Preamp Tubes? - Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How? - Page 5

ts31966 · 04-22-2009, 05:53 PM

Hi all,

I have been reading this thread for a couple of days and decided to join this forum.

I have a question. Sorry if I didn't pick it up in the thread. What is the tube that you call the ICBM tube?

I have alot of different tubes, lots. I have been storing them. I have some of the newest JJ's that Bob and eurotubes picked for me. I have used his tubes in the past and I have liked them. But just like you I need to get off my butt and start experimenting with my NOS tubes and see what happens.

I assume that the tube you call BP is the raytheon blackplate. Is that correct? I also have some Mazda's grey and silver plates.

I have two marshall jmp-1's. Those are the marshall preamps for those that don't know. One is stock and the other is Voodoo modified. I am first going to experiment with it with the tubes because it is so easy.

The Voodoo mod jmp-1 for those that are interested is just as described on his website. But I wonder if all the stock unit needs to sound like the voodoo unit is some NOS tubes. I put the high gain JJ's in it that Bob sent me. But I don't hear you talking about them one hear. Also if the were so great I really don't think NOS tubes would be so expensive.

They sell a gold pin ecc803s. This is supposed to be their copy of the telefunken with the same number designation. These sell from Eurotubes for I think 30 dollars. But the real telefunkens sell for 1100 dollars.

I could have bought these tubes 10 years ago for 50 dollars a tube. I had the cash and I was going to do it. I thought why not. They can only go up.

But my GOOD friend Bob and Eurotubes talked me out of it. Hey said, "don't get caught up in this NOS stuff, it is all just a bunch of hype. I have A/Bd the NOS agains the JJ's and they are just as good."

That is exactly what he said. What do you think folks?

MartyStrat54 · 04-22-2009, 06:28 PM

Welcome to the forum and this thread, TS. Good to have you. We are looking for more tube tweakers to get involved.

The ICBM is a RCA/Mullard 12AX7 tube that I bought on Ebay that measures almost 150 per cent of a new tube. Hence the ICBM term as it will blow something up.

The BP is the Raytheon and it is almost as strong. It is a wonderful black plate.

I bought these two tubes, with shipping for $48.37. They both came in their original boxes and tested much higher than a NOS tube. I also just recently got six 12AX7 Mullards that all tested as new for $69 plus shipping on an Ebay transaction. So the bottom line is, you can get some attractive tubes at reasonable prices.

If you have read the posts, you know that every tube has its own sound/tone.

I'm sorry if you were led to believe otherwise. A 1959 RCA gray plate with ribs is going to sound different that a JJ. I sent Josh a gold pin JJ and in his tests it sort of became the hind tit on the boar hog. "It's okay, but it doesn't sound as good as a USA NOS. There are many different types of 12AX7 tubes. Some aren't available anywhere at this time. Some of the sub's for 12AX7's sound better, but to find them is a difficult task. 12DF7, 12DM7, 12DT7 and 12DW7 are all out of stock tubes that will sub for a 12AX7. Then you have your other High MU tubes such as a 7025 and a 5751. Also used is a 12AT7. All of these tubes were made by many different manufacturers. Just like there are many ways to bake chocolate chip cookies, there are many different ways to make a tube. The coatings on the plate, the length and thickness of the plates, the size and location of the getter(s) all can attribute to different tonal qualities.

I know that Eurotubes is respected on this forum, but I would have to strongly disagree that JJ 12AX7 tubes sound like a Black Plate or a 1964 Mullard. It ain't gonna happen.

Marty

MUSICIAN'S AUDIO EQUIPMENT-MAKERS OF VERSACAB

ts31966 · 04-22-2009, 08:36 PM

Thanks for the reply Marty.

What kind of tube tester do you own? I need to get one but haven't decided. I like the amplitrex but it is 2,550 dollars. It does hook to a computer and it comes with software. Which it should for that kind of money.

I saw you mention the other tube types. Does a 12DW7 have the same gain as a 12ax7? Have done any testing on a mullard 10M 12ax7. I was told the are nothing special.

As far as Eurotube goes, well I know what I was told. I also know what I read on his website back then which I don't see now. He said that he had done extensive testing against all NOS tubes and that the JJ's sounded just as good if not better.

I also see a tube seller on ebay that just by coincidence comes from the same place Eurotubes is. I also talked with the tube reseller that is recommended on the THD univalve forum. His name is Mike. He owns KCA tubes. He sells some of the JJ's. I asked him why he didn't sell more of them and he said I only sell good tubes. When I asked him what was wrong with them he said there were batches of tubes where he rejected 75%.

I am sure glad I stumbled upon this forum. I also own a line 6 vetta. I am a member over there. Or should I say what is left of it over there. I remember when I got it. I had it set up next to my tube rack rig, which sounds great by the way. I remember thinking what the hell did I do. I couldn't take the vetta back because of where I bought it. But I forged ahead, I actually got that thing to sound pretty good. But only because I could A/B it against a real tube rig. I remember telling the members of that forum my experiences and I got flamed and burnt to a crisp. You would have thought I was criticizing their mother. I told them how do you expect an amp that is trying to sound like a tube amp. Or in this case many tube amps. How do you expect it to sound better than the original.

I still have the vetta. It is good and very versital. I am glad I have it and it makes a great practice amp. I spent alot of time tweaking it. ALOT!!! Out of the box it is not good. Maybe the newest software is better. I don't know. And I am not going to find out because who cares. It will always be just an imitation of the original. It is probably the best amp if you want to be in a cover band.

Needless to say they didn't like me over there. Now the funny thing is they are almost all gone and have went back to tube amps. What a laugh!!!

Some people are pathetic. They will never admitt when they have made a mistake.

I have alot of testing to do. Marty, what do you think of telefunken 12ax7's? That is supposed to be a favorite of marshall amp people.

MartyStrat54 · 04-22-2009, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ts31966

Thanks for the reply Marty.

What kind of tube tester do you own? I need to get one but haven't decided. I like the amplitrex but it is 2,550 dollars. It does hook to a computer and it comes with software. Which it should for that kind of money.

I saw you mention the other tube types. Does a 12DW7 have the same gain as a 12ax7? Have done any testing on a mullard 10M 12ax7. I was told the are nothing special.

As far as Eurotube goes, well I know what I was told. I also know what I read on his website back then which I don't see now. He said that he had done extensive testing against all NOS tubes and that the JJ's sounded just as good if not better.

