jacop
New Member
Posts: 4
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Post by jacop on Mar 8, 2018 0:19:07 GMT -7
Hi guys,
I'm a proud owner of a Remedy MV model with which I had some trouble bonding at the beginning but man, after I "figured it out" it is super awesome amp. Love it! Running it through Dr. Z Z-Best with V30 & G12H30..which now when they're broken in are great, but still I'm tempted to try creambacks or greenbacks one day just to see where this would take me.. Enough with the chatter..
Recently V1 preamp tube failed (JJ ECC83S) and I've substituted it by some old 12AX7 (Groove Tubes - old spare I've got from my Twin Reverb) I found laying around. Now I would like to change all of my preamp tubes (currently V1 = Groove Tube 12AX7, V2 = JJ ECC83S & possibly V3 = TungSol 12AX7) as I do not know in what condition are the other tubes (I've bought the amp second hand).
What are your recommendations which tubes should I put in? Should I just go with the standard, recommended V1: JJ ECC83S, V2: JJ ECC83S, V3: Tung Sol 12AX7 OR is there any other good substitution for JJ's (& why that is)? I'd maybe like preamp breakup to be little less "fizzy" and more creamy/smooth..
Also when looking at the tube dealer offers I see that they have multiple options for the same e.g. JJ ECC83S.. there is "JJ ECC83S Balanced Double Triode" and just ordinary "JJ ECC83S" which is half the price of the balanced one and also "JJ ECC83S V1".. What is the difference here? Which one should I buy and why one over the other?
Thanks!
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Post by John on Mar 8, 2018 4:47:41 GMT -7
Sometimes you can tell the difference when changing preamp tubes...sometimes you can't. Personally, if you're happy with the tone, I'd just by a few JJ's for spares. Preamp tubes can last decades. They don't need to be changed like power tubes. If you want less fizzy...I'd suggest changing your speakers. If you want less volume while you're at it...both creambacks and greenback won't be as loud for the same amount of amp power. (The difference will be noticeable) Greenbacks are cheaper and much easier to find used. And if you REALLY want to cut back on fizzies....a pair of these: wgsusa.com/et65They are reasonably close to the greenback tone, except they have a big dust cover, and that cuts back on the fizzy high end. And if you want greennback tone and want new, I'd go with these: wgsusa.com/gbThey're greenback clones. I have one. Good quality, good company, great greenback tone..and only $80. And welcome to the forum. And I have to ask...are you playing humbuckers or single coils?
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jacop
New Member
Posts: 4
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Post by jacop on Mar 8, 2018 6:15:48 GMT -7
> And welcome to the forum. And I have to ask...are you playing humbuckers or single coils?
Tnx! Well, I've been playing only humbuckers for the last few years..but just few weeks ago I picked up my old Strat which I've not been using for probably at last 5 years and plugged it into Remedy and it just blew my mind..great sound! so I'll be playing it whole lotta more from now on > Personally, if you're happy with the tone, I'd just by a few JJ's for spares. Preamp tubes can last decades. They don't need to be changed like power tubes. Yes, I know but there is always a "what if" question... What if it would sound "better" with some other tubes.. I got one advice from Dr. Z support: "Try a Chinese 12AX7 or JJ ECC83 in V3, the Tung Sol can have a glassy harder high end." > If you want less fizzy...I'd suggest changing your speakers.
Will see.. I think speaker are still breaking in (as I've bought cab new) so I'll give them time to settle down. Changing speakers is not such straight forward as changing tubes + more expensive..but yes, it definitely has higher impact on the sound. Any other thoughts on the preamp tube selection?
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Post by pcns on Mar 8, 2018 11:45:59 GMT -7
My personal recommendation for preamp tubes would be whatever Dr Z recommends. He literally spends hours and hours trying different tubes in each of his amps to get the best tone he can from regulation production or highly available NOS tubes. He does this so we don't have to sacrifice our tone when we replace our tubes because a NOS tube is no longer available. John has this right, speaker choices will give you far greater difference in tone that a tube will. Also, there is nothing sweeter than a well broken in set of speakers in a Zbest. Doc has one in his shop that is magical and its because those speaker are so well broken in. Keep pushing those speakers, they will give up the goods and you may find your fizzy goes away. my 2 cents, God bless, Todd
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Post by John on Mar 9, 2018 4:02:24 GMT -7
Yes, I know but there is always a "what if" question... What if it would sound "better" with some other tubes.. The "What if" question/pursuit can be a bottomless hole in the ground where you can throw never ending amounts of money and time if you're not careful. I've met many people over the years...real guitar/amp geeks who get excited at the smallest details. Details that matter to NO ONE except the them. And far too often, when you finally hear them play, they're not very good. They should spend more time practicing and less time focusing on gear. Get a good guitar, get a decent amp, and play. Quit worrying about what chip is in your overdrive pedal...just play. Sorry, I don't know anything about you...you could be a fine player. You're a new member here and I didn't mean to unload on you with my 'angry middle aged guy rant'. ha ha (I think the other guys are used to it!) If your Z-best is new...yes, you're going to need to blast those speakers for a few months to break them in. (V30's sound like crap when new) I used to take new speakers out of the cabinet, wrap them in a sleeping bag, hook them up to my pa head and run bass/drum loops through them for days. That REALLY helped.
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Post by chuckdizz on Aug 15, 2020 11:49:37 GMT -7
I started experimenting with NOS 12ax7 tubes a few years ago. I am currently using an NOS Brimar CV4004 in P1 that just blows away any new production 12ax7! It really makes the amp sing. Its not a subtle difference either. Its like night and day. I've also used some NOS RCAs in the past that sounded really nice. Very clear, even response and super smooth. I haven't tried an RCA in the Remedy yet but its next on my list.
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Post by daddyelmis (Greg) on Aug 15, 2020 17:31:36 GMT -7
A local amp builder (the one with the “wall of speakers” I posted in another thread) does repairs and retubes also. When someone comes in not sure what they want, he brings out several sets of different tubes and let’s you try them in your amp. BUT - he makes you face away from the amp and he changes the tubes for you — a BLIND tube test. Works great - you end up with tubes that sound the way you want, regardless of NOS, vintage, new, etc. You buy the sound, not the hype.
I always thought that’s the way to buy tubes.
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