I just got some JJ Ecc83S's to fix up the radio signal problem I was having with my amp and they sure did the job, now the radio signal is only a weeeeedy bit audible at high levels, but that's probably cuz I didn't replace the phase inverter tube, just the 3 gain stage tubes.

But now I have a dilemma, my amp doesn't sound brutal anymore . The gain is still there but the JJ's have smoothed out the tone to the point that the distortion doesn't GRIND or cut like it did before. I think this is just due to the fact that they're not as high gain as other tubes, apart from it's warm EQ.

I've been thinking, instead of buying new pre tubes, should I get an overdrive pedal for my amp? I have been contemplating getting one for a while but avoided since it already had the shitloads of gain that I needed but now it's lacking "something", some extra saturation and high end pierce is what I'm missing from the amp now. My EQ isn't giving me the sound I want.

For the price of another set of tubes I can probably get a Digitech bad monkey, sound like the thing I need? I just want the most ridiculous fuckin saturation I can get out of this amp BUT I still want it to sound like my amp, not an OD pedal, this is what OD's do unless you crank em to max right? A clean EQ line boost doesn't do it for me. Sound like a good idea?

__________________

Or buy a chinese one for V1.. If you feel all the JJs' took the "chainsaw" away
If you want even more grind try an electro-harmonics, they have mucho chainsaw. I can ship you one for free, i have one lying around i think..

All JJ's are a sure ticket to muddy tone.. but i had a friend of mine with a fireball, all JJ ECC83S's, and they were amazing. Did you buy from a good vendor? Buy from dougstubes.. or tubetown if you're in Europe

BTW I'm interested in the Bad Monkey too since it's cheap as hell. Two weeks or so I'll probably have one.

__________________

I bought it from a seller on ebay that had tons of different tubes, and really good reputation. I don't wanna get a cheap chinese one because that was the reason my amp was picking up all those radio signals.

Hey thx for the offer for the EH man, how much would it cost u to mail it to spain, 35004?

Buying single tubes here is expensive so I am most likely gonna end up picking up a Bad Monkey soon if I can't find any of the ones you suggest locally.

__________________

Try a balanced Sovtek 12ax7lps in the phase inverter. I love it.

I like Tung Sol 12ax7 reissues alot when I don't feel JJ's are gonna do it. They're high gain, low noise. Not as dark or smooth as JJ's. Which can be good or bad depending on the amp.

__________________

My chinese tubes doesn't pick up radio signals, they're very quiet and balanced and warm sounding with slight increases in low mids and treble. A thing to worry about though - when i drop a chinese one from an inch's height onto my mouse pad it sounds like "rattle rattle ring ring". When i drop the JJ, i get "thud". I guess the chinese will squeal before the JJ's do (one of the JJ's make a slight rattle, when i tried this one i V1 i got SQUEEEAL).

And the current chinese are very good tubes actually. Don't belive a certain dealer that signs off every tube mfg. as crappy and shitty unless the mfg. is an old friend from his native country..

I find the tung-sol very balanced, just all around a good tube, esp. if you want a neutral sound, or for hi-fi. The sovtek 12ax7lps is good in the PI too, very balanced and totally quiet, no hum.

__________________

Ive recently fallen into the NOS tube trap. I stuck a JAN G.E. 12AX7 in the clean channel of my Laney, pretty unreal. Gonna track down some Mullards for the drive channel.

__________________

I used a JAN GE in my other amp's clean channel too, very nice, sweet sound at breakup. Not much difference against other tubes in the gain channels though IMO.. YMMV

__________________

Yea, I was gonna leave the GE's for the clean channel. Got a pair of NOS Mullards on the way.

__________________

Haha dudes I have no fucking idea what I was thinking when I posted that, I played for a few hours yesterday and today and completely changed my mind. It sounds amazing! For some reason it just didn't sound as good when I tried it, perhaps I didn't let the tubes warm up enough? No idea, anyways, I love my tone!

__________________