I also see a tube seller on ebay that just by coincidence comes from the same place Eurotubes is. I also talked with the tube reseller that is recommended on the THD univalve forum. His name is Mike. He owns KCA tubes. He sells some of the JJ's. I asked him why he didn't sell more of them and he said I only sell good tubes. When I asked him what was wrong with them he said there were batches of tubes where he rejected 75%.

I am sure glad I stumbled upon this forum. I also own a line 6 vetta. I am a member over there. Or should I say what is left of it over there. I remember when I got it. I had it set up next to my tube rack rig, which sounds great by the way. I remember thinking what the hell did I do. I couldn't take the vetta back because of where I bought it. But I forged ahead, I actually got that thing to sound pretty good. But only because I could A/B it against a real tube rig. I remember telling the members of that forum my experiences and I got flamed and burnt to a crisp. You would have thought I was criticizing their mother. I told them how do you expect an amp that is trying to sound like a tube amp. Or in this case many tube amps. How do you expect it to sound better than the original.

I still have the vetta. It is good and very versital. I am glad I have it and it makes a great practice amp. I spent alot of time tweaking it. ALOT!!! Out of the box it is not good. Maybe the newest software is better. I don't know. And I am not going to find out because who cares. It will always be just an imitation of the original. It is probably the best amp if you want to be in a cover band.

Needless to say they didn't like me over there. Now the funny thing is they are almost all gone and have went back to tube amps. What a laugh!!!

Some people are pathetic. They will never admitt when they have made a mistake.

I have alot of testing to do. Marty, what do you think of telefunken 12ax7's? That is supposed to be a favorite of marshall amp people.

************************************************** ******
I will try to answer all of your questions. Yes, there are superior tube testers available right now. Some are as much as $3500 and they come in kit form. I have a very old (60's) B and K 707 that I have replaced all of the caps and did a conversion to solid state rectification and then I calibrated the unit per the factory instructions. I've had three of them and I kept the best one.

A 12DW7 has 100 MU for triode number one and only 17 MU for triode number two. It works as a sub for a 12AX7 when only triode one is used in the circuit. All the other tubes mentioned have 100 MU like a 12AX7, but different plate resistance. In fact, a lot of this thread got started over my sending Josh a 12BZ7 to try in his amp. A 12BZ7 has 100 MU, but half the plate resistance of a 12AX7. In a tube circuit, it will create more gain than a 12AX7. Josh had great success with the tube I sent him.

I'm not familiar with the 10M Mullard? When was it made? Is this the Mullard with the shorter plates than the original Mullard?

Again, as far as Eurotubes statements, I took all of that with a grain of salt. I have tried various new tubes, Mullard, Tung-Sol, Sovtek, E-H and they all have one thing in common, they are all made in Saratov, Russia in the same plant. They all work as a 12AX7, but if they had a jaw dropping sound, I would be using them instead of buying USA NOS on Ebay.

The Vetta is an amp that I have been around a little, but I never spent a lot of time on it. The guy who owned it had it tweaked and when I played it, it sounded okay. I didn't think it had the thickness of harmonic overtones I get with my Marshall (and my other tube amps). In other words, I thought it sounded a little thin.

As far as Telefunken tubes, I think they are right up there in the top five of NOS tubes. I have a matched set of EL84's for my DSL401. I also have some ECC83 Telefunkens that are really great sounding. Their EL34's are to die for.

Like I said, I'm sorry for some of the crap that you have had to put up with. I'm okay around a computer, but when it comes to my amp, well it has to be all tube. Call me old fashioned, but I like an amp that has a soul. An amp that uses software is getting a little out in left field as far as I'm concerned.

If I can ever be of assistance, you can send me a private email or email me at: meospeak@aol.com

Marty

joshuaaewallen · 04-23-2009, 08:07 AM

ts31966,

I am curious, what are you running as a power amp for your JMP-1's? And... What does the rest of your rig include?

ts31966 · 04-23-2009, 09:35 AM

My Jmp-1's I run through a Lexicon 284. It is a rackmount stereo EL84 poweramp. I also have 2 ADA MP1's modified by that clown at the ADA depot. They have plenty of gain and a tone of noise. I was going to sell them but feel embarrased to pass them on. What a mistake that was.

Don't get fooled into these wav files these guys post of their products. I would watch a few youtube videos done by regular guys of these products.

I think I am going to do one to show how noisey these ADA's are. Of course after I do they won't be worth much anymore. Unless I send them to Voodoo. Which I probably will have to to recover some of my loss.

I also have 2 5150 III halft stacks. They sound great and are very quiet. Even with the gain maxed on each channel. These are some of the quietest amps I have tried without a noise gate. I sometimes wonder if they built a noise gate into the head.

I was thinking about getting a Carvin TS100 for power but I don't need 100 watts. The thing I probably should do for tube experimenting is get 2 THD univalves. That way I could still be in stereo and be low wattage and swap tubes all at the same time.

What do you guys think of the yellow jackets (el84 adapters). I thought of using these on my 5150 III's. I have read some negative things about them.

ts31966 · 04-23-2009, 09:42 AM

I forgot I also have a couple of Digitech 2120's. I know you guys might laugh at this but I personally think these things are great. When I changed the tubes in these to the high gained hand picked JJ 12ax7s, this thing came to life. I really think those things with kick ass 12ax7's and the carvin stereo power amp would be an awesome rig. It already totally kicks ass with the Lexicon 284.

I need to get a lower power speaker cab for my Lexicon. I am running it into a stereo 2 x 12 genz benz g-flex. That cab can handle 300 watts and the Lexicon puts out 6 watts. But hey it still sounds kick ass. I just run it full blast. That way I get full power tube distortion.

MartyStrat54 · 04-23-2009, 12:46 PM

I have mixed feelings about Yellow Jackets simply because of how they are designed to do a voltage drop of 450V down to 285V. This is done with several resistors. At first I thought they were sort of cool, but now I would worry about something frying.

Josh and I both have TSL122 amps. Josh put 2 YJ's in his amp and he loves it. There is a thread about this by Josh. Maybe he can dig it up and post it with a hyperlink.

It sounds like you have a whole bunch of stuff, some of which you are unhappy with. Are you into techno rock? The gear suggests that maybe you are. I have many amps including five Marshalls, a Traynor Custom 100, four Peavey amps and two Randall amps. However, I'm old school classic rock, 80's hair rock and some grunge and current stuff.

