Best tubes for champ/vibrochamp

I was playing around with my VibroChamp the other day. It was freshly recapped and tubed right before I bought it (which was before I knew much about amps).

I looked at the tubes and replaced the power tube (6V6) because of microphonic noise.

While in there, I noticed the preamp tube and trem tubes are each Fender 12ax7s. I'm sure there is some tone to be gained by swapping the preamp tube for an NOS or newer higher quality tube.

Would you agree that cheap tubes are fine in the trem and rectifier slots?
(BTW, I don't use the tremelo.)

Which 12AX7s do you like for a Champ like this?

And is there any thing special that might make one 12ax7 sound best in one amp and another sound best in a Champ?

Same question with the power tube though I have a few nice ones lying around.

Many thanks!

I was playing around with my VibroChamp the other day. It was freshly recapped and tubed right before I bought it (which was before I knew much about amps).

I looked at the tubes and replaced the power tube (6V6) because of microphonic noise.

While in there, I noticed the preamp tube and trem tubes are each Fender 12ax7s. I'm sure there is some tone to be gained by swapping the preamp tube for an NOS or newer higher quality tube.

Would you agree that cheap tubes are fine in the trem and rectifier slots?
(BTW, I don't use the tremelo.)

Which 12AX7s do you like for a Champ like this?

And is there any thing special that might make one 12ax7 sound best in one amp and another sound best in a Champ?

Same question with the power tube though I have a few nice ones lying around.

Many thanks!



Definitely put in new 12AX7 tubes.

For the 6V6 ElectroHarmonix or JJ/Tesla's are really good sounding to me. As far as preamp tubes I like ElectroHarmonix, but a lot of folks do not. I dislike JJ tubes for 12AX7s, so opinions will vary...

If you have different sounding preamp tubes, use the better sounding one on the end. The other one does not affect tone and only creates the pulse for the trem.

Howdy,

Joe K: I've got a Telefunken 12Ax7 (admittedly expensive NOS) and a Brimar 6V6, also NOS. Love 'em. Visit Misha Kropotkin's KCA NOS tubes site.

Eggman

I've only had EHs and I like them. The JJs didn't fit well with the big Weber speaker, I think.

Thanks to all.

I have and extra ElectroHarmonix 12AX7 that I can try, so I will.

Telefunken, Eggman? Yeah that's top of the line for sure, and I bet it makes some difference. I'd like to spend a little less, something under $30 I suppose. If I tried the Telefunken and liked it, I'm afraid I'd have to buy one (or more) for each of my six amps. Ouch. Either way, I will probably go about upgrading the preamp tubes in my 5E3, PR and DR. While each has good power tubes, I've frankly never paid attention to the other tubes.

Any other thoughts on NOS (or new) that might be notably better than the EH?