JJ vs Sovtek
- Thread starter TeleJedi
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Billm
RIP
The JJ EL84s are probably your best choice among output tubes. I prefer the sound of the Sovtek 12AX7s to the JJs. The Tung-Sol reissue 12AX7s are OK, but darker, rounder sounding.
Thanks man, you know any websites that sell JJs for cheap?
I have made the switch from Sovtek to JJ and I've really enjoyed the change. I think I got mine at www.tubedepot.com, but www.thetubestore.com is good too. Enjoy!
Commodore 64
Friend of Leo's
Thanks!
BajaDerek
Tele-Meister
I used to take people's advice on tubes and it even led me to almost getting rid of my Rivera because I thought it was doomed. Then I started doing some research. I had been running ALL JJ's. BIG mistake my amp always sounded like there was a thick moving blanket over the top of it. I now am running JJ's in the power section and Sovtek's in the preamp. 12ax7wa's. The Blues Jr. I believe came with 12ax7wa's from the factory. That's what I would stick with. These mass produced amps were designed to run their best with cheap available tubes. Your best bet would be to find what it came with stock and find the best graded version of those tube sets. this of course is strictly MHO 
I hope you find something that works for you!!
I hope you find something that works for you!!I used to take people's advice on tubes and it even led me to almost getting rid of my Rivera because I thought it was doomed. Then I started doing some research. I had been running ALL JJ's. BIG mistake my amp always sounded like there was a thick moving blanket over the top of it. I now am running JJ's in the power section and Sovtek's in the preamp. 12ax7wa's. The Blues Jr. I believe came with 12ax7wa's from the factory. That's what I would stick with. These mass produced amps were designed to run their best with cheap available tubes. Your best bet would be to find what it came with stock and find the best graded version of those tube sets. this of course is strictly MHO
Thanks for the advice.
Years ago, I changes my stock blues junior tubes with all sovteks and it sounded slightly better. Let me check what tubes does AC4 have then I'll find a higher graded version. Can you give me an example of a best graded version of tube sets?
ReIgnition
Tele-Meister
another vote for JJ's here
Billm
RIP
Just to keep things clear and factual:
1. The only things that affect the electronic design of the amp are the resistors and capacitors that feed voltages and signals into and out of the tube stages. The values Fender uses now are no different than they used 40 years ago. There is no adjustment for the quality of the tubes, only for the desired tone of the amp.
2. Tubes may be tested by the vendor for noise, hum and/or filament rattle, but that's pretty much on a pass/fail basis. You can't buy tubes in different quality grades. Gold-plated pins and matched triode sections are just another way to waste money and don't guarantee that the tube will sound better or last longer in your amp.
therecordfable
Banned
I recently put a set of JJ EL84s in my V1 Mazerati and they are quite nice. The Tube compliment is as follows...4xjjEL84s, 1xSovtek 5751, 1xJan Phillips 5751, 1x Sovtek 5AR4.
My amp has never sounded better.
My amp has never sounded better.
Axis29
Poster Extraordinaire
I am a big fan of JJ power tubes (both 6v6 and 6l6 are what I have now) when I can't get something good in an old tube (I love the RCA blackplates in my Deluxe Reverb).
When it comes to preamp tubes it's a whole 'nuther ballgame. I have a mix of RCA, GE JJ and Telefunken in the preamps of my my amps. I've played swapping games for hours and found ones that I thought were the best from what I had and could afford. Of course, knowing the full time, that nobody else but me gave a wooden nickle about the difference in tone between the 50 year old RCA and the horrible brand new Groovetube I just pulled. LOL
When it comes to preamp tubes it's a whole 'nuther ballgame. I have a mix of RCA, GE JJ and Telefunken in the preamps of my my amps. I've played swapping games for hours and found ones that I thought were the best from what I had and could afford. Of course, knowing the full time, that nobody else but me gave a wooden nickle about the difference in tone between the 50 year old RCA and the horrible brand new Groovetube I just pulled. LOL
schenkadere
Poster Extraordinaire
By the time I play it, yank it, install another, play it, and so on...I can't tell the difference...I've never heard anything that dramatic...either that, or my feeble mind can't retain the subtle nuances for more than a few minutes.
FenderGuy53
Poster Extraordinaire
In EL84-powered amps, I use JJ output tubes and EH preamp tubes.
In 6L6-powered amps, I use a full complement of JJ tubes.
+1 Tube Depot
They use a "Bias Point System" for output tube grading and have excellent pricing and fast shipping.
In 6L6-powered amps, I use a full complement of JJ tubes.
