Tube quandry

[ES347]

I just got my 18 watt lite IIb back from the doctor, and just for experimentations sake, I took the cheapo mesa re-labeled sovteks out of it and tried out some JJs I had sitting around. The JJs sound way better (much more musical and round), but are at about 75% of the output of the sovteks (which was, I remembered, why I took a different set of JJs out the first time). As I'm in a constant arms race for volume with a fender deville in my band, I was hoping one of you had a suggestion for some reasonably priced tubes that will have a similar output to the Sovteks but a more "musical" tone.

By reasonably priced, I mean that I'd like to keep it under $50 bucks for the duet as I run this amp a lot and I push it pretty hard when I'm playing (I tend to run the amp well past 3:00 on the volume knob).

[zaphod_phil]

Sounds like those Sovteks have more gain than your JJs. I wonder why that is. Maybe try contacting the Sarge and see if he can suggest any higher gain EL84s for you.

[floridajack]

es,

i have found that "expensive" nos tubes (i have some '84's out of an old console organ) are "gainer" than many new-stock tubes - and they last forever.

the organ pulls have three years of use - 1-2 rehersals a week and 2-4 shows a month - and are driven pretty hard - vol at 6-8. they may have been the original tubes in the organ, making them 30 years old!

i recently got some nos valvo '84's from sarge for my 36 and they are THERE in tone and output.

i have seen vintage amps that have been gigged for years with the original 30 year old ge's, muls, or rca's in them - still testing 80-90%

my opinion - nos are made better and will outlast recent stuff and will sound better, too.

my advice - throw a few more bucks at a set of nos, and keep the jj's and sovie's as spares - you may never need them.

fj

[nwobhm]

I haven't bought any recently but NOS RFT el84's are usually pretty loud and thick but, Make sure there made in germany, I got some that looked like sovteks but, were labeled RFT. I think these were old 70's reflector made tubes. I think you can find them for around 50.00.

[ES347]

I give up trying to be cheap...Sarge is hooking me up. Only debate now is between Mullards, Amperex's and RCA 7189s. Seems like with tubes you get what you pay for...

[nwobhm]

I give up trying to be cheap...Sarge is hooking me up. Only debate now is between Mullards, Amperex's and RCA 7189s. Seems like with tubes you get what you pay for...

tuff choice!

[Buschman]

Your JJs might be worn out or bad. The ones I've used have been as loud as any others. I recently got a set of TAD & have been happy with them. The are pretty warm sounding however. They will not be as bright as the sovteks. It's hard not to use the old stuff when you can afford it.