I don't play like I used to because I have other priorities now. I have my own business and it keeps me busy. I hope you get your rig up to your standards. Let me know if you go with the YJ's.

Marty

joshuaaewallen · 04-23-2009, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ts31966

... What do you guys think of the yellow jackets (el84 adapters). I thought of using these on my 5150 III's. I have read some negative things about them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartyStrat54

I have mixed feelings about Yellow Jackets simply because of how they are designed to do a voltage drop of 450V down to 285V. This is done with several resistors. At first I thought they were sort of cool, but now I would worry about something frying.

Josh and I both have TSL122 amps. Josh put 2 YJ's in his amp and he loves it. There is a thread about this by Josh. Maybe he can dig it up and post it with a hyperlink... ... I'm old school classic rock, 80's hair rock and some grunge and current stuff.

I don't play like I used to because I have other priorities now. I have my own business and it keeps me busy. I hope you get your rig up to your standards. Let me know if you go with the YJ's...

Hey guys! I have been loving the posts that I've been reading lately. Ya'll are really bringing some great info and insight into this discussion. Thanks! Unfortunately priorities being what they are I haven't had much opportunity to play much lately, thus the limited posts on my part. But it's good to see that my favorite "tube wizard" Marty has been picking up the slack! Anyhoo...

The thread titled THD Yellow Jackets... Serious potential for fun contains the discussion thus far regarding these little yellow beasties. ts31966, if you get bored, swing on over and have a look at the discussion. As you will see, there are definitely mixed opinions on the YJ's, but the feed back I've gotten on this thread has been really great. In the end I think it boils down to the same conclusion as most things guitar... Basically whatever floats your boat!

Hey Marty... I am amazed you can hear at all after your recent round of nuclear testing!

You have much louder speakers in your TSL than I do, and my ears bleed before mine even starts to really crank. I have been eyeballing the Eminence George Lynch speakers... But need to save up for them... What are your thoughts on these?

Just a thought... If you happen to get a line on another one of your ICBM's, if ya are inclined, let me know because depending on where I'm at for the week ($$$-wise) I may be interested in trying to get the nuclear arms race really heated up! I would defer to your recommendations since I have no tube tester...
__________________________________________________ ___________________________
Currently I am running the 12BZ7 in V1... I LOVE that tube!, the GE in V2, the GT 12AX7R in V3, and for kicks and grins I put the Fender/Sovtek 7025/12AX7WA back into V4. I think the JJ is better suited for V4, but I'll leave the Fender in there until I am done w/ the power tube update. Hopefully that way I won't be changing too much at one time. Anyhoo...

ts31966 · 04-23-2009, 03:07 PM

How is it going Marty?

Hell no I am not into techno-rock. Why did you think that? I mean I do 2 EVH 5150 III's for hells sake. I also own 3 EVH art series charvel jackson guitars. Two black white and red, and one yellow black.

No, I am into the same stuff as you Marty. My favorite tones are Van Halen with David Lee Roth and Ozzy. Too keep this back on the tube subject I would also like to get a mullard ICBM tube. I have also been looking for a black plate raytheon.

Tube testing starts this weekend. Let the cold war begin. Just like Josh said the cold war is heating up.

Have either of you guys tried out a Univalve? Or have you guys checked out the Mojave amps? The sound clips they have on their site and youtube kick ass.

ts31966 · 04-23-2009, 03:25 PM

Marty what position do you like to put the 12BZ7 tube in? Have you experimented with gray plates vs black plates?

steelhorse · 04-23-2009, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ts31966

My Jmp-1's I run through a Lexicon 284. It is a rackmount stereo EL84 poweramp. I also have 2 ADA MP1's modified by that clown at the ADA depot. They have plenty of gain and a tone of noise. I was going to sell them but feel embarrased to pass them on. What a mistake that was.

Don't get fooled into these wav files these guys post of their products. I would watch a few youtube videos done by regular guys of these products.

I think I am going to do one to show how noisey these ADA's are. Of course after I do they won't be worth much anymore. Unless I send them to Voodoo. Which I probably will have to to recover some of my loss.

I also have 2 5150 III halft stacks. They sound great and are very quiet. Even with the gain maxed on each channel. These are some of the quietest amps I have tried without a noise gate. I sometimes wonder if they built a noise gate into the head.

I was thinking about getting a Carvin TS100 for power but I don't need 100 watts. The thing I probably should do for tube experimenting is get 2 THD univalves. That way I could still be in stereo and be low wattage and swap tubes all at the same time.

What do you guys think of the yellow jackets (el84 adapters). I thought of using these on my 5150 III's. I have read some negative things about them.

Sell me one of your III's and you can use a portion of the proceeds to get a real EL-84 amp

Nothing against YJ's and with all due respect to the users, there is no way especially with respect to a great high powered high gain amp would I install them into an EVH, especially a III or JMP for that matter.

ts31966 · 04-23-2009, 03:59 PM

The Marshall JMP-1's are their preamps. I power them with a Lexicon 284 stereo poweramp. I am not sure why you think that is not a REAL el84 amp.

For not being real it sure cost alot of real money. 1,000 dollars when brand new. I didn't pay that for it but it is a great amp.

Marty, I forgot to asky you about the tube testers that you think are good. What do you think of the amplitrex? Do any others have software for connection to a computer?

joshuaaewallen · 04-23-2009, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ts31966

Marty what position do you like to put the 12BZ7 tube in? Have you experimented with gray plates vs black plates?

I know, I know... I'm not Marty, but...

I've found that with most of the combinations that I've tried, the BZ7 seems to sit nicely in either V1 or V2, less so in V3 or V4...

joshuaaewallen · 04-23-2009, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ts31966

... Hell no I am not into techno-rock...

Thank goodness. Now I know I can respect you.

j/k.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ts31966

... Have either of you guys tried out a Univalve? Or have you guys checked out the Mojave amps? The sound clips they have on their site and youtube kick ass.

I think the sound clips are pretty cool too, but I haven't played one myself... No one around the Minneapolis area (that I know of) carries them. And that's too much $$$ to drop on an amp I've never plugged into.

MartyStrat54 · 04-23-2009, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ts31966

Marty, I forgot to asky you about the tube testers that you think are good. What do you think of the amplitrex? Do any others have software for connection to a computer?

Sorry about the mislabeling. Most guys on this forum have never had the gear you have, including me. I guess I could afford it, but I stick with what I have liked over the years. I damn sure like the Jacksons. (Although I'm to old to play one of those. The wildest guitar I have is an Explorer. You know what I mean? Some guitars are better looking on a younger guy and pretty stupid looking on an older guy.)

