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AC30 tubes

Discussion in 'Glowing Bottle Tube Amp Forum' started by kurtmanifest1, Dec 4, 2020.

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  1. Dec 4, 2020 #1
    kurtmanifest1

    kurtmanifest1 Tele-Meister

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    Hello, I'm looking to replace the stock tubes in my ac30c2x.
    I like the sound of the chinese tubes actually (but they started to rattle after several years)
    What would be the closest sounding ones? Specially in the V1 position.
    Electro harmonix maybe? JJ?
    I like the tone of my amp as it is

    Thanks in advance
     
    Last edited: Dec 4, 2020
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  2. Dec 4, 2020 #2
    3-Chord-Genius

    3-Chord-Genius Poster Extraordinaire

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    People seem to love JJ in the power section, and Tung Sol in the preamps.
     
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  3. Dec 4, 2020 #3
    kurtmanifest1

    kurtmanifest1 Tele-Meister

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    I know, thanks.
    But they also dislike the stock ones.
     
  4. Dec 4, 2020 #4
    3-Chord-Genius

    3-Chord-Genius Poster Extraordinaire

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    I had stock tubes in my Vox AC4C1-12, and replaced them with Tung Sol and noticed no difference... so that might be what you want.
     
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  5. Dec 4, 2020 #5
    kurtmanifest1

    kurtmanifest1 Tele-Meister

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    I will look into them, thanks
     
  6. Dec 4, 2020 #6
    CV Jee Beez

    CV Jee Beez Tele-Holic

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    1. JJ EL84
    2. Mullard reissue

    Just my experience. FWIW, I owned a modern hardwired AC30 and an original '64 JMI copper panel. JJ's have been great in all my EL84 amps tone wise.

    Best of luck
     
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  7. Dec 4, 2020 #7
    kurtmanifest1

    kurtmanifest1 Tele-Meister

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    Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'll throw JJ's in the power section.
     
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  8. Dec 4, 2020 #8
    kurtmanifest1

    kurtmanifest1 Tele-Meister

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    Electro harmonix vs stock tubes anyone??
     
  9. Dec 4, 2020 #9
    Squawker

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    6P14P-Ev for the power tubes, or else JJ EL84s.

    Tung-Sol reissues are nice for the pre-amp - JJ ECC83S are a bit dark for the Vox sound, but the Tung-Sols have the chime.
     
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  10. Dec 4, 2020 #10
    Dacious

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    JJ preamps are the ones many people don't think highly of in some amps. Mesas love them, they can also work in some Marshalls.

    JJ power tubes tend to be rugged and fair tone for the dough. Sov EL84M are tough and fuller sounding - not the sparkliest/jangliest in Vox amps. Tough and punchy in Marshall 18/20 Watters.
     
  11. Dec 4, 2020 #11
    Les H

    Les H Tele-Holic

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    Are you talking about the preamp tubes?

    If so why not get another set of Chinese tubes if you liked them?

    I kind of like the Chinese preamp tubes myself.
     
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  12. Dec 4, 2020 #12
    VintageSG

    VintageSG Friend of Leo's Ad Free Member

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    The stock valves will probably be Shuguang, maybe branded something else. The Ruby 12AX7AC5HG would be a good swap.
    For the EL84, a quad of 6p14p-EV will withstand anything a Vox can throw at them better than just about anything else on the market. Failing that, JJ or Sovtek.
     
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  13. Dec 4, 2020 #13
    kurtmanifest1

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    Yes the pre amp
     
  14. Dec 4, 2020 #14
    kurtmanifest1

    kurtmanifest1 Tele-Meister

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    I thought about Ruby but they seem to be harder to find somehow
     
  15. Dec 4, 2020 #15
    kurtmanifest1

    kurtmanifest1 Tele-Meister

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    The regular 12ax7 new production Tung-Sol (not gold pins)???
     
  16. Dec 4, 2020 #16
    Squawker

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    In my opinion you'll be fine with the regular ones. You might prefer one with matched halves for the phase inverter, but otherwise it doesn't matter. And in days of yore nobody matched tubes anyway.
     
  17. Dec 4, 2020 #17
    DavidP

    DavidP Friend of Leo's

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    +1000 on that!!
     
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  18. Dec 4, 2020 #18
    kurtmanifest1

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    I'm green on the subject....what difference does it make if the v3 is balanced?
     
  19. Dec 4, 2020 #19
    gusfinley

    gusfinley Tele-Afflicted

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    The idea is that each side of the push pull power section will be the same if the phase inverter tube (V3) has matched triodes ( each triode has the same gain).

    The reality is that you would also need to have the capacitors,resistors and capacitors of the power stage and the output transformer windings all equal as well - and that isn't happening! A little imbalance can be a good thing sometimes.
     
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  20. Dec 5, 2020 #20
    Lowerleftcoast

    Lowerleftcoast Friend of Leo's

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    The regular TS sound good.
    In several amps, I like the EH just a little better but the EH have had issues with being microphonic right out of the box or soon there after. I had one die quickly... infant mortality.
    Knowing that, I like the sound and I still buy EH and roll them in to see if it is right for an amp.
    JJ 12ax7 has more of a bite that might work better with high gain amps. I do not think you would like them in an AC30. OMMV.
     
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