Best tubes for my Peavey Classic 50

Toast

Hi Guys

I have to replace the original tubes on my Peavey Classic 50 after 5 years ? of faithfull service. Which are the best ones (in terms of tone) available in SA? I've read on a US forum that JJ tubes gives the overdrive channel a really nice sound, but are they available here and at what cost?

And also, which tubes should be avoided?

Thanks!

AlanRatcliffe

Most people are happy with JJ valves, and they are probably the overall best readily available new-production valves.

Some of us can (and do) get all specific and specify particular makes for specific models (for instance, I like TAD EL84s and SED 6L6GCs). Particularly on rectifier and preamp valves, the NOS (New Old Stock) are worth looking into as you can fit them and forget about them for the next 20-30 years. ?

Svengali

(I own the same amp, so I will be watching everybody's advice with keen interest...)

nick

I preferred Sovteks in my Classic 30, found the JJ's rattled too much firstly and werent as warm

Toast

Nick, as I understand the Classic 50 is sold with Sovteks as standard. I read somewhere that the JJ's make the amp a bit brighter. I could do with the overdrive channel slightly brighter, so these valves will probably do the trick, right?

nick

Toast wrote: Nick, as I understand the Classic 50 is sold with Sovteks as standard. I read somewhere that the JJ's make the amp a bit brighter. I could do with the overdrive channel slightly brighter, so these valves will probably do the trick, right?

Should do, only way to do it is get two sets and start rolling tubes and see what suits your ear ?

bottledtone

How bout getting some 7189's. They are basically el84's that are built for higher voltages and are higer specs. More power. Z wrecks use them.

FenderBender

In my experience, sovteks are the worst tubes to use in a hot, badly ventilated environment like a Classic 30.
Nick, are you sure it was the JJs rattling and not the sovteks? ...or is my memory that bad ?

I have retubed a few classic 30s and had excellent results with Mullard new production, EH and JJ. Google a bit and you'll eventually find opinions for the styles you play.

Gearhead

bottledtone wrote: {...} 7189's. They are basically el84's that are built for higher voltages and are higer specs. More power.

only if you put them on higher voltage will you get the power up. The dude is asking for locally available brands for 12ax7 and quads of EL84.

@op: JJ 12AX7s have a name of being warmer and putting out less mid-high, but I would still recommend them. There are alternatives locally with MrValve, iIrc Tung-Sol and ElectroHarmonix. Personally I dislike the harsh distortion you get from driving an EH a bit.
On the EL84 front it is different, you will have to import quads or ask MrValve to bring something in. EH are not so bad and JJ are not warmer like their preamp tubes.

I agree with the advice to start rolling, especially preamp tubes since you don't need to fork out for a quad like with your power amp tubes.

Toast

OK, let me just get this straight:

I know I need a matched triode of 12AX7's as my Classic 50 takes 3 of those. But it takes 4 x EL84's, so I need a matched quad of those? I can't use 2 x matched pairs?

nick

Graeme Parfett wrote: Nick, are you sure it was the JJs rattling and not the sovteks? ...or is my memory that bad ?

Definately the JJ's, after it went mental and I sent it to you to see whats up I ordered a set of JJ's and replaced the dead Sovteks, after that rattle ensued. In fact if you just shook the tube you could hear it. If you phsyically compare the tubes its partly because the JJ is slightly smaller in size

bottledtone

@gearhead. But the classic 50 is running the el84's at close to 400v which is much higher than they like anyway? And was stating the 7189's because they should withstand the hardy envirnment of the peavey. Then if getting "local" why get mrvalve to order in anyway?

nicovlogg

Just a heads up, Mr Valve have dropped their prices recently, pretty affordable. Even cheaper though is scrounging Ebay.. some very, very cheap tubes on there from reputable sellers. ?

Gearhead

Toast wrote: OK, let me just get this straight:

I know I need a matched triode of 12AX7's as my Classic 50 takes 3 of those. But it takes 4 x EL84's, so I need a matched quad of those? I can't use 2 x matched pairs?

You do not need to match the 12AX7s but the EL84s all work together so you need a quad.

bottledtone wrote: @gearhead. But the classic 50 is running the el84's at close to 400v which is much higher than they like anyway? And was stating the 7189's because they should withstand the hardy envirnment of the peavey. Then if getting "local" why get mrvalve to order in anyway?

I did not check the voltage but that is high indeed. You mentioned the higher power as an argument, but if you had explained the better resilience in harsh Peavey environment us mortals might have understood. A good suggestion the way I look at it now...

bottledtone

Toast wrote: But it takes 4 x EL84's, so I need a matched quad of those? I can't use 2 x matched pairs?

If you use two matched pairs then its the inner two and outer two eg. a-b-b-a order.

The funny thing is matching is not really that important for guitar amps, but more for hi-fi. Us guitarists like the tones and distortions that mismatched values create. ?

Alot of brands eg grove tubes, are just relabeled sovteks. I believe TAD are relabeled china stuff but could be mistaken. I don't mean anything bad by chinese valves..... As long as the is a quality control which comes with certain brands. The JJ EL84's are a bit glassy but very good. Tone is subjective. The sovteks are nice and hardy. Valves die mechanically in combo's with all that vibration way before the die normal death. Sometimes a tap on the glass of a valve before it is put in really shows you the strength of it. Had some EL34EH that sounded like a reverb spring was inside ?

Oh and when i get a good 12AX7EH it is really good but had too many crap ones out the box. Really like the JJ's.

AlanRatcliffe

bottledtone wrote: I believe TAD are relabeled china stuff but could be mistaken.

No they are made in China (Shuguagang factory), but to TAD's own specs.

I've always found the JJ EL84's to have too much mid push for Voxy flavoured amps - they end up being quite muddy with the extra brightness on top translating to harsher highs at drive. I'd rather have the EH than the JJ if I couldn't get the TADs.

I do think the idea of looking at 7189 valves - my first thought when I saw Peavey were getting 50W out of a quad of El84s was that they must be pushing them damn hard, and 7189's can take a lot of punishment compared to an EL84.

FenderBender

nick wrote: If you phsyically compare the tubes its partly because the JJ is slightly smaller in size

Ah ok so more than likely the tube retainers were too big and rattled on the outside of the tubes.

FenderBender

bottledtone wrote: The sovteks are nice and hardy.

I've got a quad of sovtek el84s here that came out of a Classic 30 and they ring beautifully when tapped with an orange stick ?

bottledtone wrote: Had some EL34EH that sounded like a reverb spring was inside ?

I have never had a problem with EH. Just goes to show, sometimes it's the luck of the draw ?

AlanRatcliffe

Graeme Parfett wrote: Just goes to show, sometimes it's the luck of the draw ?

Yup - I just had a Telefunken go microphonic on me.

bottledtone

with an orange stick ?

I also import orange sticks! where you get yours from ?