zaphod wrote:
Just make sure the Tung-Sol 6V6s won't mind having 450V on them. Hiwatt tone requires high voltages, and we've picked a voltage that both the JJ 6V6s and KT66s will deliver at. Maybe test carefully and bias cold, and pull them out quick if they appear to red-plate or arc at all.
Good point - I'll check into that.
zaphod wrote:
Stephen and I also tried a set of Tung-Sol 12AX7s in the preamp. The sound had a sweet clarity and definition, which I immediately liked. However, they were a bit on the bright side for our tastes, so the more middy JJs went back in. Original Hiwatts would tended to have used Mullard 12AX7s, which have a nice warm midrange and good overall balanced tone. So anything that sounds Mullard-like should be good in the Triwatt. I've read that New Sensor's RI Mullard 12AX7/ECC83 is nothing more than a re-labeled Sovtek 12AX7 LPS. GTs 12AX7M is also said to sound close to an original Mullard, but have had a lot of reliability issues.
That's exectly why I switched V1 in my 2204 to the Mullard RI - a little warmer than the TS & not quite as "gainy". I've done the same with my V6 for the same reason. I can imagine the TS would have sounded bright in the Triwatt. Judging by the clips & tone control settings it must have been a rather bright amp overall - at least in V4 trim. Darker pre's would be a better fit.
I do have a couple of the JJ 12AX7's and I didn't like them in my Marshall builds, or my Laney GH100TI either for that matter. They don't sound bad, they just added something that I didn't really like in those amps. I do like it in my Traynor CS100 though. It adds more mid presence to compensate a bit for the amps natural "scooped" character.
BTW, the Plexi V6 I build for Keith (Fortis) has TS 12AX7's and it flat out KILLS.
I've also tried the Sovtek LPS and found it to be grittier/edgier than the Mullard RI. Might just be the samples I have. I haven't tried the GT's. I've never understood the point of paying a premium for the same tubes with extra labelling added!