Finally have my Splawn but an issue

[1960lespaul]

Been wanting a Nitro for a good while now. I have had quite a few amps as I like to try different ones out. Traded my Fractal Axe FX Standard for the Nitro with KT88 and just got it today. Not what I was hoping for. Tone ok but the amps seems high endy so I have to cut it alot. But the biggest issue is the muddyness. Chord wise it is ok but gets loose when I chug. I did a little research and it seems I need to replace all of the tubes. Most seem to recommend the Sinos that Scott carries. Does everything I have said seem to be spot on? 220 for tubes but it is what it is. I have an email the the previous owner to see how old the tubes were.

[stompboxfreak1972]

Dont like sinos. Try Rubys in there. Made a world of difference in mine.

[1960lespaul]

Thats the other tube I have been hearing. I will give them a try. Since you all are the experts what preamp tube would you suggest Valvequeen has Rubys, Mullards, JJs, Tung Sol and Sovtek. And what about a 12ax7 vs 12at7 vs 12au7. Would a complete matched set of Ruby 12ax7s be the way to go. I play mostly classic to hard rock and I like the gain setting between around 10 and 11 and I want the bottom end to stay tight. Right now the amp is a little muddy and BRIGHT compared to my other amps. I have to dump alot of highend.

[1960lespaul]

Based on some research I am getting that the Rubys are a good option for the power tubes and that JJ 12AX7s are a good choice for the preamp tubes. Or is there a better option in mixing preamp tubes based on what socket/valve placement they go in. Like would a Mullard be better in V1 and JJ in the rest or any other combo.

[rocknrolla]

I have a mix of JJ and Tung Sol's in my Nitro with JJ EL34L power tubes. The JJ 12AX7's will darken it up some. What are your settings? For such a simple amp layout this is a pretty hard amp to get to know. And this is coming from a guy that played a Mesa Mark IV for 2 years.
If you need tight low end you almost need to run the resonance off and the bass below 11:00. I dime the mids and run my treble at 3:00 with the presence around 1:00.
It's a little bright but with my bassist, drums, and second guitar I cut very well.

[1960lespaul]

Well I actually saw your setting on another post and I tried them but as you have said its a little bright. The JJs in all 4 slots may be the way to go if it takes some of the brightness away. I just got it yesterday and still playing around with the settings but I might try to do a variation of your settings One thing I hate is the pres knob on every amp. way too sizzle for me. But I am running the res at 10 oclock, pres off, low at 11, mid 11, high 9 and gain was between 9 and 11.

[1960lespaul]

I really hope it is tubes but the previous owner said the tubes were new when he got it in trade. I am trying to find out what kind and if all of the tubes were replaced or just power tubes. I am also trying to see how much wear he put on them. No too uncommon to find a band new tube. He thought the head was a 2010. Again I hope I can figure this out. I traded a really nice Fractal Axe FX Standard for this and that Standard sounded much better than this. As does my 5150II that I wish I still had.

[speedemon]

hi,

what speaker are you running? this has much more effect on tone than tubes. Some Celestions will do this, and new speakers tend to be trebly, but I didn't notice it with my splawn speakers when I got them.

good luck!

[1960lespaul]

I have a standard Marshall cab with GT75s and another Carvin Cab with the 2 tops being Eminence Wizards and the bottoms are Celestion 70th anniversarys.

[rocknrolla]

Dec 1, 2011 12:54:59 GMT -5 1960lespaul said:

Well I actually saw your setting on another post and I tried them but as you have said its a little bright. The JJs in all 4 slots may be the way to go if it takes some of the brightness away. I just got it yesterday and still playing around with the settings but I might try to do a variation of your settings One thing I hate is the pres knob on every amp. way too sizzle for me. But I am running the res at 10 oclock, pres off, low at 11, mid 11, high 9 and gain was between 9 and 11.

I sold an Axe-Fx standard for my Nitro too! ;D
I had the KT88's in mine at first too but modded it to take EL34's. That made the amp way less "scooped" sounding and warmed it up as well. (That and EL34's are half the price) Turn your mids up a bit. That adds fullness and allows higher bass settings without getting flubby. New power tubes may be the way to go. My amp was shrill and brittle sounding with the old tubes in it. Now it sounds very similar to the Das Metal amp from the Axe-Fx.

[rocknrolla]

Dec 1, 2011 13:27:00 GMT -5 1960lespaul said:

I have a standard Marshall cab with GT75s and another Carvin Cab with the 2 tops being Eminence Wizards and the bottoms are Celestion 70th anniversarys.

The GT75's and Wizards aren't a great match for this amp. A warmer speaker will make a HUGE difference also.

[speedemon]

Are you using drop/down tuning or 7/8 strings? The G12T is more trebly than most speakers.

[1960lespaul]

I am using a combo of A Peavey Wolfgang, Strats and Les Pauls in E-Flat. It really would suck if I had to replace speakers/cab. That would make this the most finiky amp I have ever owned. I have messed with the mids alot. 11 is where it was last. None of it I really like. now down low at bedroom levels it sounds pretty damn good. Turn it up and all hell goes loose lol.

[1960lespaul]

Dec 1, 2011 13:43:12 GMT -5 rocknrolla said:

Dec 1, 2011 13:27:00 GMT -5 1960lespaul said:

I have a standard Marshall cab with GT75s and another Carvin Cab with the 2 tops being Eminence Wizards and the bottoms are Celestion 70th anniversarys.

The GT75's and Wizards aren't a great match for this amp. A warmer speaker will make a HUGE difference also.

What would you suggest?

[1960lespaul]

Would EL34s make this amp more like a QR? Maybe I just don't like the KT88s.