+1 Tube Depot
They use a "Bias Point System" for output tube grading and have excellent pricing and fast shipping.
Are they the original tubes in your Deluxe? I have a 66 Bandmaster with the original RCA tubes and I still love the sound. I want to get it serviced but
I'm not sure I want to change the tubes. I really like the sound.
TG
Doctor of Teleocity
The last few sets of JJ power tubes I got for my BJ seemed to degrade or something fairly quickly. The amp seemed to get progressively more dark and lifeless.
I put the old stock Sovteks back in and it was my old amp again.
I put the old stock Sovteks back in and it was my old amp again.
Ive never had any luck with the new JJs. Could be wrong, arn't they russian tubes also? I dont know who makes them for them.Ive tried them in different amps. Ive used NOS tubes and new tubes in the same amp. I would not be against useing them if I liked them for a certain spot. Same for the sovteks.I think its up to the individual what they like. Alot of amp manufacturers use JJs tubes. Some in all of the amp,and some for different spots. Hell give them a try,try the sovteks too. Why not? Ive been playing over 30 years and what ive found for myself,Dare I say,there are some new tubes that are just as good as some NOS. Alot less money too. There is alot of snake oil salesman out there. Mark who makes victoria amp used to put in nos tubes. He found that he could not get nos tubes in the quanities like he used too. If he did there were enough of them were bad that it was not worth it.I think he has good ears and his amps sound good. There are some good 12ax7s comming out of China. They are labled as groove tubes. My 5112 has this for its preamp. The 6v6 is tung-sol ri. Rectifier is sovtek. Im on a rant here sorry. Use your ears.
jefrs
Doctor of Teleocity
The Sovtek and Tung-Sol are Russian, possibly from the same Reflector factory at Saratov, there are several Russian factories. New Sensor (Svetlana) market the Sovtek/Electro-Harmonix (EH), Tung-Sol, Svetlana (not =C=, that's SED from St.Petersburg), Genelex (Marconi-Osram) and Mullard names, these names are not owned by the factories. Watford spake: "These new Russian made Tung-sol branded 12ax7 are from the Sovtek company" same thing? http://www.watfordvalves.com/product_detail.asp?id=1382 Reflector does make decent Mullard ECC83 clones but they get marketed under several different names because only New Sensor owns the Mullard name.
The JJ are no longer from the Czech Tesla factory at Roznov, that has closed. JJ now manufacture in Slovenia at Cadca but still own the Tesla name. JJ do make decent clones of the low-noise Telefunken ECC803S (the JJ ECC83S, not the JJ ECC803S).
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/amp-central-station/224940-best-12ax7-tubes.html
Best EL84?
I've still got genuine Blackburn Mullard, but the clones from Reflector (mainly Sovtek/EH and new "Mullard") are almost as good. EH are marketed as a posh version of the Sovtek.
IMO it's only the Blackburn Mullard ECC83 that is utterly superior to the rest, not their EL84.
I basically agree with BillM above, with one fundamental exception: whilst it is the circuit that determines the fundamental sound of the amp, not all valves do sound alike. Having said that, I will not waste money buying old NOS, there are now plenty of good new ones to play with.
The JJ are no longer from the Czech Tesla factory at Roznov, that has closed. JJ now manufacture in Slovenia at Cadca but still own the Tesla name. JJ do make decent clones of the low-noise Telefunken ECC803S (the JJ ECC83S, not the JJ ECC803S).
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/amp-central-station/224940-best-12ax7-tubes.html
Best EL84?
I've still got genuine Blackburn Mullard, but the clones from Reflector (mainly Sovtek/EH and new "Mullard") are almost as good. EH are marketed as a posh version of the Sovtek.
IMO it's only the Blackburn Mullard ECC83 that is utterly superior to the rest, not their EL84.
I basically agree with BillM above, with one fundamental exception: whilst it is the circuit that determines the fundamental sound of the amp, not all valves do sound alike. Having said that, I will not waste money buying old NOS, there are now plenty of good new ones to play with.
^^^I just put in my first pair of JJ EL-84's into my Blues Jr. for the first time yesterday, and man these tubes just woke this amp up (I have been using EHX which were just fine too, but getting a little "flat" plus some volume loss, they have been in there for almost 2 years and a lot of cranked gigs...), using EHX 12AX7's for years now- my little amp sounds strong again! (I run it pretty clean) Can't really say that the JJ's sound better that the EHX's, its just nice to put a a fresh set in there and know I can get affordable good sounding tubes either way.
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