Reddit mentions: The best guitar amplifier tubes

Heh, fair enough. Switches shouldn't set you back more than a few bucks apiece if you replace them yourself, and then go from there.

What tubes are in there? Six 6L6GC? Looks like about $130 on Amazon if you go with JJs, but they don't have a set of six matched tubes. The old ones may still have plenty of life left in them anyway.

Electrolytic capacitors are the other "wear" item to watch out for. When you do the teardown for the switch replacement, keep an eye out for any leaky caps -- they will let the magic smoke out. Having never worked with a Twin, I'm curious if it has the same giant "canister" style multi-stage capacitor that my Princeton and Bassman did. Those are safe to replace with multiple plain old electrolytic caps, but finding a secure place to put a board full of capacitors can be "fun." At least the replacement caps were cheap.

If the speakers turn out to be trashed, Weber makes some niiiiice replacements that play well with a clean or pedal-based setup. Looks like that will set you back about $228 plus shipping, if you need them.

So, somewhere between $30 and the black market value of a slightly used human kidney. Haha. As for whether it's worth it... Twins are, hands down, the best amps you can get for sheer clean tone -- AMAZING studio amps -- but max volume on the thing may set off car alarms all the way up and down the block. Maybe you'll need to play a set on an airport tarmac?

Depends on what you are looking for. The one I listed is very entry level. A great cost saver is the DIY kits, but you'd have to be comfortable around a soldering iron. And of course, it does help to swap out the included stock tubes. The Chinese ones that generally come with most of these ChiFi amps are pretty lackluster. I'd substitute these guys for the stock pre-tubes;

https://www.thetubestore.com/sed-6p1peb

Various options for the rectifier tube here, though it's not going to change the sound too much;

https://www.tubedepot.com/t/tubes/rectifier-tubes/5r4-5v4-5z4

There are some decent power tube replacement tubes in all sorts of prices as well, many from Amazon. And Amazon still honors returns on tubes! So if you don't like them, no big deal. (most dedicated tube sellers don't allow returns based on sound quality.)

https://www.amazon.com/Electro-Harmonix-6SN7-EH-Vacuum-Tube/dp/B001LNLZHW

I don't know about the other amps in the page you linked, but the Behringer AC108 is a lot of fun. It does a good solid state clean sound and a good tube-preamp distortion sound. I swapped out the stock 12ax7 tube with one of these: https://www.amazon.com/JJ-Electronics-T-12AX7-S-JJ-Electric-Amplifier/dp/B0002M728Y If you like how the stock tube distortion sounds, though, there's no need to upgrade.

The Bravo seems decent but I just don't trust cheap Chinese tube amps, especially when they don't post full measurements (I wonder what they're trying to hide?)

But, under $114, on Amazon, there isn't really much in choices. The Bravo plus a warm sounding tube, like this one, will fit the bill.

I also would recommend this. It offers more flexibility because you change tubes and opamps to mod your sound. You can also adjust gain with it unlike the Ocean.

Re: the heat issue with the Valhalla 2, you could maybe try using tube socket extensions like these or these. They help cool things down a bit, don't affect the sound, and make it easier to extract and attach tubes.

And nice to see love for the Q701. They were my first decent set of cans, and I still listen to them from time to time.

First things first, if it were me I would just buy it right off the bat. That said...

1. Reverb tank should be simple pimple. Unless it's some odd setup(which I doubt it is), it would usually be a RCA jack type plug and play. Accutronics has always been my favorite replacement reverb tanks.
   
   
2. Tubes wouldn't be expensive to mess with if you wanted to try others out. I would see what ones they had in there and then just order a couple different brands to see what sounds best to you. A couple [JJ preamp tubes] (https://www.amazon.com/JJ-Electronics-T-12AX7-S-JJ-Electric-Amplifier/dp/B0002M728Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1541011028&sr=8-1&keywords=jj+12ax7) and [a matched set of EL84 JJ power tubes] (https://www.amazon.com/JJ-Electronics-Amplifier-Tube-T-EL84-JJ-MP/dp/B003FO89CE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1541010458&sr=8-1&keywords=jj+el84+matched+pair) are really cheap and tend to be built well from the years I've been buying them for. I'm thinking only the first two preamp tubes would have anything to do with the tone section as the third one (furthest small tube to the left when looking at the back) could just be the phase inverter and also driving the reverb. I'd have to loom through a schematic first to actually know for sure, though.
   
