nitro tube updates

[windsen]

So lately I have been wanting to try some tube experimenting with my Nitro, mainly taking steps to see how I can tweak the low end shape of the amp (it's a tight low end but it does have this "roundness" to it that sometimes can create a "boominess" depending on how you dial in the amp) as well as to see if I could bring in a bit more upper mids to give the amp a bit better cut. Just as a point of reference I was running the amp with JJ KT77s and JJ ECC83s (high gains in V2-3).

I decided to try out the SED EL34s again b/c I absolutely love them in my Quickrod. Compared to the KT77s, I've found the el34s so have a more musical mid-range that I love. I originally settled on the KT77s in the Nitro b/c they had a tighter and overall more response feel. Well I realzed that the original EL34 set I had tried in my Nitro when I first got it was rated very low (29mA printed on the box), which when biased up properly translates to a softer attack and a rounder low end. I did compare this 29mA rated set to the 42mA rated set in my QR and yea...the higher rated set had a much tighter response, more dynamic sound to it. So I decided to get a new set of higher rated SEDs for the Nitro...and while I was at it I ordered some Shuguang 9th generation 12ax7s after several people had recommended these to me.



Okay enough history...here's the fun stuff:

I popped in the 9th gens first just so see how they sound, planning on messing with power tubes next. WOW!!!!! I really had no idea how much preamp tubes can affect the amp. I instantly noticed that with the 9th gens, the whole "round' low end thing was instantly remedied. Compared to the JJ's, the 9th gens are a bit tighter in the low end. No more roundess. They are also very, very clear sounding. GREAT articulation. I went back and forth comparing the two and the JJ's just sounded muddy and dull. The other great plus was that the 9th gen also bring in this really nice upper mid "bite". Just what I was looking to get by trying out the EL34s over the KT77s. A good way I can describe it is that the new pres seem to bring the sound of the amp "forward" a bit more. Everything is clearer, more dynamic, tighter. And I'm getting closer to that "musical" mid-range that I was missing before. Low end seems very balanced too.

So at this point I'm really satisfied with the sounds coming from the amp. I'm not in as much of a hurry to mess with the EL34s now but I am still planning on experimenting with them later tonight or this weekend.

But all in all I am very pleased with the Shuguangs. I highly recommend you Nitro owners to give them a shot. Heck, try them in any amp. I'm going to be ordering more shortly for my other amps.

Stay tuned for more updates

[LooseCannon]

Hey Windsen so are you gonna try those shuguangs with your QR as well?

[snappinnecks]

Shuguang..............nuff said. You should try some EL34's next. They help with clarity also.
\m/ (- -) \m/ Chinese Rock! Heh Heh.

[magh8]

hey wind,did the new pre's help with the hum????If I can get rid of that I think I am str8...

[magh8]

I think I have been inspired to go to my space and play for a bit besides the laptop is about to die...

[windsen]

loosecannon, i'll probably try some in my QR, but i really like the QR as it is right now. i don't feel that it needs any more of that bite.

mark, the hum is still there. it's just a part of the amp.


minor update: i've got the new SED EL34s in the nitro right now and am liking them a lot. will post more of a review over the weekend.

[magh8]

do you know what sucks when you grab your fav guitar and you find out that the wiring is fukt.so I'll be either putting in a set of emg sa/sa/89 I bought over 3 months ago to put in my model 6.go figure at least I know it will get done now...lol

[windsen]

alright, some more updates:

I got a quad of Ruby EL34B-STRs in today. Over the weekend I had been running the Nitro with some SED EL34s. After messing with the new tubes today here are my findings:

KT77s: like i was saying before, great low end tightness and percussiveness. very thick lows and low mids. this combined with the somewhat hollow sounding upper mids can make the nitro come off as boomy. this was the main reason why i started experimenting with el34s again...to free up some of that congestion in the low/low mids and bring back some of complexity in the mids.

