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Post by prowler on Jul 19, 2005 20:02:59 GMT -7
I recently bought a Mini-Z which I now love the tone of. Let me explain. When I first bought the amp I was a little disappointed with the tone when using both single coils & humbuckers. My problem was the amp became mushy sounding when the amp was turned up. It lacked clarity and string definition. Frankly it sounded like a big mess. I checked to see what pre tube was in the amp & I found that my Mini had a JJ ECC83s in it. As I was lurking on the Z website I noticed that the Mini-Z was listed as having a GT12ax7m pre tube. I thought "thats weird, my Mini has a JJ tube in it"? So I decided to try a GT12ax7m tube before I made a final decision on the future of the amp.
Aaaahhh... that sounds MUCH better with the GT12ax7m tube! I was amazed at how big a difference switching out the pre tube made. The JJ was terrible sounding to my ears.
My question is what preamp tube did YOUR Mini come with when you bought it? Does the Dr. ship them out with JJ or GT preamp tubes?
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Post by zane on Jul 19, 2005 22:01:23 GMT -7
JJ's
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Post by prowler on Jul 20, 2005 4:11:39 GMT -7
Maybe I just got a bum tube? No worries as I love the tone now.
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Post by Lefty on Jul 20, 2005 14:26:15 GMT -7
Mine (both of them) came with JJ's. I spoke to the Dr. about this and he said the 12AX7M was his first choice but due to availability issues and micro-phonics (apparently he was throwing alot out) he switched to the JJ's.
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Post by DRZ on Jul 20, 2005 14:30:19 GMT -7
Mine (both of them) came with JJ's. I spoke to the Dr. about this and he said the 12AX7M was his first choice but due to availability issues and micro-phonics (apparently he was throwing alot out) he switched to the JJ's. That's correct I loved the 12AX7M's but alas they didn't love me. I have been trying the Svetlana 12AX7 , nice tube articulate and warm, been using them in the RX ES's . Z
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Post by prowler on Jul 20, 2005 15:46:32 GMT -7
Interesting. I have a few of the 12ax7m tubes & haven't run into any issues. Then again I got them from Mike @ KCA and I believe that he tests each tube before shipping. Who knows, I could be totally off on that. The JJ tube that was in there sounded terrible. I mean really horrible. I guess it doesn't matter now since the Mini sounds good to my ears.
Z, do you feel the Svetlana 12ax7 is a better tube than the JJ ECC83s ?
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Post by DRZ on Jul 20, 2005 17:30:53 GMT -7
Interesting. I have a few of the 12ax7m tubes & haven't run into any issues. Then again I got them from Mike @ KCA and I believe that he tests each tube before shipping. Who knows, I could be totally off on that. The JJ tube that was in there sounded terrible. I mean really horrible. I guess it doesn't matter now since the Mini sounds good to my ears. Z, do you feel the Svetlana 12ax7 is a better tube than the JJ ECC83s ? Hard to say better, the svet does have a nice tone and seems to be well assembled. The 12AX7 M has a great tone but the mica spacers are separating then plate structure aren't straight, and they work but then will fail with low hours. I must say there was a built lot of them I believe the second batch that were wonderful, but this latest batch I have recieved some stinkers. It is the same with most new production tubes like JJ's mostly very good but every once in a while I get a batch of bad ones. Actually the russians make good pre-amp tubes and Tesla makes good output tubes, and the chinese make good FIRECRACKERS. DR.Z
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Post by prowler on Jul 20, 2005 19:51:46 GMT -7
As much as I love the sound of NOS tubes they wont be around forever. As NOS tubes get harder and more costly to find I have been trying to find a good alternative in new production tubes. I really hope that I can find something that works for me. I have yet to try a russian preamp tube in my Mini but I'm going to get a few this weekend & make some comparisons. I completely agree with you Doc, JJ makes nice power tubes but the pre tubes aren't very good in my opinion.
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Post by myles on Aug 31, 2005 11:36:46 GMT -7
Mine (both of them) came with JJ's. I spoke to the Dr. about this and he said the 12AX7M was his first choice but due to availability issues and micro-phonics (apparently he was throwing alot out) he switched to the JJ's. That's correct I loved the 12AX7M's but alas they didn't love me. I have been trying the Svetlana 12AX7 , nice tube articulate and warm, been using them in the RX ES's . Z Doc .... Talk to Rick and next time you get stuff have him come to me and I will give him some to send you that I will trace and rate and then we can see which work best in what range.
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Post by myles on Aug 31, 2005 11:37:56 GMT -7
That's correct I loved the 12AX7M's but alas they didn't love me. I have been trying the Svetlana 12AX7 , nice tube articulate and warm, been using them in the RX ES's . Z Doc .... Talk to Rick and next time you get stuff have him come to me and I will give him some to send you that I will trace and rate and then we can see which work best in what range. I used an M in mine for a while but currently have a Raytheon 12AX7 that I believe came from Mike K at www.kcanostubes.com and was kcanostubes.com/content/estore_details.asp?product=42
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Post by OG Mini Z on Feb 25, 2006 18:13:34 GMT -7
That's correct I loved the 12AX7M's but alas they didn't love me. I have been trying the Svetlana 12AX7 , nice tube articulate and warm, been using them in the RX ES's . Z Doc .... Talk to Rick and next time you get stuff have him come to me and I will give him some to send you that I will trace and rate and then we can see which work best in what range. Wow!!! www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/images/ad5a.jpg
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