Tube testers: I really love the Amplitrex. When I first looked at it many months ago, I thought I might buy one. However, the power supply for plate voltage is limited to 500V. Now this takes care of 90 per cent of the power tubes, but what if you need to test a 6550, 8417, or a KT88. These tubes need up to 600V on the plates to do a proper test. The main thing I like about this tester is checking and matching triodes on 12xx7 type tubes and the fact you can actually listen to the tube for microphonics. However, the price is about a grand to high as far as I am concerned. The option to plot the curves of tubes is sort of whacky also. That's because most audio tubes will be ruler flat across the audio band, unless they have a serious flaw.

I've found that testing the tubes on my B and K and then following up with the tube in an actual circuit will verify that the tube does not have excessive hum or is microphonic. An old tube tester won't tell you this, it may say a tube is good and it will be microphonic.

I think somewhere on this thread I told Josh about the better tube testers available. A B and K 700, 707 or 747. A Hickok tester (make sure it will test modern tubes like nine-pin.) Hickok also makes the TV-7 which is a military tube tester. I think they are okay, but they are hyped a lot and this made the price go up for them. I think the B and K's are laid out the best and the easiest to use. They have an awesome power supply for testing the bigger, octal base power tubes.

I looked online and I no longer see the digital tube tester that was available in a kit form. Apparently they went belly up.

I hope that I answered all of your questions. If not, I will reread the post and respond.

Marty

MartyStrat54 · 04-23-2009, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ts31966

Marty what position do you like to put the 12BZ7 tube in? Have you experimented with gray plates vs black plates?

Yes I have done some extensive tests in the past and again here recently. The black plate will dissipate heat faster than a gray plate. The black coating used to cover the nickle plates is much different than the coatings on the gray plates.

Without getting into a lengthy post, let me just say that black plates tend to have stronger low mids and mids than a gray plate that tends to sing in the mids to upper mids. Go back and read my earlier post on swapping the BP in my amp. I stated that I felt it added 10 to 15Hz on the bottom end. It was just a much thicker sound. It would probably be better if I had a seven string baritone guitar. That would really let me know, but instead I just did a D drop and played a little in a D tuning. The BP has a lot of balls.

If I come across any exceptional tubes, I could be enticed to part ways with them. I will keep my eyes open for any stellar tubes on Ebay.

Marty

steelhorse · 04-24-2009, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ts31966

The Marshall JMP-1's are their preamps. I power them with a Lexicon 284 stereo poweramp. I am not sure why you think that is not a REAL el84 amp.

I've not messed with the JMP-1's. ADA's and boogie pre amps yes but not those but now I'm confused because you did after all broach the subject of the yellow jackets in the EVH III's which was what I was really wondering about and now you say the JMP's are actually really EL-84 amps and no question you know far more about those than me but if that's the case why even consider YJ's in the EVH III's?

To each his own but me personally, installing EL84's and YJ's in that great head would never have crossed my simple mind.

steelhorse · 04-24-2009, 03:13 AM

oh yeah and another thing, with all love and respect to Bob at Euro Tubes, I gotta disagree with his comparison of NOS and JJ's sounding the same.

No way there's any iota of scientific or even common logic that would support that statement because each amp is different even within the series there are nuances and even tubes from the same batch with the same rating will have slight differences, on some level.

I love JJ's but I love good NOS tubes even more, problem is finding them right Marty, Joshua?

ts31966 · 04-24-2009, 03:58 AM

First off, I never said I was going to put the yellow jackets in my 5150 III's. Where did I say that? Well? I asked Josh what he thought of them, that is it.

I might ask you how cow testicles taste but that doesn't mean I am planning on frying some up.

Also the JMP-1's are marshall preamps. They do not take power tubes.

Getting back to tubes. I wasn't meaning for you Marty to tell us where the good deals on fleabay where. I watch ebay alot.

The hard thing about ebay is there is so much scamming going on. Thanks bye the way with your store about the tubes you returned and then the guy was trying to resell them again.

I know what you are saying about the amplitrex. It is too expensive, but it seems to be the only option if you want to test alot of tubes quickly. Also I talked to a guy that has one. He said the the amplitrex finds bad tubes when regular tube testers say they are good. This guy I am talking about has some regular old style testers that are calibrated. He said the amplitrex is not always in agreement with them.

Another side not on tubes. I talked with Trace at Voodoo amps a couple of years ago on the subject of NOS tubes. He said that new amps were designed to work with current production lesser quality tubes. So NOS tubes would not give an improvement in tone. Well it seems, at least for your and Josh's experimenting that he was wrong. Can you imagine that, another expert in the field of guitar amps is wrong. Well if you go to his website you can see he is selling new production tubes. Hand picked by Voodoo.

I have read volumes on tubes and I can not get a straight answer on anything. It just seems that I am going to have to also test all of these myself. I can't wait to start. Thanks for the information you have given guys. I will give back what I find out. Hopefully we can get to the truth of which tubes are best for the Marshall sound.

steelhorse · 04-24-2009, 04:10 AM

Was this you?

"What do you guys think of the yellow jackets (el84 adapters). I thought of using these on my 5150 III's. I have read some negative things about them."

I know freaking pre amps don't take power tubes.

And you should try frying up some BULL testicles, cows don't have em!

Enough of this tube nonsense I'm off to go make sense with someone who wouldn't pose ridiculous hypotheticals only to become offended when it gets questioned.

ts31966 · 04-24-2009, 02:18 PM

Good, go away and never come back. You never added a single shred of usefull information on the subject anyway. Why were you joining in the thread? Just to make insulting comments. I forgot more about music gear than you will ever know.

Just to let you guys know. I ordered some mullard long plates with square getters for testing.

I also finally received some siemens ecc83's form germany that test very high according to the guy I bought them from.

I have ALOT of different tubes. I have been buying them for quite some time.

RiverRatt · 04-24-2009, 03:10 PM

I just scored some really cool tubes. I found an old box of tubes - some NOS, some used. They are mainly TV tubes, but so far I've found 2 new Raytheon 12AV7 black plates, two 6V6GTs (both appear to be G.E. black base, black glass). I also found an RCA side-getter 6FQ7/6CG7. The only circuits I've found that use this odd preamp tube are some old Ampeg and Gibson amps. If someone knows of another use for it, please let me know. I'm looking forward to trying out the Raytheons - I don't think I've ever used a 12AV7 - but I'm afraid they may be too low-gain to be any good in my Marshall.

steelhorse · 04-24-2009, 03:31 PM

That's a good one, " I forgot more about music gear than you will ever know." very presumptuous, I didn't realize you knew so much about me!

