[MrRedRaider]

After getting my Laney head (VH100R), I had played it a few times to get familiar with the tone. It sounded great! It came with TAD EL34s in the power section, and TAD, Mesa, and an unlabeled tube in the preamp. This amp has 6 preamp tubes, and the configuration is a bit odd.



Preamp tubes V3 and 4 are for the clean channel, and V1 2 and 5 are for the gain channel. V6 is the phase inverter/"power driver".

So, I have a decent selection of tubes now; 3 JJ ecc83s, 1 JJ ecc803s, 5 Sovtek 12ax7-LPS, 3 Mesa 12ax7a, and 2 TAD 12ax7. I ordered a Tung-Sol along with the 803, but the seller is a bit slow..

Basically I would let it warm for 30 seconds, flip it off standby and start playing for 5-10 minutes. I would then turn it off, switch tubes and repeat. I did this several times, so I will just list the bigger tube swaps. Guitar was a Jackson SLSMG with an Anderson H3 bridge, SD Full shred in the neck (for cleans).

1. V3-4: unlabeled, TAD. V1,2,5: Mesa, TAD, Mesa. V6: Mesa.

This is how the amp came to me. The cleans were a bit dull, didnt quite have the kick it needed. Lead tones were liquid, sounded great although it had a wierd compression to it. I later figured this was due to the TAD. Rhythm tones were a bit plain, not a lot of crunch or punch. Suited for rock or lighter.

2. V3-4: TAD, JJ83. V1-2,5: JJ83, LPS, LPS. V6: 803

Cleans had more definition, almost perfect. Leads/rhythm had way more gain and punch, very crunchy, and more dynamic. A bit dull sounding however, leads didnt have the sound as before. The 803 in v6, I found later, adds a tremendous amount of fatness and punch to the amp.

3. V3-4: 803, TAD. V1-2,5: All LPS. V6: LPS

Cleans sounded a bit more open, more headroom I guess. Not quite as beautiful sounding however, somewhat hard. Lead/rhythm was tightened up, not so much crunch, but more hair on the high end. Felt great, palm muting was perfect, kinda chewy. Did not surprise me with anything by switching v6 to LPS.

4. V3-4: TAD, JJ83. V1-2,5: All Mesa. V6: 803

Clean tubes untouched from here on out. Lead/rhythm turned smoother, not as much clarity or definition as the other tubes. Volume was more balanced. 803 in V6 brought back the punch and fatness.

5. V3-4: TAD, JJ83. V1-2,5: TAD, Mesa, Mesa. V6: 803

The TAD in V1 made the sound interesting. More tame, smoother. Leads more liquid. Rhythm was eh.

6. V3-4: TAD, JJ83. V1-2,5: JJ803, JJ, JJ. V6: Mesa

Tried all JJ this time with the 803 in front. Not as much gain as I expected, but very crunchy and big. Palm mutes very tight and heavy. Too much low end rumble however. If you want in your face, JJ is the way to go. This tube swap confirmed that for me.

7. V3-4: TAD, JJ83. V1-2,5: LPS, JJ, Mesa. V6: 803

Where I currently stand now. I dont know if this is how it will stay, but I got tired at this point... I knew there was something I heard earlier in the palm muting that was no longer happening. This was the Sovtek LPS. I popped it back into V1 and there it was. Refer back to #3. I assumed this would happen, so I kept a JJ in V2 and put a Mesa in V5 for kicks. 803 back into V6. Sounded the best all around, the palm mutes were there, the crunch was there but not overboard, and the leads were still a bit silky.


So, this has been an interesting day. Like I said, I only listed the main swaps, but I did this maybe 15 times over 2.5 hours. It really takes that much for your ears to pick the differences. It was valuable for me, so I thought I would post my findings. I am still surprised over the JJ 803s. I thought it wouldnt make that much difference in V6 over something like V1, but man did it ever. I swapped it between the other tubes maybe 5 times to be sure. Now waiting for the Tung-sol...

[budda]

cool stuff man

i JJ'd my JSX, tried the EHX stock tubes in the pre, thought i liked it.. didnt, put the JJ's back in hehe.

3 cheers for tone.

[Toshiro]

I had ton of pre tubes laying around and ended up with:

V1: Tung Sol
V2: JJ83
V3: Tung Sol
V4: Balanced C9th

Now, my amp is just the dirty side of yours, so these are like your V1-2-5-6.

The Tung Sol and EHx are pretty close in tone, IMO, but the TS is more alive and present. The JJ83 is dark to me, and in V1 was just too much high end loss.

I need to order a JJ803 and maybe one of the GT Mullard re-issues just for some more references. Also want to try a Tung Sol in place of the EHx that's in my Vox modeller.

[MrRedRaider]

Cool, hopefully the tungsol will sound good too. I think the TAD and the 803 are the tubes that stood out the most. I wish I could put the TAD back into the gain circuit, but it just has a tendency to muddy up the lows and loosen the palm mutes.

[Bound]

I know this setup does my EL34 amp the doomhammer

This is thanks to the guidance of The tonemaster LoC

V1: Tung-Sol Gold plated
V2&3 JJ ECC83s you could throw another one in V4 or go for something like another Tung Sol or a Sovtek 12AX7LPWS
and the last I have a balanced EHX 12AX7

I've been at this for a little bit and this is what I like in mine, I only have a two channel so I have to find a nice balance of crunch while not sacrificing a boosted liquidity for leads.

Also buy some SED Winged C El34's, they own.

[blackrobedone]

I recently swapped out the Tung Sol's in my VHT for JJs and the amp sounded darker with more bass and it took away some from the character of the amp. With the Tung Sol's it felt like you weren't playing with an over-abundance of gain but you could hit a pinch harmonic and it would come flying out of the amp, very unexpectedly. That cool quirk is gone with the JJs.
So I'd say the JJs have less presence, and I concur with that Lazy Bastard, Toshiro.

[MrRedRaider]

Toshiro, I definitely recommend getting a Sovtek LPS also. They have a sound of their own.

Actually, if you want one, PM me. I have too many!

[Toshiro]

Gee, maybe I should have one of every current production 12AX7. :Lol: