6V6 Current vs. NOS

I bought a bunch of kryo-treated tubes in the last batch I ordered. I must say that the preamtubes sounds stunningly good. I have tried a new reissue Mullard, a Sovted and a Tung Sol.

If it's humbug or a factor that makes a difference I don't know, could be that the tubes are carefully chosen too - but they sound better than the non kryo versions I have tried of these tubes.

Could be something worth trying for those, like me, who are tired of spending big bucks on NOS tubes and finding them go microphonic in my combo amps after just a few months of use.

 
Disturber said:
Could be something worth trying for those, like me, who are tired of spending big bucks on NOS tubes and finding them go microphonic in my combo amps after just a few months of use.
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The only tip I can give to people is to use preamp tubes with short plates to improve the odds. JAN tubes are best because they were designed for heavy duty use and G force resistance.

I haven't tried any of the cyro treated tubes yet. From what I remember from my science classes and metallurgy I do know that cyro treatment impacts the molecular structure of the metal parts, as does extreme heat.

 
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EDIT TO ADD: This tone report is erroneous and obsolete. I got all the knobs and switches lined up a voila! The amp is in a whole new universe and the Metal Muff can be restrained and sound good.

As somebody here once said "99 percent of all tone problems are really EQ problems". He was right.

* tmm*

----- TONE REPORT -----

I installed a NOS JAN Phillips ECG 12AT7WXC in the phase inverter position. The stocker was a SovTek 12AT7

I installed Reissue Tung Sol 12AX7's

I installed Reissue Tung Sol 6V6GT's

Overall the sound comes off much harder or colder than the stock Ruby Chinese tubes. I kicked in my newish Metal Muff and the sound was pretty damn stiff and could not be adjusted to an acceptable tone. Of course the Metal Muff is designed to produce NuMetal thrashem and trashem "metal". I might sell it as I am a "prog" guy.

----- NEXT REPORT -----

I will first go back to stock power tubes and replacement preamp tubes and report.

I am going back to the stock preamp and replacement 6V6 and will report.

I have a set of NOS Sylvania 6V6GT coming. I will report on them too; both with stock and new preamp tubes.

Rawk

morningstar

 
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I'd be interested in hearing your opinion of the Sylvanias. I have a pair of them and a pair of gray glass RCA's waiting their turns in an old Princeton.

 
Overall the sound comes off much harder or colder than the stock Ruby Chinese tubes.
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Before you assess them give your ears time to adjust. If you have been using the Chinese stuff for a long time, then your ears are used to a certain tone and it takes a little time to properly assess the differences.

This is actually something I hear quite often. What you may be hearing as "stiff" could actually be a by-product of your noise floor dropping. if you give it some time, you may find out that your amp has never sounded or responded better.

It is also very possible that this particular tube doesn't play well in the circuit of your amp. I have a set of absolutely sweet NOS smooth plate Telefunkens that for some reason sound like shit in my Fargen Bordeaux. the NOS Mullards I have are only *slightly* better. But when I put some NOS Sylvanias...WHOAH!!! Jackpot!

The point is....you just never know, but you do need to give it some time before you make a decision either way.

 
I just loaded my Tweaker yesterday with the JJ 6v6's and Mesa 12ax7's and I got to say changing the Preamp tubes was a huge + for tone. I can turn the amp up past halfway now without it going nutz and the Preamp Distortion is more articulate. Thanks!

 
Thanks Poe. You were right. Time and lot of "tweaking" made the whole thing sound much better than any amp I have owned before.

Those crazy Metal Muff pedals are pretty extreme. I am using very small amounts of distortion and top boost, and had to back off the treble below noon. i guess I am not used to devices with switches and knobs that actually DO something.

I will report on the Sylvanias.

Ta da!

morningstar

 
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bubs_42 said:
I just loaded my Tweaker yesterday with the JJ 6v6's and Mesa 12ax7's and I got to say changing the Preamp tubes was a huge + for tone. I can turn the amp up past halfway now without it going nutz and the Preamp Distortion is more articulate. Thanks!
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Those Mesa 12ax7's may be overstamped JJ's. I don't know for sure who they are sourcing from these days.

 
OPINIONS ON TUBES WITH "METAL" ENVELOPES (NOT GLASS)????

They seem cool but how do they perform in guitar amplifiers?

thanks

morningstar

 
i dont know about sound, but there's a huge difference build quality and especially materials grade between old USA and W. EUropean tubes and current production tubes. Reliability-wise there's no comparison. I have three of four workhorse amps getting used at least twice a week at band volume, all between 40 and 50 years old, and they all have old tubes.

 
Many of those old preamp tubes may not die in your lifetime. Some of the superior materials from back in the day were also toxic so they don't use them anymore.

There was a stretch of time were the Sylvania grey plates were identical to the RCA grey plates.(early 60's?)

 
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REPORT: SYLVANIA 6V6GT NOS 1960's.

Green ink. Smoked glass. Black plates.

These are a whole new kind of awesome in the Tweaker They seem more "cultured" in their sound, smoother than the Tung Sol reissues. The Sylvanias have a quality of "big shoulders" which is surprising coming from the little Tweaker. There is no graininess or fizz at all. I would rate them as an incredible value at $24 for the pair.

With the wife at home tonight, I have not tried them with the power section cranked.

Next time I have a dollar or two to spare, I will try some NOS cryo treated tubes!

morningstar

 
morningstar said:
REPORT: SYLVANIA 6V6GT NOS 1960's. Green ink. Smoked glass. Black plates.

These are a whole new kind of awesome in the Tweaker They seem more "cultured" in their sound, smoother than the Tung Sol reissues. The Sylvanias have a quality of "big shoulders" which is surprising coming from the little Tweaker. There is no graininess or fizz at all. I would rate them as an incredible value at $24 for the pair.

With the wife at home tonight, I have not tried them with the power section cranked.

Next time I have a dollar or two to spare, I will try some NOS cryo treated tubes!

morningstar
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Green ink Smoked glass and Blackplates are RCA manufactured for Sylvania and are most likely late 50's

but why pick at nits. Those tubes are the smooth and creamy, same as the RCA black plates.

The best of the best IMHO. The grey plates, clear glass, are great tubes as well and some actually prefer them.

 
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