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Alembic Club » Miscellaneous » Archive through November 11, 2010 » Archive: 2008 » Archive through June 20, 2008 » Where do you buy your tubes? Tube Swapping? « Previous Next »

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hydrargyrum
Advanced Member
Username: hydrargyrum

Post Number: 327
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 3:46 am:   Edit Post

Its time to retube my Fender pro-reverb again, and I recently had been reading that there are a number of tubes that can be substituted for 12AX7's to give a reduced gain, forcing the poweramp to work a bit harder. Does anyone have any experience with this? Additionally, if someone could point me towards a good source for tubes, it would be much appreciated.
lembic76450
Intermediate Member
Username: lembic76450

Post Number: 129
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 6:28 am:   Edit Post

Kevin,

I recently replaced my F-2B tubes with tubes from Eurotubes (www.eurotubes.com).
They have a good video on biasing a Fender
amp,it kind of removes the mystery.

Prices are good and shipping was fast.
It's a good site for info and I found them
very helpful on the phone.
hydrargyrum
Advanced Member
Username: hydrargyrum

Post Number: 328
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 10:38 am:   Edit Post

Thanks a lot. I've bought tubes from this guy before, but for the life of me could not remember his name (or site). I'll almost certainly buy from him, unless someone cares to step in and recommend some incredibly great deal.
crobbins
Intermediate Member
Username: crobbins

Post Number: 128
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 11:40 am:   Edit Post

I buy tubes for my Mesa Boogie amps from the Mesa Boogie site. Otherwise I take my amps to our tube amp guru, Robert Dixon, and he retubes them with whatever he uses....

http://mesa.stores.yahoo.net/mesboogtub.html
jbybj
Intermediate Member
Username: jbybj

Post Number: 159
Registered: 6-2006
Posted on Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 12:56 pm:   Edit Post

I have made happy purchases from both these places.

https://www.boiaudioworks.com/

http://www.tubedepot.com/powertubes.html

good luck, JBY
gtrguy
Intermediate Member
Username: gtrguy

Post Number: 131
Registered: 9-2004
Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 11:04 am:   Edit Post

Pretty hard to beat Eurotubes (plus it's close for me). They sound good in a Fender. I wouldn't bother with anything other than 12AX7 in your amp. The best way to make it work harder is to turn it up! Mesa tubes are good but cost more and don't sound any better. Electro-harmonix (sp?) high end 12AX7s sound great in V1 position. I don't like Ruby or Sovtek. NOS stuff is OK, like RCA, etc. Again way overpriced. Mullard 'holy grail' stuff is supposed to sound great, but I don't know personally.

IMHO, the single best thing for a Fender Pro would be a better speaker. I stuck some Mesa C90s in my twin and now it sound GOOD! Keep the stock ones for resale time.

Bye,
Dave
lbpesq
Senior Member
Username: lbpesq

Post Number: 3059
Registered: 7-2004
Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 12:31 pm:   Edit Post

I've had a blackface Pro Reverb for many years. My friend, from whom I obtained it, long ago swapped out the original fender (Jensens?) for JBLs. It sounds fantastic.

Bill, tgo
hydrargyrum
Advanced Member
Username: hydrargyrum

Post Number: 332
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 1:32 pm:   Edit Post

Yeah, for some time I have imagined that I would try to swap out the guts into a figured hardwood cabinet with some tone-tubbies, but alas, it always seems like some other piece of gear has tempted me more.
dfung60
Advanced Member
Username: dfung60

Post Number: 326
Registered: 5-2002
Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 2:25 pm:   Edit Post

The 12AU7 is a lower gain tube that is otherwise pin compatible with a 12AX7, but I don't think that will do you want. If you make that substitution, then you'll have lower output because the preamp circuit isn't driving the power amp circuit as hard. You make this change if you want more clean headroom.

The 12AU7 is often used in the section of the amp between the preamp front end and the power amp section or in front of a reverb tank. At these points in the amp, the signal level is a little higher and you don't want to introduce distortion.

If you put a 12AX7 in place of a 12AU7, then you'll increase the output level and that WILL drive your power amp harder.

David Fung
hydrargyrum
Advanced Member
Username: hydrargyrum

Post Number: 333
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 2:51 pm:   Edit Post

Thanks for the illumnination David. The explanations I had heard were that by reducing the gain in the preamp, one had to force the poweramp to work harder to produce the same volume, thereby forcing it to "breathe" differently. I wasn't necessarily looking for more gain from my, amp, as much I was in exploring different tonal options. Frankly though, the amp has never really lacked for clean headroom.
pace
Advanced Member
Username: pace

Post Number: 374
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 4:16 pm:   Edit Post

I might still have a bunch of old 12au7's lying around if you want to try them out Kev....

shoot me an email....

-Mike
crobbins
Intermediate Member
Username: crobbins

Post Number: 129
Registered: 6-2004
Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 8:38 pm:   Edit Post

I use a Pro-Reverb, and a Boogie amp. the fender has Tone Tubby speakers, and the Boogie a JBL..proreverb

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