Preamp Tubes

[Rudy]

Hey guys, its been years since I've posted anything on here but I'm looking for some opinions and recommendations. I have a 2012 Quick Rod and just put in a new set of preamp tubes. I went with all JJ ECC83S. I like what they did for the clean sound, gave it a little more warmth. For the overdrive channel they sound good but not quite what I'm after. They really smoothed it out and took some of grit away from it. And I mean the kind of grit that I like. The highs, mids and lows all seem to be smoother and warmer but not in a muddy kind of way. They just don't seem to have the bite of the stock tubes. I like the smoothness of them but what I would like is half of the smoothness of the JJ's with the bite the stock preamp tubes had, if that makes any sense. As for a starting point or reference for what kind of sound I'm going for, yeah, I'm a huge VH fan. I'm not trying to cop his tone but that would be a good place to start I guess. So I'm looking for any recommendations on individual tubes I may want to try in certain locations.

[cvogue]

Gtrjunior has done some tube swapping, check out his post in the "Quickrod gigged" thread.

[Rudy]

I did read through that. Only thing is there is no description of what kind of sound he was going for and we all know the Quick Rod can cover a lot of ground. Unless that combination of tubes is good for all types of tones, I'm not sure. I did put one of the stock preamp tubes back in V2 and that seemed to get me in the direction I want to go.

[gtrjunior]

Hey Rudy!
Here’s my suggestion.
We know V1 is the clean channel’s 2nd gain stage.
V2 is the first gain stage for both clean and OD.
In most amps V1 is the first gain stage for OD...not here though. So I’m thinking that in your case you might want to put the stock tube back in V3. Since both triodes of V3 are dedicated to the OD side you may find that you get more of the grit you are looking for. Another choice might be a Tung Sol in V3. It a bright tube. Too bright for me but maybe perfect for you.
In my case I was trying to get a smooth compressed tone and the JJ’s seem to do that for me. I’m pretty sure it’s not what you’re looking for.
But the Chinese Tube in V3 and a JJ in V2 might give you the best of both worlds...
Let me know how you make out.

[Rudy]

Thanks for the reply gtrjunior! I actually tried one of the stock tubes in V2 first, knowing it was going to affect the clean channel some. The clean channel got a little brighter but still warmer than it was originally and still very usable for me. The overdrive channel was definitely headed in the direction I want. Then I tried a stock tube in V3 with JJ's in the rest and while it still seemed to be headed towards the sound I am looking for I seemed to get more of a reaction with a stock tube in V2. I'm going to do some more switching back and forth between this combination and do more listening before I make a final call on that. I did have my mind made up to pick up a few Chinese tubes and see what that gets me. Thanks for the suggestions!

[tjdjr1]

To add a bit of the bite back into it I would try the Tungsol in V2 or V3. I have rolled a handful through my QR and the tungsol was pretty good in V2 and 3. I had 2 old RCA tubes that I wound up putting in those positions, but would not hesitate to run the Tongsol. The Mullard (RI) was a bit micrphonic in V2 so I took it out and returned it for another. I have good luck with the mullard and tungsol combo in my 79 2203. I have asovtek lps in the phase interter in V4 and in V1 a JJ like yours

[Rudy]

Thanks tjdjr1! Going to order a couple Tungsols and a couple Chinese tubes today.