   
3. Price would be good to me as it's half off new and I'm a cheap bastard that can attempt to fix things if I need to. If it sounds good to you in just replacing a reverb tank and trying out different tubes, tear it up.
   
   I had no idea of these cheap guys being around and may end up getting the little 5w version for fun around home. How cool.

Hey guys, literally got a call the other day to get the band back together! I'm super excited, but I haven't touched my gear in about 7 years. I flipped on my ADA MB-1 and I'm not getting any sound out of the tube stage on the preamps. I believe these use 12AX7A tubes, but can I use a set of 12AX7 tubes like this. I know nothing (or have just forgotten at this point what I need to replace these with. Thanks, I'm going to be back here alot if we start playing on the regular!

My amp does the same thing, pretty common. Instead of messing around w/ the sockets (dat aint it), hit the note to get the rattle sound. You can use a looper to make this easier. Then use a washcloth (they're hot!) and apply slight pressure to each tube to see which one is ringing the worst and verify which tubes it rings on. Now that you know which tubes are ringing/rattling, you can order the number of tube dampers you want from Amazon!

https://www.amazon.com/Eurotubes-EuroDamper-Damper-Triode-Preamp/dp/B019P7KA1C

They're a lil pricey for what they are but they work to eliminated about 75% of the noise. I'm cheap, so I ghetto-rigged something similar involving toothpicks and rubber bands lol. I'd recommend a damper though :) dont be like me

The FX Audio DAC-X6 provides a good amount of power - around 1W unbalanced - to the nominal 35Ω 93dB/?mW HE400i. You should not expect a significant performance change just from having more power available.

A powerful option for a tube hybrid DAC/amp is the xDuoo TA-01B, which can deliver 2.1W into 32Ω. I got mine on Drop for US$120, swapped the stock tube for a US$14.97 (including S&H) Electro-Harmonix 12AU7 EH and have enjoyed it with my HE400i, though it mostly powers my nominal 32Ω 90dB/1mW M1060C.

I advise you to change the tubes in case you've bought a used AC15C1: as example JJ Tube Upgrade Kit For VOX AC15C1 Amps EL84 ECC83S ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VVNIIVS ) or any other alternative tubes. Sound will improve dramatically, especially on Top Boost channel.

I have not had to replace the tube on it. I've had it for almost three years and I listen to my records roughly 2-3 hours a day...maybe 3-4 days a week. The VP130 doesn't have an on/off switch, but I leave mine plugged in 24/7. So, my tube is always "hot" and has been for 3 years.

The one that comes with it sounds great to my ears, but if you ever need to replace it, I think you can use one like this fairly cheap:

http://www.amazon.com/Sovtek-12AX7LPS-Vacuum-Tube/dp/B0002M71VC/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

I need a preamp for my AT2035 and I have these 3 picked out. I'm new to all this stuff so I'm not sure what the difference between them is and which one is the best to get.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002GZZNY/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_i_0sU2DbTGQXJ8E

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CZ0RME/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_i_ouU2DbJJYYKG1

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002BG2QI/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_i_NuU2DbHN4KH5N

I was also told to just use an audio interface, but that apparently makes it so I can't use my microphone with my soundcard. what's the best course of action here? not use the soundcard with the mic?

Being that you've got nothing to compare it with, your best shot is to buy a new power tube (which isn't that expensive, typically), of which I'd recommend a Tung-Sol 6V6GT for the Fender Champion, and toss that in. Unfortunately, you can't compare your tube to another one in the amp because it's just the one, so your best shot is just to retube.

From what you've described, it sounds like a dead power tube. It happens after a while in every amp; tubes die. If it was a pre, you'd still be getting output but it'd sound weak/muddy/off. Feel free to replace that one too if you want, as it might die soon as well. Here's a link to a retube kit.

Hope your amp gets back in action soon!

For cleaning tube pins I use:

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-1158-caig-vacuum-tube-survival-kit.aspx

Some people don't like liquid cleaners for pins and prefer dry cleaning with a wire brush or similar.

For cleaning tube glass I use a 1/2 distilled water 1/2 isopropyl alcohol mixture with a soft cloth (similar to what people would use on a car). If you do this you need to be really careful not to rub off original tube glass markings.

For tubes I use frequently (and take in and out of boxes) I put them in a different white box (so the original boxes don't get destroyed from constant handling):

http://www.amazon.com/Vacuum-Miniature-Tubes-12AX7-12AT7/dp/B005JEJKJY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406312990&sr=8-1&keywords=vacuum+tube+box

I'll write tube and test information on a sticky that goes on one of the white box flaps. I then store all tubes in a plastic container and keep the original boxes separate until I need them again (mainly when I go to sell)

For handling (plugging into amplifiers, removing from boxes, etc) I try not to touch the glass if possible to keep the oils from my skin off the glass. I usually handle by tube base or use a cloth.

I've actually never used TAD tubes but I do know that Electro Harmonix surprisingly makes a good 6V6 (the 6V6GT).

These look to be the recommended upgrades https://www.amazon.com/Electro-Harmonix-12AX7EH-Preamp-Vacuum-Single/dp/B0002M72JS/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1484263520&sr=1-1&keywords=EH+12AX7

Have a quick google, lots of info on the phono stage and which upgrades sound best.

Very complete answer, thanks man!
I'll order a T-12AX7. Is this one okay or are there subtleties about ''Medium gain'' that I should look into?

Hi, I have the Bravo v3 and was wondering if there is a better tube for this thing. Any suggestions?

edit: Found two that I may want to try. Electro Harmonix or Sovtek...

An attenuator would work. Something like this. Link to one on amazon . I don't know anything about that one, I just did a quick amazon search for it and its the first one that popped up.

This has all 5 of them:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AOA6FXC/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2/188-6137407-2567854?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_r=0915A8DDT6FXC2YQEM8N&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=1944687562&pf_rd_i=B00VVNIIVS

This is just the power amp section:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003FO89CE/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1/188-6137407-2567854?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_r=0915A8DDT6FXC2YQEM8N&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=1944687562&pf_rd_i=B00VVNIIVS

And this is just the pre-amp section:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005F5TP6U/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_3/188-6137407-2567854?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_r=0915A8DDT6FXC2YQEM8N&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=1944687562&pf_rd_i=B00VVNIIVS


You could also google something like "VOX AC15 tube replacement kit" to compare brands and prices for the whole set of them.

This is my opinion, so take it as just that:

Are they hard to replace. No. Hell no. At least with a common lightbulb, there's screwing. Pull out. Push in. That's it.

AC15 particular tubes. Can't speak for certain, ain't got her. Just chuck in another set of what, el84s? hold on, googling. edit: indeed, el84s. So, if you're stateside...try:
https://www.amazon.com/Tube-Complement-Vox-AC15-brand/dp/B00AOA6FXC

Not from amazon directly, but you can return it and eat the return shipping cost if it doesn't...alter anything. Or, ask around your buddies, maybe there's a nerd like me that has buckets of tubes lying around.

Match vs. unmatch refers to power section, handy when biasing. I'm an oddball that prefers unmatched tubes in the power section for harmonic effect, trust me, anything you read about here, the effect is going to be quite minimal.

A brief read:
http://www.fenderforum.com/forum.html?db=&topic_number=714229
Expensive tubes worth it? No, not really. You'd see a bigger difference swapping out your speaker, or pickups. Tube changes make for pretty light if any noticeable sounds.

tldr; replace them :P

I just meant for a Vox. Are they all about the same then?

Something like this would be fine?

you mean a [JJ] (http://www.amazon.com/JJ-Electronics-T-12AX7-S-JJ-Electric-Amplifier/dp/B0002M728Y) for his vajayjay

FTFY :-)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000UMCLIC?pc_redir=1395826954&robot_redir=1
This was a lifesaver for me. I also felt uncomfortable at the start, but you will get use to rocking them back and forth and get a 'feel' for their durability.