SEDs: first off, every set of SEDs I've ever biased up have all matched up extremely well and they don't drift after a many hours of playing. VERY consistent tubes. tonally, they have a lot of great upper mids and highs. aggressive but very refined el34 grind. the low end is pretty good. not boomy at all. compared to the KT77s and Rubys, the SEDs do have a bit of a spongier low end. i found myself liking the voicing of the nitro more with the SEDs thanks the KT77s b/c of the really rich mids the tubes offered, which filled in the nitro's frequencies nicely. but at the same time i was still missing the super percussive bottom end of the kt77s.

Rubys: WINNER! these tubes seem to take the best attributes of your traditional EL34 (nice upper mids, more musical sounding) and KT77 (great low end response) and roll them into one package. i immediately noticed the really strong low end. very solid, tight, percussive much like the kt77s, the difference being there isn't as much low mids coming through so overall the low frequencies are much more controlled. no boominess at all. overall the tubes seem very well balanced. no frequency spikes anywhere. they do have a great el34 vibe in terms of the nice mids. everything is very clear, very articulate.

i do have some tung-sol el34b's coming in at the end of the week. these are what splawn has been shipping nitros with lately. i'm not sure how they compare to the ruby's but when i get a chance i'll post another tube report.

so as of now the Rubys are staying in the Nitro. they 9th gens are still in the preamp section as well. i'm really liking how the amp is playing and sounding right now. big thumbs up for these chinese tubes

[windsen]

ok, another update:

Got some Tung-Sol EL34B's over the weekend to try out in the Nitro. Prior to this I was starting to settle on the Ruby's being my favorite tube in the Nitro but I think the Tung-Sols may have outdone the Rubys.

The Tung-Sols have a great tight low end much like the Ruby's but the mid-range seems to be even more dynamic and musical than the Ruby's. There's a wonderfully nice complexity going on in the midrange that I really, really love. The Ruby's are a bit flatter in comparison. I still like the Ruby's but the Tung-Sols are definately big winners so far.

I haven't had a whole lot of time to mess with the amps and such but so far the Tung-Sols are great and are what is in the amp for now. Splawn may have been on to something when they started shipping their Nitros with these tubes.

After this week I'll have more time to really compare stuff so I'll try to post more as time permits. Stay tuned.

[hollywood]

Good info Windsen. Very useful posts on the tubes bud. Thanks.

[LooseCannon]

Windsen are you gonna try the news tubes with your QR?

[snappinnecks]

Good info bro. I might try out the Tung Sols when I need to replace the Shugs. For now I'm going to stick with the all Chinese Nitro or could I call it Shug Nite get it Shug Nite ummm okay its early heh heh.

[hollywood]

Hey does anyone have any 1st hand experience with the Nitro and kt-88's ? I was talking to Josh at Splawn friday morning/mid-day about a Nitro 1/2 stack with possibly kt-88's. So I was hoping I could get 411 on this set up. Also, Windsen I will go back over all your clips and posts on Speakers. I think my best bet as far as speaker advice is to get Mr. Windsen to talk back to me on these. He seems to get great results with the Nitro and Splawn speakers. I would appreciate any input from Nitro owners on this . THANKS GUYS!

[LooseCannon]

Wow a Nitro with kt88's would be the most crushing splawn ever!

[bwgintegra]

I got my Nitro about a month ago with kt-77s. When first started played it I thought it sounded great.Then I a-b it with my quickrod that use to be Tony Rombola's. This was his main head he used on tour and this amp rips. I have played about 7 different quickrods and this is the best sounding. I have mullard el34 with jj preamps with high gain in the v2-v3 positions. Anyways I was disapointed with the nitro. After having it a week a power tube blew. I contacted Scott and he let me swap the tubes for some Tungsol el34b's. I tell you what a huge difference. Next I want to change the preamp tubes. When you change are you getting a balanced tube for v-4? I have two splawn 4x12 cabs.
4 big blocks and manowar/govner X. What are do you guys think is the best. It is unbelievable what tubes can do. I feel that some of the people that are buying and selling the nitro so fast are not giving it a chance. I will probably buy some tubes from Dougs for the preamp and see what happens.