Tube Swap - how would you do it?

[Mr Grumpy]

Some tubes turned up today: 2 x 12ax7 and 2 x EL84.

My little baby 5watt Cornell (AC style amp) has one 12ax7 and one EL84. Currently it has JJs in there:







These are the new ones:




(Yellow top box, green lower box)




(Philips/Mullard on the left top white box)


My initial plan is to try the two preamp tubes to see which one I prefer of the three - leave it in. Then, try the three EL84 and see which one I like best, leave it in. At this point, I'm going in open-minded with regard to sounds, I will simply go with what sounds best to me when the tubes are in.

Would you do it this way or have you another way? Make your suggestions, please.

 

[fretless]

Honestly, I can't think of a better way to audition tubes. Let your ears be the judge!

 

[iblive]

That’s what I love about this sport. There is no wrong answer. Don’t like it. Change it. Like it..... some of us change it anyway.

 

[eSGEe]

we are supposed to change the tubes?

 

[gball]

That’s what I love about this sport. There is no wrong answer. Don’t like it. Change it. Like it..... some of us change it anyway.

Agree completely. No right or wrong.

I used to roll tubes semi-obsessively as I had a big stock of NOS tubes on hand. Changing them can make a difference in tone but I never came a across a situation that made an amp objectively better. Different? Yes. Better? Ear of the beholder. So as my stock of tubes dwindles over the decades I kind of let it go but it is a fun exercise.

 

[syscokid]

we are supposed to change the tubes?

You're not suppose to change them...

You're suppose to solder them...

 

[eSGEe]

That's why I never do it....... alls well then no worries
Lol

 

[Chubbles]

Remember, whatever you do, don't touch the tubes with your bare hands!!!

jk - just a myth, no worries!

 

[Mitch Pearrow SJMP]

What about rubbing your bare junk on it? Asking for a friend.....

Feel free , but do it while they are still warm !!!

 

[Chubbles]

BQUOTE="Yargnad, post: 218845, member: 400"]
What about rubbing your bare junk on it? Asking for a friend.....
[/QUOTE]
Mine: ok. Yours: no.

 

[eSGEe]

What about rubbing your bare junk on it? Asking for a friend.....

thanks I was busy rubbing my junk on things

 

[Mitch Pearrow SJMP]

To Grumpy’s OP your ears will tell you what you want, mix match them any way you can, but take a break after the 3’rd roll to give your ears a chance to freshen up..
Cheers
Mitch

 

[eSGEe]

WILL they cease to exist?

I was reading how fewer and fewer companies (outside China) still make vacuum tubes at all......this made me wonder........... WILL VACUUM TUBES EVENTUALLY GO AWAY ??? will the ENTIRE WORLD go SOLIDSTATE (digital) --- or Nuclear Jello based amplification ---(whatever the Hell the Norwegian...

www.thetonerooms.com

 

[eSGEe]

Shameless self thread promotion----

ALso --- VOTE FOR NORM!

 

[ivan H]

To Grumpy’s OP your ears will tell you what you want, mix match them any way you can, but take a break after the 3’rd roll to give your ears a chance to freshen up..
Cheers
Mitch

This is good advice.
That yellow text Sylvania 12AX7 is a good strong tube, both triode's testing at 2mA & transconductance 2,900/2,800. Try finding a new production type that test 1mA per triode, you'll be lucky to find one that does, & those transconductance readings are up toward 150%. I really like Sylvania 12AX7's. Note the small plate structure. I have similar green text & red text Sylvania 12AX7's & they typically have strong output & a nice, rich 3D type tone. I'll be surprised if you don't easily notice their superiority over the JJ ECC83. They can sometimes exhibit a little "AC heater hum" due to the filament not being spiral wound, but it's usually nothing excessive.
I'll be interested in how you hear the Mullard vs Brimar EL84's. Brimar are great quality British made tubes & usually right up there with Mullard for tone. Cheers

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Honestly, I can't think of a better way to audition tubes. Let your ears be the judge!

Good point.

Now I just swap speakers.

Meh, I see your point.

That’s what I love about this sport. There is no wrong answer. Don’t like it. Change it. Like it..... some of us change it anyway.

Great point.

we are supposed to change the tubes?

Bad point.

Agree completely. No right or wrong.

Excellent point.

Remember, whatever you do, don't touch the tubes with your bare hands!!!

Incorrect point.

jk - just a myth, no worries!

Correct point!

What about rubbing your bare junk on it?

Terrible point.

hanks I was busy rubbing my junk on things

Really terrible point.

To Grumpy’s OP your ears will tell you what you want, mix match them any way you can, but take a break after the 3’rd roll to give your ears a chance to freshen up..

Great point.

That yellow text Sylvania 12AX7 is a good strong tube, both triode's testing at 2mA & transconductance 2,900/2,800. Try finding a new production type that test 1mA per triode, you'll be lucky to find one that does, & those transconductance readings are up toward 150%. I really like Sylvania 12AX7's. Note the small plate structure. I have similar green text & red text Sylvania 12AX7's & they typically have strong output & a nice, rich 3D type tone. I'll be surprised if you don't easily notice their superiority over the JJ ECC83. They can sometimes exhibit a little "AC heater hum" due to the filament not being spiral wound, but it's usually nothing excessive.
I'll be interested in how you hear the Mullard vs Brimar EL84's. Brimar are great quality British made tubes & usually right up there with Mullard for tone. Cheers

Lots of great points...


So, folks, this is how it's going down! I'll try to get the Dolby Go app working; if I can then I'll do simple soundcloud clips on a separate thread with a poll. If I can't get good sounds from my phone (I don't have any proper recording equipment, sorry) then I'll just add comments on this thread.

 

[Mitch Pearrow SJMP]

Good point.



Meh, I see your point.



Great point.



Bad point.



Excellent point.



Incorrect point.



Correct point!



Terrible point.



Really terrible point.



Great point.



Lots of great points...


So, folks, this is how it's going down! I'll try to get the Dolby Go app working; if I can then I'll do simple soundcloud clips on a separate thread with a poll. If I can't get good sounds from my phone (I don't have any proper recording equipment, sorry) then I'll just add comments on this thread.

My phone is the only way I record.
So I know what it really sounds like, to an extent..
Blaze away brother.
I am going to listen.
Mitch

 

[Mr Grumpy]

^ you the man, Mitch!

 

[Chubbles]

WILL they cease to exist?

I was reading how fewer and fewer companies (outside China) still make vacuum tubes at all......this made me wonder........... WILL VACUUM TUBES EVENTUALLY GO AWAY ??? will the ENTIRE WORLD go SOLIDSTATE (digital) --- or Nuclear Jello based amplification ---(whatever the Hell the Norwegian...

www.thetonerooms.com

That's why I have my O/C (obsessive compulsive) box of preamp tubes...

 

[Mitch Pearrow SJMP]

^ you the man, Mitch!

Thanks brother I will be taping my foot till I hear it!!