My Twin is in the shop....New tubes

[RumorsOFsurF]

I noticed after a gig a few weeks ago that one of the output tubes in my SF Twin was jiggling in it's base.  Not the socket, but the glass part of the tube was loose on its base. 

So I took it in to have the whole thing checked out.  He'll probably replace the tubes.  I think I want JJs.  Anyone have experience with them?  I'm too cheap to buy NOS, plus I don't think they are worth the extra $$$.

I'm having him look at the speakers.  There is a small tear in one of the cones.  I'll probably buy some Jensens eventually, and save the Oxfords away in a closet.

Anyway,  I miss my amp already!    I'll have to use my HRD this weekend again.

[zhivago]

I have a pair of JJs in my Tremolux and they sound great....

I too am too cheap for NOS tubes...plus, since I don't know how much better NOS tube would be, I don't get GAS for them....kinda like a"what I do not know cannot make me get GAS" situation

[RumorsOFsurF]

Exactly!  I'd rather spend the extra dough on guitar stuff! 

[luau]

I think I'm going to try JJs in my TRII sometime soon. The Tung-Sol reissues I have in my Vibrochamp are a little too fat sounding for me. They sound absolutely amazing with my JMs (even my MIJ pickups sound decent) but are a little  much for my P90-equipped guitars. I'll be interested to hear how you like the JJs.

As for speakers, do look into the stuff Weber is offering. I got a 12F125 recently to run the Vibrochamp through. It sounds really really good and isn't even broken in yet. I'm seriously considering pulling the Celestion V30s out of my TRII, black facing the clean channel, and trying a pair of Webers in it (haven't decided which model(s) yet) too.

[Jahn]

i had the stock chinese groove tubes in my reissue twin 'verb, ugh, horrible.  microphonic too.  luckily i have a tube tester so I pulled them all out and what do you know, they were headed south anyhow.  just a little googling spotted NOS USA tubes from the 60's that are NOT called "GE" or "RCA" and bingo, found plenty on ebay for 6 bucks a pop max.  put them in and man a WORLD of difference.  did the same for my recently retubed epi (they were retubed with JJs, russian tubes) and with the no-name USA NOS tubes goodbye spitty sound, hello clean lush tones with responsive breakup! 

it's worth it fellas.  and there are bargains to be had.

[RumorsOFsurF]

i had the stock chinese groove tubes in my reissue twin 'verb, ugh, horrible.  microphonic too.  luckily i have a tube tester so I pulled them all out and what do you know, they were headed south anyhow.  just a little googling spotted NOS USA tubes from the 60's that are NOT called "GE" or "RCA" and bingo, found plenty on ebay for 6 bucks a pop max.  put them in and man a WORLD of difference.  did the same for my recently retubed epi (they were retubed with JJs, russian tubes) and with the no-name USA NOS tubes goodbye spitty sound, hello clean lush tones with responsive breakup! 

it's worth it fellas.  and there are bargains to be had.

Breakup from a Twin?  Are you sure those tubes were that good?  Twins don't really break up until about 9....

[RumorsOFsurF]

I thought the JJ 6L6's were ok, I much prefer the new TAD or Tungsol offerings. To my ears I really don't hear much difference between my beloved blackplate RCA 6L6GC's compared to the new TAD's. If you are getting your amp serviced, it won't hurt to have the sockets cleaned and retensioned. Weber speakers are first rate. I absolutely love the Eminence Cannabis Rex speaker in my DRRI.

He's going through the whole amp, checking caps, tube sockets, etc.

[Jahn]

i had the stock chinese groove tubes in my reissue twin 'verb, ugh, horrible.  microphonic too.  luckily i have a tube tester so I pulled them all out and what do you know, they were headed south anyhow.  just a little googling spotted NOS USA tubes from the 60's that are NOT called "GE" or "RCA" and bingo, found plenty on ebay for 6 bucks a pop max.  put them in and man a WORLD of difference.  did the same for my recently retubed epi (they were retubed with JJs, russian tubes) and with the no-name USA NOS tubes goodbye spitty sound, hello clean lush tones with responsive breakup! 

it's worth it fellas.  and there are bargains to be had.

Breakup from a Twin?  Are you sure those tubes were that good?  Twins don't really break up until about 9....

ah the first part i was talking about my twin, obviously no breakup there.  the retubed epi amp in the last part of my post tho is a tiny lil combo amp and will definitely OD when pushed hard enough.  both amps benefit from the NOS treatment.

[RumorsOFsurF]

Okay, gotcha. 

I've heard bad things about Groove Tubes, too.  I've got them in my Hot Rod Deluxe, and they sound good, but I know others have had problems.

[Mighty Tom]

I don't know if this will help you or not, but I've been very satisfied with the after market Sovtek tubes in my Peavey head. Parts and installation were both very affordable.