Stokesdead Posted June 7, 2007 Posted June 7, 2007 OK so I have this mahogany special that is sitting naked and lonely in need of some Zebra bobbin inductors (pickups). But I just finished my 50W 1986 build and it sure would be nice to get some NOS Mullards that I have a lead on. What do YOU think I should do?????~CS
MCChris Posted June 7, 2007 Posted June 7, 2007 Easy. Do both LOL!If it's one or the other, though, go for the tubes. Pickups you can get anytime, but those Mullards'll get snapped up by someone else if you wait.
Stokesdead Posted June 7, 2007 Author Posted June 7, 2007 You guys are so smart. Makes me wonder why I dont just send all my money to the HFC to allow you guys to spend it for me.
Travis Posted June 7, 2007 Posted June 7, 2007 I've got a ton of extra pickups sitting around with no guitars to put them in. Here's what you do. Grab yourself some of the NOS tubes. Send me the Special. I'll put some pickups in there and make sure that the guitar is not just sitting around taking up space. Then, when you get around to buying the pickups of your choice, I'll uninstall the pickups and send back the guitar. Sounds win-win to me.
tafkathundernotes Posted June 7, 2007 Posted June 7, 2007 Mullard-Shmullard. Get some new Tung-Sol's or JJ's and save your money. I'd go for the pickups. JMO
Stokesdead Posted June 7, 2007 Author Posted June 7, 2007 Mullard-Shmullard. Get some new Tung-Sol's or JJ's and save your money. I'd go for the pickups. JMO REALLY...You think???? Hmmm.... I already have new production JJ's and Tung-sol's. Is the NOS stuff overrated?
tafkathundernotes Posted June 7, 2007 Posted June 7, 2007 My biggest concern with anything called N-O-S is that it's actually U-S-E-D. The Mullards are nice tubes, but not worth the exorbitant prices that the corksniffer crowd has driven them to. I don't have "golden ears" either. My rating system has 3 classifications: Wow, Meh, and Yuck. I really doubt if I could tell what kind of tubes an amp had in it just by listening. For me, that's enough to pass on them. OTOH, if I find a box of 50 NOS Mullards at a yard sale for a dollar, I reserve the right to retract my previous statements.
AdmiralB Posted June 7, 2007 Posted June 7, 2007 My rating system has 3 classifications: Wow, Meh, and Yuck. I really doubt if I could tell what kind of tubes an amp had in it just by listening. Testify, my brother!
MCChris Posted June 7, 2007 Posted June 7, 2007 My rating system has 3 classifications: Wow, Meh, and Yuck. I really doubt if I could tell what kind of tubes an amp had in it just by listening. Testify, my brother!thundernotes is a bass player, and thus, knows nothing in this area.Buy the tubes.
luiss Posted June 7, 2007 Posted June 7, 2007 My rating system has 3 classifications: Wow, Meh, and Yuck. I really doubt if I could tell what kind of tubes an amp had in it just by listening. Testify, my brother!Depending on amp circuit you´re going to put them will be worth or not so.I´ve been given a used 60s production Mullard it was changed from a Triaxis Boogie because it was microphonic(due to high gain).I put it in V1 in my 18w clone and sounds fantastic.If you don´t want to spend so high money asked for a Mullard(I agree it´s very expensive and mostly are used tubes) look for a Valvo brand tube,sometimes are rebanded Mulard or Miniwatt Phillips and are really good too.I have Mullard branded EL-84 NOS and will replace the stock JJ very soon I will tell results altough I ´m almost sure sound will improve a lot....
seeker Posted June 7, 2007 Posted June 7, 2007 If it was me, and you're talking preamp tubes, get the pickups. Unless you are absou-fricking-lutely sure of the source, I'd go with new over NOS. After getting my own tube tester, a new Vacuum Tube Valley, I discovered most of my NOS preamp tubes were mildly microphonic to outright squeelers. Now the former are quite usable in well isolated heads, but not for combos. The later are just worthless. Now if you ARE sure of the source, and you have a fine sense of tone, then they can be worth it and make a difference in the right amp. I can tell myself, but have come to the realization that consistently good NOS aren't out there anymore, and am in constant search for the best new tubes.The 1986 is a JCM800? If so, you probably aren't going to get a big difference with NOS Mullards, imho. That's a cascaded gain model, and the finer details at the edge get a bit blurry.
Stokesdead Posted June 7, 2007 Author Posted June 7, 2007 Te 1986 circuit is the plexi era 50 watt bass. If any circuit would respond to NOS glass I would think a "plexi" would. AlsoI am talking about replacing all tube with Mullards. Right now I am running JJ E34L's in the power and JJ ECC83 in the preamp. Right now the build doesn't sound quite as good as I would like. Maybe I just need to tweak the circuit values some, hell I don't know. I am thinking the weakest link may be either the glass or the speaker cabinet.I currently have a Avatar 4x12 w/ G-12H's (NOT the Heritage)~CS
El Kabong Posted June 8, 2007 Posted June 8, 2007 Do you have a chance to regularly crank up your amp to really hear the tubes shine with power tube saturated glory? If so you will love the tubes. If you will not be making the power tubes glow on a regular basis and will be using an overdrive or distortion pedal, go for the pick-ups. I am king of having a Ferrari in the garage and no chance to go for a drive. Ge it sure is fun to look at...
seeker Posted June 8, 2007 Posted June 8, 2007 Te 1986 circuit is the plexi era 50 watt bass. If any circuit would respond to NOS glass I would think a "plexi" would. AlsoI am talking about replacing all tube with Mullards. Right now I am running JJ E34L's in the power and JJ ECC83 in the preamp. Right now the build doesn't sound quite as good as I would like. Maybe I just need to tweak the circuit values some, hell I don't know. I am thinking the weakest link may be either the glass or the speaker cabinet.I currently have a Avatar 4x12 w/ G-12H's (NOT the Heritage)~CSIf it's a plexi-ish build, then you're right. If you do want to try new glass, I'd suggest a switch to SED Winged C EL-34s, or (what I want to try next) JJ KT-77s. For preamps, try the New Sensor (Reflektor Factory) Tung Sols.
Stokesdead Posted June 8, 2007 Author Posted June 8, 2007 I have some new production Tung sols and you are right they are pretty good. As far as being able to crank the amp. I totally know what you mean this thing is loud. I have to tweak the circuit at night after the kids are in bed and can't test until the next day. It gets rather frustrating. But alas I can't kill the kids.........I kinda like them........just don't tell their mother.~CS
Punkavenger Posted June 8, 2007 Posted June 8, 2007 if you do decide to go with the p'ups consider Bare Knuckles "mule" paf's ... Boy Howdy! ... sound great in a mahogany Special
tafkathundernotes Posted June 8, 2007 Posted June 8, 2007 My rating system has 3 classifications: Wow, Meh, and Yuck. I really doubt if I could tell what kind of tubes an amp had in it just by listening. Testify, my brother! thundernotes is a bass player, and thus, knows nothing in this area. Buy the tubes. Hey, thundernotes plays guitar too, and is also an amplifier technician. I love tubes too, just not enough to lay out big cash for them.
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