Help Me Choose a Tube Set with a $600 budget for my SSS

[bigwebb83]

Looking to put some decent tubes in there. No specific goals sonically other than to tighten up the bottom end which at the moment can be a bit flubby. I don't know much about Tubes as far as characteristics so I figured I would defer to the wealth of knowledge you guys have. Any input on this would be greatly appreciated.

[wjdunham]

Which builders' SSS do you have?

I would suggest the JJECC803 (long plate version of the ECC83/12AX7) is a good tube for the SSS style amps. I find the more agressive sounding ECC83 works nicely in the ODS style amps, but it's a but over the top in an SSS which already has plenty of high end content. As far as the loose low end goes, sounds like you might be better off adjusting the power amp negative feedback a bit to tighten it up rather than swapping the tubes. It will only cost you a $.20 resistor as well
Bill

www.sebagosound.com

[bigwebb83]

I went with a ceriatone sss.

[bigwebb83]

anybody?

[grtamp]

about power tubes , you can buy some good NOS tubes or JJ ,the only brand that produces its valves!

[bigwebb83]

do you feel that a matched quad of power tubes will yield significant change?

[grtamp]

Sure!

[dobbhill]

If you would kindly post a schematic for that amplifier, I would be much better able to recommend tube choices. O course, I would need all component types, as well, as to help you make the "right" tube choices...

D

[John_P_WI]

Personally I feel that you will be wasting your money with new tubes. Look at the power supply, power supply caps and values, coupling caps (especially around the PI section) and amount of negative feedback used.

Also what kind of speakers / cabs and even setting up your guitar properly can impact the tightness of the bass.

$600 could go a long ways towards the system....

[mhartman]

Personally I feel that you will be wasting your money with new tubes. Look at the power supply, power supply caps and values, coupling caps (especially around the PI section) and amount of negative feedback used.

Also what kind of speakers / cabs and even setting up your guitar properly can impact the tightness of the bass.

$600 could go a long ways towards the system....

I agree with this. You could get a nice set of tubes for $200-$300 and then spend the rest on a transformer upgrade and/or a speaker upgrade (or something along those lines).

[bigwebb83]

I appreciate the replies. I am using a TR-1265 Speaker in a TR cab. I really have no idea about the schematic. I don't think nik publishes it. I have started playing with the LNFB (forgot those jobbers were back there) and I had both of the switches in the up position which I think was responsible for some of the flub.

[John_P_WI]

The LNFB is different than the power amp NFB which is a ratio set by fixed resistor values and the signal is taken from the speaker tap. Simply changing which speaker tap (output transformer impedance tap) the FB wire is connected to will also change the effect of the FB. As mentioned before, a schematic is needed.

[vibratoking]

Did he send a layout diagram with the amp?

[mhartman]

The LNFB is different than the power amp NFB which is a ratio set by fixed resistor values and the signal is taken from the speaker tap. Simply changing which speaker tap (output transformer impedance tap) the FB wire is connected to will also change the effect of the FB. As mentioned before, a schematic is needed.

I believe that the NFB resisor value is 4.7k in this amp and likely is connected to the 8 ohm tap.

[Zippy]

Did he send a layout diagram with the amp?

Just a set of detailed gut shots would help determine what tubes are going to work best - there were many variants of the original SSS.