Anyway, to Josh, this isn't a diss at all about the YJ's, I think given certain applications they like attenuators etc. have their place and may actually work well so I have nothing, I repeat nothing against them nor did I imply I did.

Moving on, I am enjoying the discourse between members like Marty and Joshua and the others who are buying and trying an reporting their reviews here instead of simply, "I've got a huge collection" which imo adds nothing to this, but ok I'm happy for you, but the direction this thread had been going up to recently was excellent.

Hey River, what amp(s) are you planning on trying these tubes in?

I have a few NOS tubes but really have no direct access to tube testers and they just don't add anything to the amp, I think the guys in here have said and I agree that it really depends on the quality and the 'juice' that remains that makes the difference and where the magic is with the NOS tubes. Problem is finding them which is really why I'm following this thread.

ts31966 · 04-24-2009, 03:45 PM

If you have nothing to add about tubes. Or the subject of tubes why do you post. Just to stir the pot. Right?

I never once asked you a question. Why? Because you don't even know that a MARSHALL JMP-1 is a preamp. I thought you were a marshall guy?

From your vast knowledge of BULL testicles I think you have more to add on that subject so go over to that forum.

By the way I thought you were leaving to join some other thread. Hurry up and do it.

I don't have to presume you don't know what you are talking about in your posts it is obvious in your statements.

Yes I do have alot of different tubes. Does that mean something to you. I thought that the others would like to know that I have something to actually test. So that I have something constructive to add to this thread. Instead of just interjecting my worthless opinion.

RiverRatt · 04-24-2009, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelhorse

Hey River, what amp(s) are you planning on trying these tubes in?

I have a few NOS tubes but really have no direct access to tube testers and they just don't add anything to the amp, I think the guys in here have said and I agree that it really depends on the quality and the 'juice' that remains that makes the difference and where the magic is with the NOS tubes. Problem is finding them which is really why I'm following this thread.

I have no idea what I'll do with these. I guess I need to pick up an old Fender for the 6V6GTs and find an old flip-top Ampeg for the 6CG7. What I really need is a tube tester. I'll probably try the 12AV7s in the Marshall, but I'm not expecting much. Every Raytheon black plate I've tried has sounded superb, but with a gain factor of 41 they probably will be too weak. They may find a home in one of my 5 watt amps. I have one that is too fizzy with a 12AX7.

I have so much crap lying around now that I'd love to try to build an amp. I have a cigar box full of old carbon comp resistors and a pretty good collection of orange drop caps, a decent power transformer and a couple of OTs, but so far I haven't gotten up the nerve to try it.

steelhorse · 04-24-2009, 05:32 PM

Awesome River, let us know what you wind up learning through the process. I may have to get a tester as well.

RiverRatt · 04-24-2009, 05:32 PM

One more thing (sorry for going off-topic, but there are a lot of tube people chiming in) - does anyone here speak date code? The two 6V6s are interesting, and a bit confusing. Both have identical black bases. The GE tube is marked 7-13 and under that 188-5. That means that tube was made in the 13th week of 1957 in Owensboro, KY, right? The other tube is Delco branded, is just a bit shorter than the GE, and has the code 322208. If I'm understanding my search results, this one is a Tung-Sol, made in the 20th week of 1958?
The strange thing is, both tubes have 6V6GT etched into the glass inside a octagon (stop sign), which is Tung-Sol's trademark, right?
This is one of the many reasons I like RCAs and Mullards. No ambiguity - you know what you're looking at.

MartyStrat54 · 04-24-2009, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RiverRatt

I have no idea what I'll do with these. I guess I need to pick up an old Fender for the 6V6GTs and find an old flip-top Ampeg for the 6CG7. What I really need is a tube tester. I'll probably try the 12AV7s in the Marshall, but I'm not expecting much. Every Raytheon black plate I've tried has sounded superb, but with a gain factor of 41 they probably will be too weak. They may find a home in one of my 5 watt amps. I have one that is too fizzy with a 12AX7.

I have so much crap lying around now that I'd love to try to build an amp. I have a cigar box full of old carbon comp resistors and a pretty good collection of orange drop caps, a decent power transformer and a couple of OTs, but so far I haven't gotten up the nerve to try it.

Hey RiverRatt, it's too bad that you found 12AV7's. They just do not have the necessary gain needed in your Marshall. Too bad you didn't find some 12DT7's in a black plate. That would have been a real find. Old TV sets can sometimes be a goldmine for audio tubes, especially if it is an old radio/phono/TV combo. I found an old 1954 GE combo and it had all Tung-Sol tubes in it, including the dual rectifier (5U4GB's). I scored two 12AX7's and three 12AT7's out of it and some other useful tubes as well, including the 5U4's. Even the newer tube sets had high quality Japanese tubes in them. I'm always keeping my eyes open for any old TV's. I also like to gut them and get all of the resistors and mica caps and other odd/old components as well as the wire.

If the 6V6's are smoke tops, you would be better off selling them on EBAY if they are good tubes.

Quote: "They may find a home in one of my 5 watt amps. I have one that is too fizzy with a 12AX7." Try a 5751. That would smooth it out.

Keep looking and keep searching. You never know what you might turn up.

Marty

joshuaaewallen · 04-24-2009, 11:58 PM

Ok... Normally I try to refrain from profanity in a public forum, but...

Up until recently this thread has had a really great vibe, great information, and plenty of differing opinions coexisting peacefully. But as of late things have started to turn a wee bit sour. Actually downright hostile. Quite frankly, I think we can do better than that. So, without taking sides in any debate that may be going on, I simply would like to ask that a cease-fire be declared, and that we get back to the subject at hand... Sharing info, input, ideas, theories, and whatever with regard to tubes and Marshall amps. That's why this thread was started, so lets keep it that way. Thanks guys!

