Tung-Sol 12ax7..are they worth it??

[horns666]

Bad tube huh? Who'da thunk it... hehehe...

Yeah...

Sloloist, no it's cool, It really worked out pretty good..

[Endrik]

how are the harmonics now?

[DarkSaga]

Thanks a lot for the review Bill. I just placed my order this morning for 4 Tung Sols and can't wait to try them out!!!

Also what brand of EL34's are you running?????

[horns666]

Thanks a lot for the review Bill. I just placed my order this morning for 4 Tung Sols and can't wait to try them out!!!

Also what brand of EL34's are you running?????

Just the stock JJ/teslas..same as the 12ax7s. The ones that came stock with the Uber.

When they blow, I'll be talking to The Tube Store again..


They gave me great advice, and didn't steer me wrong...

[Inearthed]

This will sound funny, but... I had a dream last night I was playing an Uberschall at a show..

[parntz145]

Try the tung-Sol in the V 1 position and some 9th generation in the other's.
When I had my uber I ran it that way and liked it the best. The Tung-Sol's are great, but very expensive. I dont use them in the loop because it doesnt alter the tone to justify the price of them. They do rock. I also use Sovtek lps they also sound great in the uber.

[Soloist1]

Good preamp tubes should last close to a lifetime. The problem with most of the current production is that they aren't all that good. Personally I say splurge on preamp tubes. Get the good stuff. I agree with the mix and match. Certain tubes will add certain character to the different gain stages. If your buying an amp like an Uber why be frugal with tubes? Just doesn't make sense in my opinion. I'd be more worried about what the cheap ass tubes are doing to my amp than worried about spending more and getting what sounds best and lasts the longest.

[parntz145]

Good preamp tubes should last close to a lifetime. The problem with most of the current production is that they aren't all that good. Personally I say splurge on preamp tubes. Get the good stuff. I agree with the mix and match. Certain tubes will add certain character to the different gain stages. If your buying an amp like an Uber why be frugal with tubes? Just doesn't make sense in my opinion. I'd be more worried about what the cheap ass tubes are doing to my amp than worried about spending more and getting what sounds best and lasts the longest.

I disagree 100%. There are some great preamp and power tubes coming out these days. The Sovtek lps, 8th and 9th generation Chinese, Tung-Sol, JJ and many others. It's when you get involved with Groove tube or Mesa, when they take cheap tubes test them and charge you a fortune for them. then its bullshit. If you want to check out 2 of the best tubes I have heard in years try the JJ kt77 unreal bottom end with all the tone quality of an EL34.
And the Tung-Sol 6550, very musical great mids and bottom and just an all around great sounding tube.

[parntz145]

I also forgot to say that no tube will last a lifetime. The preamp tubes with generally last longer than the power tubes, but will eventually go microphonic or just die out.

[Soloist1]

I said should. And according to your first post the Tung Sol's are on the expensive list aren't they? And in my opinion most of the current production tubes that are cheap these days are junk. Tung Sol and JJ's aren't included on that list. Some of the new Chinese stuff is pretty good however. And are definitely cheap. Sovtek just blows.

[parntz145]

I said should. And according to your first post the Tung Sol's are on the expensive list aren't they? And in my opinion most of the current production tubes that are cheap these days are junk. Tung Sol and JJ's aren't included on that list. Some of the new Chinese stuff is pretty good however. And are definitely cheap. Sovtek just blows.

Yes most of the Sovtek stuff does blow, but try the LPS. They are a great tube. Just because I said a tube is expensive doesnt mean I think its not good. I would say the best new production tubes as far as preamp tubes go are (in no order) Tung-Sol, JJ, 9th gen Chinese (my faves), and the LPS.
There are no cheap tubes these days. They are mostly in the $8 to $10 range. The Tung-sol bieng very expensive. That's why I said to just use it in the V1 position where it will make the most difference.

[horns666]

All I know is..I have a MATCHED set of 6 Tung Sols in here and it never sounded better!!

I ain't touchin it!!

[Twisteramps]

It depends on the amp. Most newer high gain amps are voiced around cheaper tubes, and they sound ok in them. But in a vintage amp especially, newer preamp tubes tend to suck IMHO. I had a '68 Fender Princeton Reverb that sounded like shit with newer tubes - It had to have mullards or RCAs to sound right.

Preamp tubes will last damn near forever if you don't move your amp around much, especially when it's hot. Also, combos tend to go through tubes faster because of the vibrations. Being shaken or dropped (not when the glass breaks) makes tubes microphonic, and when they are hot it's even worse.

One tip to help make your tubes last longer is to let the tubes cool completely before moving it after practices and gigs.

Pete

[horns666]

After playing my Uber constantly since I installed the TSs..

I must say that the tone of the amp changed dramatically..in two areas.

One significant change..much more output..like I said, I have to adjust my gate and back off the gain and the bass controls for the first time since owning the Bogner.

Two..it made the amp VERY dark sounding with much less mids ...the Uber had alot of that, too much for my liking especially at very high volume levels..not anymore.

Now my USA Floyd Rose Classic Strat is my main guitar..there is a PAF pro in the bridge with a treble boost tone pot..I have the boost all the way up, that was always too bright..now it's perfect.

Another thing ..the tone I have now will not like old "dead" strings on a warm sounding guitar..so a fresh set is a major plus!!

I changed them on my Charvel SD-1 Koa a couple months ago, but play it everday. I'm thinking of going back down to 9's. I initlially switched to 10's to fatten my tone..but the guitars I own with 9's seem to have better edge and response now..especially when chuggin' on the wounded strings.

I'm noticing stupid, little things such as that lately, it sounds crazy..

Tung-sols in the Uberschall made the amp much more to my liking. Very warm , organic and musical to my ears..and leads SING with no harshness or sizzle whatsoever.

Me likey alot!!

[El_Kabong]

Amparex Bugle Boys, Sylvania 60's black plates, 50's RCAs with grey plates, real Mullards (and Tung-sols); ask for a sampler set of these for position one and be in cork sniffing bliss. Unless if you always play loud, high end power tubes are a waste, but these are cheap enough to have tonnes of fun with. The Tung-sol was just a gateway...