|
|
Post by LooseCannon on May 29, 2008 22:08:10 GMT -5
Maybe we should suggest Scott to make Nitros stock with EL34b's?
|
|
|
|
Post by snappinnecks on May 30, 2008 7:25:09 GMT -5
I think he is shipping them with the Tung Sol EL34's now. I know there has been issues with the KT77s. One of mine almost ignited, but I caught it in time. I wasn't a huge fan of my Nitro when I got it home, so I did some experimenting and found what I think is the perfect preamp tube for it 8th or 9th generation Shuguang 12AX7. I liked it much better with the preamp tubes changed (one of my JJ's started whistling so I had to change it anyway). Then one of the KT77s went out, so I put in some Russian EL34 STRs I had laying around. It made it sound even better, but not ideal (to me). I ordered some Shuguang EL34Bs Biased them at 32MA and wah lah. Crushing, tight, articulate, woody, and more headroom. Word of caution though the Nitro does not like tubes with early break up. I'm thinking most Nitro users play metal or hard rock, so early breakup is not good. A tube in the 40MA or higher range I have found is ideal. I don't know what it is about the Shuguang preamps, but they have made every tude amp I have owned sound better.
I'm thinking Scott has been told about the tone difference by someone already.
|
|
|
|
Post by magh8 on May 30, 2008 23:42:41 GMT -5
is he still using JJ's in the preamp?  |
|
|
|
Post by snappinnecks on Jun 3, 2008 9:29:55 GMT -5
I just got off the phone with Josh @ Splawn about the preamp tubes Scott is going to start trying since JJ's are not reliable. They are going to try Tung Sol 12AX7s along with the Tung Sol EL34s. I've only used the Tung Sols in a clean mod on a Randall RM100 and like them, but never used them in a high gain mod or gain stage of a preamp. I like my Chinese pres, but they seem to add a little more hair. I did have an old set of 12AX7C tubes that I put in and they have a rounder sound. I may try a set of Tung Sols in the V2 and V3 to see if I like them. I'm keeping the balanced 12AX7C in V4 and I have a 12AT7 in V1 which I love. Way cleaner than the JJ or Chinese 12AX7.
|
|
|
|
Post by windsen on Jun 3, 2008 9:45:18 GMT -5
cool stuff man! i'd like to try out those tung-sols in the preamp. i've heard good things about them
oh and if i hadn't said it already, the tung-sol el34bs are fantastic in the power section! super punchy, very touch sensitive, rich mids. that's what the nitro is running right now =)
|
|
|
|
Post by windsen on Jun 3, 2008 9:46:11 GMT -5
oh and if anyone is interested, i just posted a video in the clips section that features the nitro with the new tung-sol el34b's, along with some shuguang 9th gens in the pre amp.
|
|
|
|
Post by snappinnecks on Jun 3, 2008 10:18:04 GMT -5
I'm still liking my Chinese power section. I'm going to try the Tung Sols when these wear out. Hey have you found that with the higher rated Chinese tubes you have more ability to turn up and stay clean? I thought the ones I put in were 39 rated, but they are actually 48 (they were in the wrong boxes). I was wondering why I have so much headroom before breakup. I can be at noon on the volume and still not have a ton of power tube breakup. At 9 on the volume the amp sings now. Little to no breakup which is good in my opinion for a tight palmmute. I'm going to keep toying with the preamp to get it perfect or close to it (to my ears). The one thing I do know is the Nitro needs to breath. Windsen try an AT7 in V1. Huge difference.
|
|
|
|
Post by LooseCannon on Jun 4, 2008 8:33:37 GMT -5
Why wouldn't you want power tube breakup?
|
|
|
|
Post by snappinnecks on Jun 4, 2008 21:00:15 GMT -5
Early power tube breakup is not a friend of Splawn amps. That is one of the secrets of the Splawn articulation. The amp has the ability to have tons of sack with high rated super late break up tubes. With early break up you lose note definition and the chords go to mush. If you want that then get some tubes rated in the 20's. I can assure you though you won't like it. With the higher rated tubes you still get break up, but it is not early and not harsh . It basically lets you crank the amp and stay clearer longer. At least that is how I see it.
I put some low rated Russian tubes in my Nitro just to see how it sounded. Yuck. Huge crunch, but no articulation or punch.
I know some amps don't like high rated tubes and can't get enough umph to push them to break up.
I have used high rated ones on my last two amps and I think Scott ships them with high rated ones. Don't quote me on that though. 45 to 50 rated tubes + Nitro=sack. ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by cujo on Jul 6, 2008 8:15:58 GMT -5
Last Night I switched the pre amp tubes after practice the amp seemed like the gain was lacking and mushy,muddy.All the kt77 seamed fine so I know preamp tubes have a huge role on the tone.I put a tungsol in the 1st and rubys in the next 3...I gotta tell ya my amp never sounded this good since I got it,somehow its opened up,almost like it had a restrictor on it.I now believe im not diggin the jj preamp tubes,the power tubes are still the stock jj77's when they fail,ill move on,or maybe before that.
|
|
|
|
Post by SonicExplorer on Jul 6, 2008 10:20:33 GMT -5
As another experiment, try swapping around the 1st and 2nd preamp tubes (so the TungSol is in V2) and see how it sounds. You will likely hear a small gain reduction but more clarity and "roundness".
|
|
