Pre-amp tube preference for Ampeg hybrid?

Time to replace the 12 ax7's in the front end of my SVT III. Never have in the 12 years I've owned it....I know my preference in (NOS usually) pre's for guitar amps but don't want to spend the bucks for high end NOS for this bass amp. Any brands you guys prefer for this application? JJ's, Svets,?

B

I've got the same amp that you have, new in '92 (?). I think I put some Sovtek tubes it it back when I got it & like you, I haven't fooled with it since. Let me know what you end up with as I'm sure mine will be needing tubes sometime soon. It's been a great amp & still going strong.

How many pre tubes does it have?
can't be more than 2 0r 3....no point saving money there, go for the best you can buy.

I don't have an Ampeg, but for a less expensive tube I'm sure fond of the Electro-Harmonix 12AX7s I have in my Mesa Bass 400+.

I'm not an Ampeg guy either but I have a Bellari mic pre that is 12AX7 driven and also an Alembic F2B in those two

A Mesa 12AX7 sounds a little scooped.

JJ ECC 303? 383 ? whatever the 12AX7 equivalent is has less sparkle and correspondingly fatter mids.

A NOS Chinese 12AX7 from Lord Valve is my current favorite. It has relatively little sparkle and is very fat sounding. Really tight low's and low mid's.

NOS JAN Phillips seemed really ordinary. Maybe that's 'flat' or with no really distinguishing characteristics. That might be considered a good thing. I've decided I like a little color with my bass gear.

To quote Alvis "my world is round"

Now or the bad news ... I've also tried a couple of other devices over time and found that the tube swap was virtually undetectable... not sure where your Ampeg falls on the scale.