Pre-Amp Tubes for Mesa Tremoverb

[Charvel1975]

I'm wondering in your experience what are the best pre-amp tubes? Not looking for NOS tubes but for the best production tubes. I'm basically looking for tubes that will really open up my amp & get a great clean sound out of the amp. All suggestions would be appreciated. Currently has all Mesa-labeled preamp tubes and 6L6GC power tubes & original, from 1995 Mesa-labeled 5U4G Rectifier Tubes.

 

[jsp]

Try a TungSol 12AX7 in V1 and a JJ 12AT7/ECC81 in the phase inverter. The stock Mesa's should be fine in all other positions.

 

[Mr. Willy]

Tung-Sol in V1. 9th gen. Chinese in the rest. You may or may not like 12AT7 in the PI, but I'd avoid JJ preamp tubes in general and especially in a Mesa because they're so dark. YMMV.

 

[puggy422]

I recently retubed my tremoverb. I bought all my tubes directly from mesa boogie. In V1, i put in a SPAX7-A for low noise, and 12AX7s in the rest. I also put in 5U4GB Rectifier-Short 750541F and 6L6 STR-440 for the power tubes.

it sounds different - not better or worse than my original sound, which i wish i could still achieve. My TOV is a 94, im the original owner, and im looking to keep my amp as original sounding as possible. unfortunately the tubes they had at that time are no longer available.

Id like for it to age into a nice vintage amp (its 20 years old already) but want to keep it sounding new... sounds contradictory there, i know.

When i first bought this amp, i liked it for the menacing distortion, but now im much more interested lower gain settings and nice break-up, shimmering overdrive, and rich harmonics. My amp can sometimes have the best tone, like you can hear the wood of the guitar.

My Tverb is my #1 amp, and i have many - Mesa Stiletto Trident, Marshall JCM2000, Fender SuperSonic 22, and Mesa 4x12 cabs, 2x12 cabs.

 

[just42dave]

I got what you need tung in v1 Chinese 8thgen v2 v3 v4 sovtek lps v5 sed 6l6 quad