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Post by 95strat on Oct 11, 2007 9:32:49 GMT -7
Have any of you guys tried swooping out any tubes yet? Maybe some sort of NOS or something? Not that the amp necessarily needs it.
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Post by bluzman on Oct 11, 2007 10:32:43 GMT -7
I already went through the EL-84 tubes and I'm gonna try some New Mullards and those TAD tubes. There are JJ's in the preamp and PI and the EF86. I don't have an EF86 but I do have a bunch of 12AX7s. So I gotta make the time to sit with a note pad and listen some night!
PT
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Post by 95strat on Oct 11, 2007 14:45:14 GMT -7
Look forward to hearing what you get!
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Post by ruger9 on Oct 11, 2007 15:02:48 GMT -7
My EF86 was an NOS Dario Miniwatt. I bought an NOS Telefunken but haven't tried it yet. The power tubes are JJ's, which are fine tubes (GT's with a "6 rating"). The rectifier, altho un-branded, is also NOS according to Doc. I did swap V1 with a 12AX7EH and a Tung-Sol 12AX7 Reissue, I liked the TS beter (they were very close.) When GT gets them back in stock, I'd love to try a 12AX7M ("Mullard reissue") in V1. It's one of my fave tubes in other amps' V1.
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Post by bluzman on Oct 18, 2007 17:43:30 GMT -7
I tried the TAD EL84s from Doug's Tubes. I like them in my Maz Jr., but I don't like them in the RxJr. It seemed to darken it a "tad" (no pun intended much) much. The RxJr has a good bottom already and the JJs seem to give it more balance with the hi and low end. So I then tried the Mullard Russian RI El84s. The Mullards sound good. I'm not sure if the Mullards are worth the bit of extra dough over the JJs as they sound a lot like the JJs. I have some NOS EF86 that I want to try next. I have the Dario in there now. I'll get back and letcha know how it sounds to me. I did try the Tung Sols 12AX7s and EH12AX7s. I like the TS better than the EH but the GTs that came in it are fine by me anyways.
PaulT
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Post by ruger9 on Oct 18, 2007 17:55:55 GMT -7
I tried the NOS Telefunken EF86, heard absolutely no difference between it and the Dario Miniwatt, tried different EQs & Overdose on & off (since the EF86 works in the tone stack & overdose circuit.)
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Post by bluzman on Oct 31, 2007 18:05:54 GMT -7
After swapping the tubes... I'm back to the ones that came with it. I could make it sound a 'little' different, but I couldn't get any better sounds out of it. Plus I was using all new tubes as all my NOS tubes are happily seated right now in various Dr. Z amps. Some of the ef86 tubes I tried were not very good at all. They did a fine job with the tubes they ship with, so unless you have something out of the ordinary, it's worth keeping it 'stock' in my opinion.
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Post by 95strat on Nov 1, 2007 7:54:16 GMT -7
After swapping the tubes... I'm back to the ones that came with it. I could make it sound a 'little' different, but I couldn't get any better sounds out of it. Plus I was using all new tubes as all my NOS tubes are happily seated right now in various Dr. Z amps. Some of the ef86 tubes I tried were not very good at all. They did a fine job with the tubes they ship with, so unless you have something out of the ordinary, it's worth keeping it 'stock' in my opinion. Good to know. I was thinking of trying some NOS Tesla EL84's, but don't want to spend the money if it's not going to do anything. JJ's are way cheaper. I guess I just get some back ups and not waste the money. I like the amp as is anyway.
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Post by azatplayer on Nov 6, 2007 18:42:48 GMT -7
I tried a Valvo in my RX ES in the EF86 pos. Very sweet and warm. At home its really nice as i feel the Dario it shipped with has a little more edge and level. BUT on stage the Valvo ended up being a tad dark, i needed the grit of the Dario there. Horses for courses.
Im getting some old British Everett EF86's from my tube guy. Same as the Valvo construction wise which in turn look just like the Darios. Will let you know how they sound.
CheerZ Azat
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Post by ruger9 on Nov 7, 2007 14:14:35 GMT -7
[glow=red,2,300] EF86 UPDATE[/glow] I reported above that I swapped the stock NOS Dario Miniwatt EF86 for an NOS Telefunken EF86 (solid grey plates), and there was little if any tonal change. That test was performed with the master volume quite low... at home playing levels. Since I now play my RxJR with the MV maxed thru an attenuator, things have changed... With the MV maxed, (or the higher the MV is, the better the amp sounds! ), the Jr sounds better than ever (of course). But I noticed (at any volume level) the Overdose can get a tad shrill depending on your EQ settings. So I tested the Telefunkens again, with MV maxed. Pretty big difference. Definitely warmer/thicker on the Overdose. Nothing too drastic, but a noticeable overdose thickening. Sounds GREAT IMHO. The Telefunken stays IN.
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Post by bluzman on Nov 15, 2007 19:13:05 GMT -7
Is the Telefunken an expensive tube?
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Post by 95strat on Nov 15, 2007 20:37:50 GMT -7
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Post by ruger9 on Nov 16, 2007 4:14:30 GMT -7
I got my Telefunken from an ebay seller for $40. I would normally buy from Mike at KCA, I just happened to find what I was looking for on ebay. The seller had an excellent rating or I would never have bought from them.
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Post by 95strat on Nov 16, 2007 7:12:06 GMT -7
Sounds like you got a great deal. Good for you. What are you doing with your Dario?
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Post by ruger9 on Nov 16, 2007 15:59:50 GMT -7
keeping it as a backup.
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Post by 95strat on Nov 16, 2007 16:12:54 GMT -7
Dang it. I was hoping you would sell it! However, that's a good plan. I need to get a backup for all my tubes. If I lose anyone of them I'm screwed.
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Post by ruger9 on Nov 16, 2007 16:45:01 GMT -7
The dario is only $45 at KCA.
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Post by 95strat on Nov 16, 2007 21:13:18 GMT -7
I think he's out at the moment. I'll have to check the site again.
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Post by ruger9 on Nov 17, 2007 6:01:55 GMT -7
Is this for your RxJR? Didn't it come with a Dario? Mine did. I was under the impression that's the only EF86 Doc uses these days...?
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Post by 95strat on Nov 17, 2007 16:19:51 GMT -7
Yes it did...I just need a back up.
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