Which preamp tubes do you use in your ODS?

schorsch · Post by **schorsch** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 2:21 am

i guess all of you guys experiment with changing different preamp tubes from time to time. Last thread i found here is 2 years ago - so what's your actual setup?

here's mine:

Preamp: Ei - ECC83
OD-Section: JJ - ECC83S
PI: EH - 12AX7
(Dumbleator: EH - 12AX7)

Found these 2 guides - help choosing different tubes matching your sound ideas at www.tubetown.de - a german TubeSpecialist.

http://www.tube-town.net/info/doc/tt-re ... s-engl.pdf
http://www.tube-town.net/info/doc/tt-tubemap.pdf

Maybe that's interesting for you too. For my taste - a little too much of his own brand in the actual "Ultimate Tubemap" (wasn't so in the older versions of this doc) but interesting anyhow.

heisthl · Post by **heisthl** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 2:33 am

I'm not familiar with the TT tubes, what are they rebranded Chinese Ruby's?

Tonegeek · Post by **Tonegeek** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 3:41 am

I did have EH pre's and a Sovtek LPS in the PI, but I just swapped the LPS for V1 and like it better. It seems a bit warmer. I am now thinking I need another LPS to go back in the PI.

Structo · Post by **Structo** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 7:06 am

In V1 right now I have a great sounding Raytheon blackplate 12AX7, very dynamic sounding tube.

Right now I have a Chinese Ruby branded 12ax7AC5 Select in V2.
I've tried NOS in that spot but they seem to go microphonic rather quickly.

The Chinese tubes seem to sound pretty good in the high gain spot.

In the PI V3 spot I have a EH 12ax7.

For power tubes I am running the SED Winged =C= 6L6's which I like a lot for current production.

heisthl · Post by **heisthl** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 7:25 am

I always thought agonizing about tube choice was about getting that last few % of tone/feel/character out of the amp, I usually pick reliability over tone if it's close. Don't you think it varies from amp to amp, and probably more specifically voltage to voltage which brand works best? I did an interview for 300guitars.com a few weeks ago and they specifically asked about tube choices like it was a big deal, it doesn't seem to concern Fender or Peavey. I'm still liking the EH12ax7 except for the PI (Sovtek LP) The verdict is still out on the Svelana's, I have been having really good luck with them lately. Believe it or not I like the sound of the EH6L6's and the short bottle TAD's.

lbradshaw · Post by **lbradshaw** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 10:22 am

Currently:

Preamp: EH - 12AX7
OD-Section: GT-12AX7M
built-in Dumbleator: EH - 12AX7
PI: EH - 12AX7

greiswig · Post by **greiswig** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 2:35 pm

V1 - Tung Sol new production
V2 - Telefunken long plate pull
PI - Tesla NOS long plate
Power - SED KT88

Funkalicousgroove · Post by **Funkalicousgroove** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 3:04 pm

I use JJ's in all 3 positions Just like LC and RF.

My Favorite if price is no object is a 50's Radio Technique in V1, a 50's Mazda in V2, and a Long plate GE in the PI.

BobW · Post by **BobW** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 7:14 pm

preamps and P/I: EH12AX7 3 total
output: Winged C (SED) 6L6GC 4 total

all through a thiele TL806 cab w/ EVM 12S.

Structo · Post by **Structo** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 8:59 pm

BobW wrote:preamps and P/I: EH12AX7 3 total
output: Winged C (SED) 6L6GC 4 total

all through a thiele TL806 cab w/ EVM 12S.

Bob is the 12S no longer in production?

What is the difference between that and the 12L speaker?

Is the 806 cab pretty good? I have heard people praise the Boogie Thiele version.

Someone recently posted some plans for the 806 and I was considering building one.

My concern would be that it might be too heavy in the bass response.

BobW · Post by **BobW** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 9:23 pm

Structo,

a few months ago, my TL-806 cab using the EV /Telex plans was about 75% complete, when I found an old TL806 cab at a used music store in Nashville for $80 (was missing one of the 1/4 -20 spkr cover screws). The EV logo was clearly printed on the dust cap, but they obviously didn't know what they had, so when I got home and popped open the cab. It had an EVM 12S! Since the new EVM 12L was already on order, I finished the other cab and did a side to side comparison. My opinion only, but found the older 12S to be smoother in the midrange, and the 12L a tad bright in the midrange. Bass was about the same. Overall both speakers sounded great and the brightness has either diminished slightly in the 12L or I am imagining it. It sounds best with both cabs in 100W mode, but for now prefer the 12S loaded cab for most small gigs either in 50W or 100W. For 50W mode, when using a single cab, the impedance is set to 16 ohms, using two cabs in 50W impedance is set to 8 Ohms.
IMHO, The TL806 cab sounds much better than my bassman 2 12" cab loaded w/ JBL D-120s.

I don't know if the 12S is still available but have seen recone kits for both the S and L on the web.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 9:26 pm

Funkalicousgroove wrote:I use JJ's in all 3 positions

Funk, any comments about ECC83 vs ECC803. Wondering if you have a preference, or use both. (?) thanks
I've been using EH for a long time with pretty good results (except for tossing out a few microphonic ones), but would like to try JJ.

Structo · Post by **Structo** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 10:20 pm

BobW wrote:Structo,

a few months ago, my TL-806 cab using the EV /Telex plans was about 75% complete, when I found an old TL806 cab at a used music store in Nashville for $80 (was missing one of the 1/4 -20 spkr cover screws). The EV logo was clearly printed on the dust cap, but they obviously didn't know what they had, so when I got home and popped open the cab. It had an EVM 12S! Since the new EVM 12L was already on order, I finished the other cab and did a side to side comparison. My opinion only, but found the older 12S to be smoother in the midrange, and the 12L a tad bright in the midrange. Bass was about the same. Overall both speakers sounded great and the brightness has either diminished slightly in the 12L or I am imagining it. It sounds best with both cabs in 100W mode, but for now prefer the 12S loaded cab for most small gigs either in 50W or 100W. For 50W mode, when using a single cab, the impedance is set to 16 ohms, using two cabs in 50W impedance is set to 8 Ohms.
IMHO, The TL806 cab sounds much better than my bassman 2 12" cab loaded w/ JBL D-120s.

I don't know if the 12S is still available but have seen recone kits for both the S and L on the web.

Cool, probably because the 12L is not broken in well yet.

So how is the bass response of that cab?
If it is tight it would be fine, I just can't stand boomy bass cabs.

I see on the plans they show a port cover for the middle port but somebody said not to use it.

BobW · Post by **BobW** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 10:24 pm

This was mentioned in previous posts, but adding the bass port cover extends your low frequency response. Not needed, see the charts.

doveman · Post by **doveman** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 10:44 pm

Structo wrote:
BobW wrote:What is the difference between that (EVM12S) and the 12L speaker?
I know it's off-topic just a bit but I noticed the question.

Seems I heard once it was "short' throw and "long" throw ... I think sometimes references to projection of the speakers. But I'm not sure and have never played through an "S".

The Amp Garage

Which preamp tubes do you use in your ODS?

Which preamp tubes do you use in your ODS?

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