Metropoulos Forum

Interesting, I put a strong '59 I61 Mullard (relabeled) in V1 in a JTM50, and that tube has some serious gain! I liked it much better than a couple I63's I had on hand.
I *assumed* I wouldn't like it, or it would be a bit dull, but it's a killer tube!

I still have to give the Bugles my vote, they just sound perfect to me, but any of these old tubes dust the new production crap.

All amps are different,My62 Bassman sounds better with sindle coils for some reason My 100 watt sounds better with a HumB TO ME!! I have a box of preamp tubes that I switch around all the time Same with the power T's.Its like a race car one week its faster than the other guys,the next its a little doggon

Valvo 12ax7 with the 45degree getter 1950's
Sylvania 12ax7wa
Siemen rft

I'd like to put my vote in for Raytheons with the polished black plates. They seem to bring such a rich full freq sound to any amp. Not like others that emphasize treble, etc. I mainly find the Baldwin Organ labled ones and you can get 3 for the price of most Mullards. I also like Sylvanias when I want some punch.

Ill stick with Rft's and late 50's and early 60,s I61's
Great tone and Great Gain

I like plenty of pre's in my JTM 45, but I always end up back with the original set-up....I63 Mules and the GEC 66's. Perfect.

5150loveeddie wrote:Valvo 12ax7 with the 45degree getter 1950's
Sylvania 12ax7wa
Siemen rft

Hey JF is that the order you like the tubes in?


Lou

Lou baby......

valvo
GE 7025
tele smooth plate

Do you have any extra smooth plate and ge7025?

Not really, have my own reserve now. I saw some on ebay

For the Valvo, find the ones made in Germany (Hambourg)

An overlooked tube in your circuit is an RCA Blackplate. A bit cheaper than the Euro tubes and a great sound.

A good Tungsram is a must for me. (I love "woody" HA)

Some very good tubes for the money are the Indian made Mullards (BEL). I don't know if any are around though.

RCA Blackplates = Very nice tube!!!

OnTheFritz wrote:Interesting, I put a strong '59 I61 Mullard (relabeled) in V1 in a JTM50, and that tube has some serious gain! I liked it much better than a couple I63's I had on hand.

I *assumed* I wouldn't like it, or it would be a bit dull, but it's a killer tube!



I still have to give the Bugles my vote, they just sound perfect to me, but any of these old tubes dust the new production crap.

I just came into a couple I61's last week. I'm hoping to have the same result you did. I'll be putting it in V1 of a JTM50 as well.

...just tried out the I61.

If I hadn't heard it with my own ears I would not have believed a tube that dark sounding could still be that powerful. It's definitely the darkest tube I've heard... which worked perfectly in V1 of my JTM45 running EL34s (w/ bright cap).

In an overdrive pedal in front of a Twin Rev, with aluminum dust caps, it still managed to make it sound dull unless I ran the tone control on the pedal wide open. With an Ei in the pedal, I have considerably more leeway with the tone control.

I guess application is everything.

I just put a Brimar C4004 in V1, and a Phillips 5771 in v3 of a stock 1959SLP ri and WOW what a difference (new JJ in V2). THose tubes alone got rid of the nasty upper mids and gave the amp REAL low mids. I wouldn't have thought that those two tubes alone would have had such a dramatic impact on the tone. THe Brimar is bringing the sweet tone, and the 5771 in V3 tames everything nicely. It reduced the gain, but the gain is much sweeter and smoother now...cleared up A LOT of fizz too.

Before I had:

V1: Tungsol reissue
V2: JJ
V3 Tungsol reissue