it for a short time. My ears get fatigued and it all starts sounding the same. If a couple of tubes sound the same (and good), STOP. Either your ears are shot or you're done, put the cheaper tube in and button it up.

 

[japetus]

Those days are long gone for me. I stopped caring honestly. I get more tonal difference from a $20 danelectro eq pedal than I ever could rolling preamp tubes.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

I'm with all three of the above posts. Minimal effect to my ears. Pedals, speakers & pickups yield much more apparent tone tweak options for me. The only amp I ever noticed a significant difference in tone when tube swapping was the JJ jr.

 

[maddnotez]

I wouldn't expect a significant difference but there is definitely a difference. Take your perfect tone and refine it to something slightly better.

 

[RedB4Black]

I probably have 60 or so preamp tubes of varying make. The differences are there but nominal at best, at least to my ears. Now I just hoard tubes so I have a lifetime supply for when you can't get them any longer. I get a lot more tonal change out of switching speakers.

 

[RaceU4her]

Those days are long gone for me. I stopped caring honestly. I get more tonal difference from a $20 danelectro eq pedal than I ever could rolling preamp tubes.

gigging made me stop being so picky. my "perfect" tone in the corner of a tiny carpeted practice space is not perfect tone for a wide open big wooden stage. if i was recording an album maybe id try a few different tubes but even then it seems like wasted time i could be trying different mics, positions, pre amps, compressors and everything else in the studio which will have more affect in the end

 

[PDC]

I can definitely hear what people are referring to when they say (for example) that JJ-ECC83 tends to be darker than an EH12AX7. But I think once you have categorized preamp tubes into brands and varieties that are typically darker or brighter / more / less gain etc, the differences among those in the same general category become harder and harder to identify. It is nice to know which tubes step down incrementally in gain - like the 5751 - but I agree that rotating boost pedals or adding an EQ in the loop has a far greater effect on your tone.

 

[psychodave]

When I first started playing a friend who was a little older got me into NOS tubes, so for 30 years, I’ve owned and tinkered with them... so I already have an expectation of what the tube will do to the amp... of course no two tubes are the same so.... ?

 

[ledvedder]

I honestly hear no difference between a $50 RFT and a $15 Tungsol.

 

[Nigel]

Get a late 50’s Mullard 17mm 12AX7 long-plate f91/f92 if you've never had one.

Timbre Wolf over on TGP turned me on to them. Bob Gjika uses them exclusively in his amps. They have a big/wide sound, clear, deep bass and smooth highs that are pleasant but not piercing.
I run them in all slots of my older amps.
Newer amps built for cheap modern glass sometimes sound better with the stock tubes.

Maybe we could to a tour kit for our tone brothers’ edification?

 

[ledvedder]

Get a late 50’s Mullard 17mm 12AX7 long-plate f91/f92 if you've never had one.

Timbre Wolf over on TGP turned me on to them. Bob Gjika uses them exclusively in his amps. They have a big/wide sound, clear, deep bass and smooth highs that are pleasant but not piercing.
I run them in all slots of my older amps.
Newer amps built for cheap modern glass sometimes sound better with the stock tubes.

Maybe we could to a tour kit for our tone brothers’ edification?

This? https://www.ebay.com/itm/MULLARD-12...-/323444126294?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

$250 for a tube? ?

 

[japetus]

This? https://www.ebay.com/itm/MULLARD-12...-/323444126294?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

$250 for a tube? ?

I've gotten to the point to where if these guys actually think they are hearing that drastic of a difference....well good for them I guess. Over a drummer/bassist/vocalist/2nd guitarist..these are things I am never going to notice. But honestly..I get the feeling most of these guys amps don't leave the house much so...it is what it is.

 

[ledvedder]

At that price point, I'd buy a couple different speakers long before I'd spend it on a preamp tube!

 

[Nigel]

That’s the one. You can find them for $50-$75 if you look.
Holy grail imho.

 

[Nigel]

I've gotten to the point to where if these guys actually think they are hearing that drastic of a difference....well good for them I guess. Over a drummer/bassist/vocalist/2nd guitarist..these are things I am never going to notice. But honestly..I get the feeling most of these guys amps don't leave the house much so...it is what it is.

The grapes must be sour, eh?

Here I am at a 1,200 cap venue for a Bowie Tribute/St. Jude benefit playing the fuzz line from “Fame” and rhythm on “Starman.”

Rivera M60 combo, 5 Mullards, JJ KT77’s, UK 16 ohm V30, late 90’s NYC Big Muff, Solid Cables, BriN Moore i2 with a Screamin Demon bridge and A2Pro neck.

What do you think?

 

[japetus]

The grapes must be sour, eh?

Not at all, didn't even mean to come off as sour. Just being honest, those tonal differences aren't as apparent in a band/live setting. At home tube rolling, sure you will hear some differences. Just not enough for me to pay those high of prices carrying around expensive glass in an amp gigging. Maybe if I was Joe Bonamassa? I was referring to the amps not leaving the house to the Gjika amps, I just don't see many people gigging $5000 amps like that. For a studio setting, sure..I can see it making sense if you really hear that big of a tonal difference.

 

[japetus]

The grapes must be sour, eh?

Here I am at a 1,200 cap venue for a Bowie Tribute/St. Jude benefit playing the fuzz line from “Fame” and rhythm on “Starman.”

Rivera M60 combo, 5 Mullards, JJ KT77’s, UK 16 ohm V30, late 90’s NYC Big Muff, Solid Cables, BriN Moore i2 with a Screamin Demon bridge and A2Pro neck.

What do you think?

That's awesome. I don't think if you weren't using those tubes it would have sounded worse though! But if it made you play better that night, then maybe it's worth it in the end.

 

[Nigel]

It’s really something you just have to try and see if it’s for you.

You have a point too, lots of guys like Adam Jones use chinese preamp tubes and sound like God. There’s just a body, sweet treble, smooth compression, and “open” sound these have that cannot be matched to me. To each their own. I’ve never understood $2-5K amps with cheap glass though.
The highest blasphemy is an SLO with post-Gorbachev tig welded plate Sovtek 5881’s.
It’s like, get some early 80’s (at the latest) 6P3S-E’s and discover the real deal.
Dr. Z is hip, shipping 6n14n Russian military EL-84’s. Same $$$ but night and DAY difference in tone.