Preamp tubes... What y'all using?

[conky]

Looking to swap out some tubes in my Matamp and Soldano. Right now I have a set of JJs in my Matamp and Tung Sols in my Soldano. I read that the Mullard reissue 12ax7s were pretty good and they tamed a bit of the harshness out, which is exactly what I'm looking for. Any of you guys use these?

[skullservant]

I've got a NOS RCA in my 5w combo that I got off of Amorphus. In my Verellen I've got either a JJ or EHX 12ax7, I can't remember which at the moment, but it sounds good. I've heard good things about Tube Amp Doctor tubes

[misterstomach]

I've got an old JAN ge in v1 in my Marshall. Sounds great. The others are just jj's.

[Bon Hoga]

Just your standard EHX, they sound much better in my Laney than the stock RFTs.

[Ancient Astronaught]

I'm rocking JJ's as well.

[odontophobia]

Weirdo tubes because RedBear.

[whiskey_face]

Weirdo tubes because RedBear.

amprexs in my vt-22
original gansters in my blueline svt
other svts are JJs
this kalamazoo has mullards, but only cause theyre OG as well.

[misterstomach]

For the record, I don't really like jj's.

[conky]

I didn't like them at all on my 2204. I ended up with an pair of EHX 6ca7s in the preamp and TungSols in the pre and it sounded a lot less harsh in the top end.

[Iommic Pope]

I really like the Tung Sols. A lot.
Those EHX are pretty rad too, though.

[D.o.S.]

They all sound the same in the wash.

[t-rey]

I really like the Tung Sols. A lot.
Those EHX are pretty rad too, though.

This. Tung Sols in my Blackstar, and NOS GE/EHX in my Ampeg because Whiskers is the MOTHERFUCKING MAN.

[Uncle Grandfather]

I'd avoid reissue tubes. It's just too easy to get nos from reputable sources like Brent Jesse recording, audiotubes.com

Check that site out, he gives very accurate subjective descriptions of what tubes are going to sound like from different makers and type etc...very rich resource if you are looking to roll tubes for particular sound.

[misterstomach]

I'd avoid reissue tubes. It's just too easy to get nos from reputable sources like Brent Jesse recording, audiotubes.com

Check that site out, he gives very accurate subjective descriptions of what tubes are going to sound like from different makers and type etc...very rich resource if you are looking to roll tubes for particular sound.

it is a pretty interesting site just to learn about nos tubes and tube history, even if you can't or don't want to afford most of the stuff on there. and they have a ton of old tubes in stock. there's actually some really good deals too. they offer really cheap prices on some really nice tubes that have labels printed crooked or whatever. like the famed rca greyplates for $30 each. and other cool ones. just look for the discounted "butt ugly" tubes under each manufacturers section. when a modern cheap russian or chinese tube costs $15, it just makes sense to spend $30 on a vintage NOS tube that will sound killer and last a really long time, even if you just get one for v1 on your amp it'll help a lot. my old GE 12ax7 has been running strong for 5 years or so at least. maybe longer, it was in the amp when i bought it. still sounds killer.

[Uncle Grandfather]

it is a pretty interesting site

yeah, the off label tubes are a steal, you can get 200$ tubes for a fraction of the price because the label is branded different

brent jesse is cool to offer these tubes at a discount because they are the same exact tubes as the higher priced ones that are branded with mullard etc.