04-22-2009, 05:53 PM	#121 (permalink)
ts31966 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 17	Re: Preamp Tubes? - Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How? Hi all, I have been reading this thread for a couple of days and decided to join this forum. I have a question. Sorry if I didn't pick it up in the thread. What is the tube that you call the ICBM tube? I have alot of different tubes, lots. I have been storing them. I have some of the newest JJ's that Bob and eurotubes picked for me. I have used his tubes in the past and I have liked them. But just like you I need to get off my butt and start experimenting with my NOS tubes and see what happens. I assume that the tube you call BP is the raytheon blackplate. Is that correct? I also have some Mazda's grey and silver plates. I have two marshall jmp-1's. Those are the marshall preamps for those that don't know. One is stock and the other is Voodoo modified. I am first going to experiment with it with the tubes because it is so easy. The Voodoo mod jmp-1 for those that are interested is just as described on his website. But I wonder if all the stock unit needs to sound like the voodoo unit is some NOS tubes. I put the high gain JJ's in it that Bob sent me. But I don't hear you talking about them one hear. Also if the were so great I really don't think NOS tubes would be so expensive. They sell a gold pin ecc803s. This is supposed to be their copy of the telefunken with the same number designation. These sell from Eurotubes for I think 30 dollars. But the real telefunkens sell for 1100 dollars. I could have bought these tubes 10 years ago for 50 dollars a tube. I had the cash and I was going to do it. I thought why not. They can only go up. But my GOOD friend Bob and Eurotubes talked me out of it. Hey said, "don't get caught up in this NOS stuff, it is all just a bunch of hype. I have A/Bd the NOS agains the JJ's and they are just as good." That is exactly what he said. What do you think folks?

04-22-2009, 06:28 PM	#122 (permalink)
MartyStrat54 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Formerly Phoenix, now north of KC Posts: 2,392	Re: Preamp Tubes? - Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How? Welcome to the forum and this thread, TS. Good to have you. We are looking for more tube tweakers to get involved. The ICBM is a RCA/Mullard 12AX7 tube that I bought on Ebay that measures almost 150 per cent of a new tube. Hence the ICBM term as it will blow something up. The BP is the Raytheon and it is almost as strong. It is a wonderful black plate. I bought these two tubes, with shipping for $48.37. They both came in their original boxes and tested much higher than a NOS tube. I also just recently got six 12AX7 Mullards that all tested as new for $69 plus shipping on an Ebay transaction. So the bottom line is, you can get some attractive tubes at reasonable prices. If you have read the posts, you know that every tube has its own sound/tone. I'm sorry if you were led to believe otherwise. A 1959 RCA gray plate with ribs is going to sound different that a JJ. I sent Josh a gold pin JJ and in his tests it sort of became the hind tit on the boar hog. "It's okay, but it doesn't sound as good as a USA NOS. There are many different types of 12AX7 tubes. Some aren't available anywhere at this time. Some of the sub's for 12AX7's sound better, but to find them is a difficult task. 12DF7, 12DM7, 12DT7 and 12DW7 are all out of stock tubes that will sub for a 12AX7. Then you have your other High MU tubes such as a 7025 and a 5751. Also used is a 12AT7. All of these tubes were made by many different manufacturers. Just like there are many ways to bake chocolate chip cookies, there are many different ways to make a tube. The coatings on the plate, the length and thickness of the plates, the size and location of the getter(s) all can attribute to different tonal qualities. I know that Eurotubes is respected on this forum, but I would have to strongly disagree that JJ 12AX7 tubes sound like a Black Plate or a 1964 Mullard. It ain't gonna happen. Marty MUSICIAN'S AUDIO EQUIPMENT-MAKERS OF VERSACAB

04-22-2009, 08:36 PM	#123 (permalink)
ts31966 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 17	Re: Preamp Tubes? - Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How? Thanks for the reply Marty. What kind of tube tester do you own? I need to get one but haven't decided. I like the amplitrex but it is 2,550 dollars. It does hook to a computer and it comes with software. Which it should for that kind of money. I saw you mention the other tube types. Does a 12DW7 have the same gain as a 12ax7? Have done any testing on a mullard 10M 12ax7. I was told the are nothing special. As far as Eurotube goes, well I know what I was told. I also know what I read on his website back then which I don't see now. He said that he had done extensive testing against all NOS tubes and that the JJ's sounded just as good if not better. I also see a tube seller on ebay that just by coincidence comes from the same place Eurotubes is. I also talked with the tube reseller that is recommended on the THD univalve forum. His name is Mike. He owns KCA tubes. He sells some of the JJ's. I asked him why he didn't sell more of them and he said I only sell good tubes. When I asked him what was wrong with them he said there were batches of tubes where he rejected 75%. I am sure glad I stumbled upon this forum. I also own a line 6 vetta. I am a member over there. Or should I say what is left of it over there. I remember when I got it. I had it set up next to my tube rack rig, which sounds great by the way. I remember thinking what the hell did I do. I couldn't take the vetta back because of where I bought it. But I forged ahead, I actually got that thing to sound pretty good. But only because I could A/B it against a real tube rig. I remember telling the members of that forum my experiences and I got flamed and burnt to a crisp. You would have thought I was criticizing their mother. I told them how do you expect an amp that is trying to sound like a tube amp. Or in this case many tube amps. How do you expect it to sound better than the original. I still have the vetta. It is good and very versital. I am glad I have it and it makes a great practice amp. I spent alot of time tweaking it. ALOT!!! Out of the box it is not good. Maybe the newest software is better. I don't know. And I am not going to find out because who cares. It will always be just an imitation of the original. It is probably the best amp if you want to be in a cover band. Needless to say they didn't like me over there. Now the funny thing is they are almost all gone and have went back to tube amps. What a laugh!!! Some people are pathetic. They will never admitt when they have made a mistake. I have alot of testing to do. Marty, what do you think of telefunken 12ax7's? That is supposed to be a favorite of marshall amp people.

