OK! I need help!!!!

[spiderman2812]

Hey, I'm going to retube my marshall tsl 100 head and i need some help! I've done lots of research on different brands of tubes 12ax7 el34 6ca7 and kt77. Here's my problem everyone says that there tubes sound like the nos mullards ect... and I can't seem to find any product reviews by actual users! So here's my situation some folks at diystompboxes say they really like EH tubes and they seem real affordable. I like to play bluesey type stuff and I'm on the fence about what freakin tubes to get so if you have some experience with a particular brand that you like and don't mind sharing with me why i would greatly appreciatew it. Thanks Kevin

[Rob Mercure]

S man,

You might want to see my reply to the tube post under Guitar Amps - mods. To nutshell it, with all variables remains the same the actual tubes influence on sound is subtle although more so for music production (guitar amps) than reproduction (HiFi) and also more so if you play with the amp cranked up - you'll notice less effect if you play at, say, 1/3 volume and depend on pedals for much of your tone.

As to the effect of the Mullards, what you're looking is for the "mullard effect" with your particular model amp, your specific amp as to bias, etc, and your specific rig as to amp, guitar, pedals,strings, speakers, etc. And please again refer to my other post concerning speakers - they usually have a much much more influential effect on sound than tubes, (and, for the record, I really love NOS, UOS American and Western European tubes and I use these in my equipment so I'm not suggesting that there is no effect but that instead that quite a few parties really blow this out of porportion. These parties usually consist of 1) those selling the tubes and; 2) those who have lotsa paper and internet experience but who aren't technicians.)

So, forget "mullard" and whatever else - sample as many tubes as you can locally/cheaply and see if there are some that you like and generally stick to 'em! And if you don't notice great differences while comparing "lesser" tubes you probably won't notice earth shattering differences with "iconic" tubes such a Mullards and TungSols.

But, there is one difference that you might notice. While the North American produced 6CA7 "big bottle" beam pentode was marketed as a "drop in" replacement for the skinny, "soft vacuum" EL34 to my ears these are greatly different tubes and the 6CA7 sounds more like a beam power tube than a power pentode. More "7591ish" than "mullardish." Now I've no experience with the new issue 6CA7 "big bottles" but if they are anything like the original tubes you might notice more difference between them and a EL34 than, say, JJ and "winged C" EL34s.

Again, generally you'll notice more difference with instruments and speakers and one can chase that "magic" tube till you can ice skate in Hades to no avail. And like I suggested in the other post it's pretty easy to buy an "alternative" speaker and buy or build a cabinet. The you can either play through you "bluesy" speaker, or your original speaker, or both at once and having sound come from two sources gives the impression of much greater volume so it's also like getting a bigger, louder, amp in the process - and easier than reconfiguring your amp's circuit topology, buying new output transformers, etc.

Rob

[Bruce / Mission Amps]

... I like to play bluesey type stuff and I'm on the fence about what freakin tubes to get so if you have some experience with a particular brand that you like and don't mind sharing with me why i would greatly appreciatew it. Thanks Kevin

What kind of Blues?
Chicago, East Coast, Cajun...etc.?
I think the main thing to me is... KT77 or El34s are not what I'd call a bluesy tube anyhow, but, the more idle current you can safely pull through them, the bluesier they are if the amp and supporting circuitry is up to it.