Prefered Preamp and Power Tubes?

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 26 Apr 2003 4:25 pm

All of you tube players...what are your prefered tubes? What are the characteristics of your choices over the others?
Does anyone know which tubes are used in the new reissue Standel?
Thanks
Dennis

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 26 Apr 2003 4:53 pm

THD BiValve, I'm using a 12 AU7 and a 12AT7 with a pair of 6550's. When I want more breakup I put in the 12AX7's and the EL34A's.

Dan Tyack · Post by **Dan Tyack** » 27 Apr 2003 8:42 pm

I'm with Chas on the preamp tubes, but I use some more combinations of power amp tubes in my BiValve.

I seldom use two of the same tube, except when I need maximum clean headroom, when I use two KT88 tubes (these are similar to 6550s). My current fave is the combination of a 50s 5881 (military spec 6L6) Tungsol with a KT88. For a more rock and roll sound I'll substitute an EL34 for the KT88. The Tungsol tube is exceptionally sweet, and distorts early in the gain structure, but never gets harsh. The KT88 distorts very late in the gain structure, and has a huge bottom end. The EL34 has that classic midrangy Marshall rock and roll sound, and starts to distort even earlier than the Tungsol. It sounds clangy at middle gain settings, but then gets smoother at extreme gain settings.

Hope this helps....

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 28 Apr 2003 3:53 am

Thanks guys...I appreciate the info.
I have a Classic 50/50 and checking into tube options. 4 preamp tubes and 8

power tubes.
Dennis

Jussi Huhtakangas · Post by **Jussi Huhtakangas** » 28 Apr 2003 4:51 am

Dennis, the original power tubes in Standel 25L15 were 807's, that's what is standard in the reissues too. You can opt for different variations, mine has 6550's, which make the amp a bit more powerful.

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 28 Apr 2003 10:32 pm

I'm really liking the new "Long Plate" 12AX7 preamp tubes from Sovtek. They're made to be like the old RCA's that many Fenders came stock with in the '60s. The plate in the tube is much longer than the popular short-plate versions we see today. They sound great. My favorite new tube. I think the name is 12AX7-LP.

Brad Sarno
Blue Jade Audio Mastering
St. Louis, MO

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 4 May 2003 1:47 pm

Brad....have you or anyone else ever tried the new Electro-Harmonix 12AX7 or Sovtek 5751?
Thanks
Dennis

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 4 May 2003 11:04 pm

My guitar player brought over a couple 5751's tonight and I like them better than the 12AU7 and 12AT7 that I had in there. I also tried, because of Dan's post, a pair of 5881's and the 5881 / 6550 combinations. The 5881's were a little "brown". The combination of the 5881 and the 6550 is really nice so now I've got to get a couple KT88's and see what the combinations with them sound like. This is all new to me.