Guthrie Govan Discussion

liquidtension · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 92

What's everyone's preference on brands of preamp tubes, and more importantly why?

I'm thinking of retubing my amp and have decided to go with either Tung-Sols or JJs, but I'm favoring the first choice right now. Is there another choice that I should be looking at?

What are the stock tubes brands in the Cornfords and Custom Audios?

Does Guthrie have a tube brand that he swears by or is his approach more of a "I like the way this sounds, so there's no need to change"?

Sorry if this is redundant of an older thread. I did a few searches first and couldn't find anything.

jordan · Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Posts: 161

I recently swapped my Rivera's preamp valves over from EH-12AX7s to Tung-Sols (just because they needed changing and I thought I'd try something new), and I'm perfectly happy with the Tung-Sols.

In the past I've tried the Cryo-valves from Watford Valves, but couldn't tell any difference at all, so definitely won't be paying their prices again(!).

liquidtension · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 92

I have another question lingering related to tubes and this thread.

The whole tube bias thing for power tubes. Let's say my amp comes with 6L6s, and I've decided that I will only use 6L6s in it. How necessary is biasing? Will there really be THAT much of a difference?

For example, I have an old Mesa Fifty/Fifty power amp. Obviously the Mesas come with a fixed bias. But if I decided to put in a set of Tung Sols, GT or JJ 6L6s would this power amp really need rebiasing? I've heard some say 'yes' and others say that it is nothing more that a gimmick. What kind of difference are we talking about? Granted I purchase a perfect working set of tubes, is the difference something that only an intricate measuring device would pick (or in other words, nothing that the ears would notice)?