04-23-2009, 08:07 AM	#125 (permalink)
joshuaaewallen Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 372	Re: Preamp Tubes? - Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How? ts31966, I am curious, what are you running as a power amp for your JMP-1's? And... What does the rest of your rig include? __________________ Josh 2004 PRS Custom 24 10 Top Dean Caddy w/ Bare Knuckles Nail Bombs (This One's For Sale, Just Let Me Know If You Are Interested) 1999 Marshall JCM 2000 TSL 122 - Power Tubes: JJ EL34L's - Assorted New & Vintage pre-amp tubes... I like to roll... HardWire DL-8 Delay/Looper http://irkinempire.spaces.live.com/ "... When you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all." - Futurama

04-23-2009, 09:35 AM	#126 (permalink)
ts31966 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 17	Re: Preamp Tubes? - Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How? My Jmp-1's I run through a Lexicon 284. It is a rackmount stereo EL84 poweramp. I also have 2 ADA MP1's modified by that clown at the ADA depot. They have plenty of gain and a tone of noise. I was going to sell them but feel embarrased to pass them on. What a mistake that was. Don't get fooled into these wav files these guys post of their products. I would watch a few youtube videos done by regular guys of these products. I think I am going to do one to show how noisey these ADA's are. Of course after I do they won't be worth much anymore. Unless I send them to Voodoo. Which I probably will have to to recover some of my loss. I also have 2 5150 III halft stacks. They sound great and are very quiet. Even with the gain maxed on each channel. These are some of the quietest amps I have tried without a noise gate. I sometimes wonder if they built a noise gate into the head. I was thinking about getting a Carvin TS100 for power but I don't need 100 watts. The thing I probably should do for tube experimenting is get 2 THD univalves. That way I could still be in stereo and be low wattage and swap tubes all at the same time. What do you guys think of the yellow jackets (el84 adapters). I thought of using these on my 5150 III's. I have read some negative things about them.

04-23-2009, 09:42 AM	#127 (permalink)
ts31966 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 17	Re: Preamp Tubes? - Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How? I forgot I also have a couple of Digitech 2120's. I know you guys might laugh at this but I personally think these things are great. When I changed the tubes in these to the high gained hand picked JJ 12ax7s, this thing came to life. I really think those things with kick ass 12ax7's and the carvin stereo power amp would be an awesome rig. It already totally kicks ass with the Lexicon 284. I need to get a lower power speaker cab for my Lexicon. I am running it into a stereo 2 x 12 genz benz g-flex. That cab can handle 300 watts and the Lexicon puts out 6 watts. But hey it still sounds kick ass. I just run it full blast. That way I get full power tube distortion.

04-23-2009, 12:46 PM	#128 (permalink)
MartyStrat54 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Formerly Phoenix, now north of KC Posts: 2,392	Re: Preamp Tubes? - Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How? I have mixed feelings about Yellow Jackets simply because of how they are designed to do a voltage drop of 450V down to 285V. This is done with several resistors. At first I thought they were sort of cool, but now I would worry about something frying. Josh and I both have TSL122 amps. Josh put 2 YJ's in his amp and he loves it. There is a thread about this by Josh. Maybe he can dig it up and post it with a hyperlink. It sounds like you have a whole bunch of stuff, some of which you are unhappy with. Are you into techno rock? The gear suggests that maybe you are. I have many amps including five Marshalls, a Traynor Custom 100, four Peavey amps and two Randall amps. However, I'm old school classic rock, 80's hair rock and some grunge and current stuff. I don't play like I used to because I have other priorities now. I have my own business and it keeps me busy. I hope you get your rig up to your standards. Let me know if you go with the YJ's. Marty

04-23-2009, 03:07 PM	#130 (permalink)
ts31966 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 17	Re: Preamp Tubes? - Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How? How is it going Marty? Hell no I am not into techno-rock. Why did you think that? I mean I do 2 EVH 5150 III's for hells sake. I also own 3 EVH art series charvel jackson guitars. Two black white and red, and one yellow black. No, I am into the same stuff as you Marty. My favorite tones are Van Halen with David Lee Roth and Ozzy. Too keep this back on the tube subject I would also like to get a mullard ICBM tube. I have also been looking for a black plate raytheon. Tube testing starts this weekend. Let the cold war begin. Just like Josh said the cold war is heating up. Have either of you guys tried out a Univalve? Or have you guys checked out the Mojave amps? The sound clips they have on their site and youtube kick ass.

04-23-2009, 03:25 PM	#131 (permalink)
ts31966 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 17	Re: Preamp Tubes? - Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How? Marty what position do you like to put the 12BZ7 tube in? Have you experimented with gray plates vs black plates?

04-23-2009, 03:59 PM	#133 (permalink)
ts31966 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 17	Re: Preamp Tubes? - Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How? The Marshall JMP-1's are their preamps. I power them with a Lexicon 284 stereo poweramp. I am not sure why you think that is not a REAL el84 amp. For not being real it sure cost alot of real money. 1,000 dollars when brand new. I didn't pay that for it but it is a great amp. Marty, I forgot to asky you about the tube testers that you think are good. What do you think of the amplitrex? Do any others have software for connection to a computer?

04-24-2009, 03:13 AM	#139 (permalink)
steelhorse Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3,852	Re: Preamp Tubes? - Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How? oh yeah and another thing, with all love and respect to Bob at Euro Tubes, I gotta disagree with his comparison of NOS and JJ's sounding the same. No way there's any iota of scientific or even common logic that would support that statement because each amp is different even within the series there are nuances and even tubes from the same batch with the same rating will have slight differences, on some level. I love JJ's but I love good NOS tubes even more, problem is finding them right Marty, Joshua? __________________ www.ricojronline.com 760-956-6619 Garmopat Pedal Mods "I wouldn't mind hearing your head smash through a glass door. That would be cool..." luekmeyer

04-24-2009, 03:58 AM	#140 (permalink)
ts31966 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 17	Re: Preamp Tubes? - Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How? First off, I never said I was going to put the yellow jackets in my 5150 III's. Where did I say that? Well? I asked Josh what he thought of them, that is it. I might ask you how cow testicles taste but that doesn't mean I am planning on frying some up. Also the JMP-1's are marshall preamps. They do not take power tubes. Getting back to tubes. I wasn't meaning for you Marty to tell us where the good deals on fleabay where. I watch ebay alot. The hard thing about ebay is there is so much scamming going on. Thanks bye the way with your store about the tubes you returned and then the guy was trying to resell them again. I know what you are saying about the amplitrex. It is too expensive, but it seems to be the only option if you want to test alot of tubes quickly. Also I talked to a guy that has one. He said the the amplitrex finds bad tubes when regular tube testers say they are good. This guy I am talking about has some regular old style testers that are calibrated. He said the amplitrex is not always in agreement with them. Another side not on tubes. I talked with Trace at Voodoo amps a couple of years ago on the subject of NOS tubes. He said that new amps were designed to work with current production lesser quality tubes. So NOS tubes would not give an improvement in tone. Well it seems, at least for your and Josh's experimenting that he was wrong. Can you imagine that, another expert in the field of guitar amps is wrong. Well if you go to his website you can see he is selling new production tubes. Hand picked by Voodoo. I have read volumes on tubes and I can not get a straight answer on anything. It just seems that I am going to have to also test all of these myself. I can't wait to start. Thanks for the information you have given guys. I will give back what I find out. Hopefully we can get to the truth of which tubes are best for the Marshall sound.

