Tubes!!!!

[rockjunky]

Hey guys,

I've had a RM50 head for a while now and dig it but I think its time for a retube. What do you guys recomend for the preamps? I'm running a plexi and a ultra module. Both stock. 90 to 95% of the time I'm on the plexi though.

Any thoughts would be helpful.

Thanks
John

 

[NCdan]

That depends on what sound you're going for: clean and crisp, fat and round, edgy and raw, spanky and bright? Different tubes accomplish different things... Groove tubes are nice. I hear Electro Harmonix tubes are good too.

 

[rockjunky]

Fat and round.

John

 

[Anonymous]

I just did a pre tube shootout yesterday with my friends' rec pre. A bit of a different animal but may help. The pre comes stock with Mesa 12ax7-A's, We tried a Sovtek 12ax7LPS, an Electro Harmonix 12ax7, and an EH 12at7 in V1. I honestly feel that the Sovtek was the best of the 4. It seemed to me that it emphasized the low mids and was a bit darker than the EH's. Honestly there was very little diff bet the Mesa and EH 12ax7's. The 12at7 sounded awful in V1.

I've heard that folks like the Shuguang 7th gen stuff in the MTS gear. Rest assured when my M4 finally gets here in Sept I will be conducting another shootout.

 

[RockManiac]

As far as I know the Mesa 12AX7 is an EH 12AX7, so it's no surprise that they sound quite the same.

 

[NCdan]

Maybe this link will help you out a bit: http://www.groovetubes.com/tubes_list.cfm?ObjectGroup_ID=107 It's difficult to find the tubes that work for you; it's like finding the pickups that are right for you: it takes a while, but you eventually form your preferences.