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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
Favorite Preamp Tube Brands?
Favorite Preamp Tube Brands?
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HarpNinja
4115 posts
Aug 07, 2015
7:14 AM
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Just curious...I see Groove Tubes used a lot, including for harp amps. They don't retail for any less than other current production tubes like JJ's or Tung Sol RIs.
I have some cool NOS tubes in values other than 12ax7, which I don't have too much experience...just JJ's and Tung Sol RI's.
At KCA NOS Tubes, they suggest the Svetlana 12ax7 that are current production are similar to the NOS RCA tubes...well, the closest.
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Mike
My Website
My Harmonica Effects Blog
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HarpNinja
4116 posts
Aug 07, 2015
7:20 AM
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I just read that GT's are relabled tubes made by other manufacturers.
http://www.thetubestore.com/Tubes/Groove-Tubes
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Mike
My Website
My Harmonica Effects Blog
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barbequebob
2995 posts
Aug 07, 2015
8:46 AM
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Part of looking at the new production tubes is what are they attempting to copy/emulate. I personally feel that the newer Groove Tubes are highly overrated and don't justify their cost. When they were doing things like matching what is now known as NOS tubes, they were much better tubes, and that comes from long experience with tube amps as when I started, the NOS tubes were what you always bought in electronics store, instrument stores, and even drug stores back in the day when they even had tube testing equipment available.
Each brand the newer production ae trying to simulate are also the characteristics of the originals. Svetlana 12AX7's are more like RCA's, but in different years of the NOS, the sound can vary quite a bit, due to materials, plate sizes, etc. Tung Sol reissues are fairly close to the originals, but like much of the newer stock, the big problem for me (as well as all the newer stock( is the components aren't like the NOS, since those were all military grade, meaning heavy duty EVERYTHING and those still last much longer than the newer production stuff.
Every brand, be it new or NOS, all have different sonic characteristics from each other even if they're the same number. My favorite 12AX7's in Fender amps are the long plated NOS GE's made from about 1958-65 and the closest to that sound are the Mullard reissues and after that Tung Sol.
Also one brand's tube number can sound great in one amp, but suck in another, plus you also have to account for your taste as well and what you're striving for.
Mike, you're correct about the relabeling and GT now just aren't worth what they once were.
There are reissues of the Mullard 5AR4 around now as well as "exact copies," but they still don't outlast the NOS versions, and that's an example to think about.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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Harpaholic
729 posts
Aug 07, 2015
9:28 AM
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Mike read the reviews at The Tube Store, really helpful.
http://www.thetubestore.com/Resources/Product-Reviews
NOS Jan Philips have always been my favorite tubes, especially 5751, 6L6, and 6V6. Sylvania is my favorite 7591
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Owen Evans
73 posts
Aug 07, 2015
9:43 AM
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Good morning Mike,
I enjoyed this thread because it answers some everyday questions regarding the tube amps we all love to play. Bob sharing his experience here is unparalleled; thankyou Bob.
I'm old and as result, I have some tube experience too. I looked at your website and it looks like you are playing a thru a Harpgear 30 or 35? They use 6l6's and 12AX7 with a 5751 and 5AR4, yes/ no?
If so, I have a couple of pdfs I can share with you describing performance characteristics of the 6's & 12's. I don't know how to upload these here but I can email you the files on your contact of your website? (anyone else? let me know where to e-mail them to)
Your post shows you are using the tubestore.com and I might suggest you look at https://www.tubedepot.com also. As an old audiophile, I can tell you that every tube adds it's flavour to the mix, so now you have more choices. Hope this is useful.
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HarpNinja
4117 posts
Aug 07, 2015
11:20 AM
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Actually, I was ampless for a while. I just picked up a Princeton Reverb Reissue for the times where I get asked to play and don't sing or no monitor is available.
I haven't bought tubes forever...I need to see what GT's I have in the preamp (will get to play the amp tonight at home). I have a couple of 12axy tubes, but mostly held onto my 5751's and 12at7's.
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Mike
My Website
My Harmonica Effects Blog
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Barley Nectar
877 posts
Aug 07, 2015
6:41 PM
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Bob speaks the truth on this. I am not a big fan of GT either. I have been installing Tung Sol RI's in customers amps with no complaint. I save the NOS/vintage tubes for myself. Do not be afraid to use "pulls" for your preamp. Those are used 12a?7 types. The 12A?7 type preamp tubes will run for a very long time and often are replaced for no good reason. Pulls save you a lot of money also.
I doubt you will like anything less than a 5751 in V1 as far as gain reduction goes, JMO. Those Princetons are very good with stock values. If the reverb is too strong you may try a 12AU7 in the reverb driver spot.
Tubes are like speakers, you need to try several to find your tone. Problem is, if you roll too many thru the amp the tube sockets get loose.,,,BN
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barbequebob
2998 posts
Aug 10, 2015
11:28 AM
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On the original black faced Princetons made during the 60's all came with GE tubes and those kept those amps sounding fat and warm and if you changed the power tubes on them to Phillips/Sylvania of the same number, they tended to mae black faced Fender amps really trebly and at times quite piecing, which was fine for some guitar styles but a feedback problem for harp.
The spring reverb on the reissues still aren't as nice sounding as the original tanks on the pre-CBS versions, which was made by Hammond and I've owned a few different black faced pre-CBS Fenders and can hear a HUGE difference between the two.
12AY7's are better on the older tweed amps than on the black face or brown faced amps as those were what the circuits were designed around.
KCA is a good spot for NOS tubes and so is The Tube Shop but some of the prized stuff is getting more difficult and obviously more expensive to score but as a whole, they tend to sound better plus last much longer than the newer stuff does and that's based on a gigging schedule of 10+ nights per month.
I know certain tubes for audiophiles are like gold, as for an example, 12AX7's made by Telefunken is like striking it rich because those are prized in those old MacIntosh tube stereo recievers anything else in those sounds like total crap in them.
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Sincerely,
Barbeque Bob Maglinte
Boston, MA
http://www.barbequebob.com
CD available at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bbmaglinte
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marine1896
312 posts
Aug 10, 2015
11:38 AM
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Bob's the man! It was he who turned me on to NOS Sylvania green/yellow letter pre-amps for my Bassman years back just a mine of info!
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"Those British boys want to play the blues real bad, and they do"
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