Preamp valves

spirit7

Hello all -- just thought it would be good to start a discussion on preamp valves: what works, what doesn't work, what's good, what isn't.

I'm going to re-valve my Bogner 20th XTC as follows:

V1: Genalex Gold Lion  
V2: TAD Chinese 
V3: TAD Chinese
V4: TAD Chinese
V5 (PI): Sovtek LPS
V6: TAD Chinese

Any tips for what works where?  Especially for high gainers!

spirit7

Done that from all Chinese and it sounds EPIC.

Chester

Depends a lot on circuit design too. Carol Anns are designed around Chinese valves, and Mesa fits own brand JJ's for example. Put Russian or JJ tubes into a Carol Ann, and they sound duller, don't bite or crunch as well, and lose some sparkle .. to my ears and preference

Chinese quality is now as good as most current production, once the sh*te has been weeded out, and I tend to stick with what the amps came with when replacing them. I've been down the tube rolling game and spent a lot of money on experimentation and questionable results. There were exceptions of course - NOS tubes excelled in a Two Rock I owned