04-24-2009, 04:10 AM	#141 (permalink)
steelhorse Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3,852	Re: Preamp Tubes? - Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How? Was this you? "What do you guys think of the yellow jackets (el84 adapters). I thought of using these on my 5150 III's. I have read some negative things about them." I know freaking pre amps don't take power tubes. And you should try frying up some BULL testicles, cows don't have em! Enough of this tube nonsense I'm off to go make sense with someone who wouldn't pose ridiculous hypotheticals only to become offended when it gets questioned. __________________ www.ricojronline.com 760-956-6619 Garmopat Pedal Mods "I wouldn't mind hearing your head smash through a glass door. That would be cool..." luekmeyer

04-24-2009, 02:18 PM	#142 (permalink)
ts31966 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 17	Re: Preamp Tubes? - Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How? Good, go away and never come back. You never added a single shred of usefull information on the subject anyway. Why were you joining in the thread? Just to make insulting comments. I forgot more about music gear than you will ever know. Just to let you guys know. I ordered some mullard long plates with square getters for testing. I also finally received some siemens ecc83's form germany that test very high according to the guy I bought them from. I have ALOT of different tubes. I have been buying them for quite some time.

04-24-2009, 03:10 PM	#143 (permalink)
RiverRatt Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Between Memphis and Nashville Posts: 470	Re: Preamp Tubes? - Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How? I just scored some really cool tubes. I found an old box of tubes - some NOS, some used. They are mainly TV tubes, but so far I've found 2 new Raytheon 12AV7 black plates, two 6V6GTs (both appear to be G.E. black base, black glass). I also found an RCA side-getter 6FQ7/6CG7. The only circuits I've found that use this odd preamp tube are some old Ampeg and Gibson amps. If someone knows of another use for it, please let me know. I'm looking forward to trying out the Raytheons - I don't think I've ever used a 12AV7 - but I'm afraid they may be too low-gain to be any good in my Marshall.

04-24-2009, 03:31 PM	#144 (permalink)
steelhorse Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3,852	Re: Preamp Tubes? - Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How? That's a good one, " I forgot more about music gear than you will ever know." very presumptuous, I didn't realize you knew so much about me! Anyway, to Josh, this isn't a diss at all about the YJ's, I think given certain applications they like attenuators etc. have their place and may actually work well so I have nothing, I repeat nothing against them nor did I imply I did. Moving on, I am enjoying the discourse between members like Marty and Joshua and the others who are buying and trying an reporting their reviews here instead of simply, "I've got a huge collection" which imo adds nothing to this, but ok I'm happy for you, but the direction this thread had been going up to recently was excellent. Hey River, what amp(s) are you planning on trying these tubes in? I have a few NOS tubes but really have no direct access to tube testers and they just don't add anything to the amp, I think the guys in here have said and I agree that it really depends on the quality and the 'juice' that remains that makes the difference and where the magic is with the NOS tubes. Problem is finding them which is really why I'm following this thread. __________________ www.ricojronline.com 760-956-6619 Garmopat Pedal Mods "I wouldn't mind hearing your head smash through a glass door. That would be cool..." luekmeyer

04-24-2009, 03:45 PM	#145 (permalink)
ts31966 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 17	Re: Preamp Tubes? - Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How? If you have nothing to add about tubes. Or the subject of tubes why do you post. Just to stir the pot. Right? I never once asked you a question. Why? Because you don't even know that a MARSHALL JMP-1 is a preamp. I thought you were a marshall guy? From your vast knowledge of BULL testicles I think you have more to add on that subject so go over to that forum. By the way I thought you were leaving to join some other thread. Hurry up and do it. I don't have to presume you don't know what you are talking about in your posts it is obvious in your statements. Yes I do have alot of different tubes. Does that mean something to you. I thought that the others would like to know that I have something to actually test. So that I have something constructive to add to this thread. Instead of just interjecting my worthless opinion.

04-24-2009, 05:32 PM	#147 (permalink)
steelhorse Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3,852	Re: Preamp Tubes? - Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How? Awesome River, let us know what you wind up learning through the process. I may have to get a tester as well. __________________ www.ricojronline.com 760-956-6619 Garmopat Pedal Mods "I wouldn't mind hearing your head smash through a glass door. That would be cool..." luekmeyer

04-24-2009, 05:32 PM	#148 (permalink)
RiverRatt Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Between Memphis and Nashville Posts: 470	Re: Preamp Tubes? - Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How? One more thing (sorry for going off-topic, but there are a lot of tube people chiming in) - does anyone here speak date code? The two 6V6s are interesting, and a bit confusing. Both have identical black bases. The GE tube is marked 7-13 and under that 188-5. That means that tube was made in the 13th week of 1957 in Owensboro, KY, right? The other tube is Delco branded, is just a bit shorter than the GE, and has the code 322208. If I'm understanding my search results, this one is a Tung-Sol, made in the 20th week of 1958? The strange thing is, both tubes have 6V6GT etched into the glass inside a octagon (stop sign), which is Tung-Sol's trademark, right? This is one of the many reasons I like RCAs and Mullards. No ambiguity - you know what you're looking at.

04-24-2009, 11:58 PM	#150 (permalink)
joshuaaewallen Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 372	Just A friendly Plea... Ok... Normally I try to refrain from profanity in a public forum, but... Up until recently this thread has had a really great vibe, great information, and plenty of differing opinions coexisting peacefully. But as of late things have started to turn a wee bit sour. Actually downright hostile. Quite frankly, I think we can do better than that. So, without taking sides in any debate that may be going on, I simply would like to ask that a cease-fire be declared, and that we get back to the subject at hand... Sharing info, input, ideas, theories, and whatever with regard to tubes and Marshall amps. That's why this thread was started, so lets keep it that way. Thanks guys! __________________ Josh 2004 PRS Custom 24 10 Top Dean Caddy w/ Bare Knuckles Nail Bombs (This One's For Sale, Just Let Me Know If You Are Interested) 1999 Marshall JCM 2000 TSL 122 - Power Tubes: JJ EL34L's - Assorted New & Vintage pre-amp tubes... I like to roll... HardWire DL-8 Delay/Looper http://irkinempire.spaces.live.com/ "... When you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all." - Futurama

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