Best Tubes for Express

[PlinytheWelder]

Something totally out of left field..... I've been fixing an old Gibson GA-8T tremelo amp and it uses 6EU7 preamp tubes. Well, it turns out that the 6EU7 is a 12AX7 with relocated pins designed for low noise. Being under the radar, NOS 6EU7's are a lot cheaper than NOS 12AX7's.

They may be worth a look as an alternative for V1 with a rewired socket...

[WhopperPlate]

Interesting...

[garlin]

delete

[leadfootdriver]

I've been using JJ ECC803's, EI 12AX7's, and Baldwin labeled Sylvania 12AX7's. They sound very similar but the Sylvania's I have (and I have a bunch) all seem to have a bit of hum to them. The regular JJ ECC83S's lack in this amp as it seems to prefer full frequency responding tubes IMO.

On the other hand, the regular JJ ECC83S's that came with my Mesa Mark V sound great, and ECC803's sound bloated. I had a TriAxis preamp that liked Sylvania 12AX7's, but were dark in the Mark V. It all depends on the amp and your tastes.

The Express really reveals tube noise. It's easy to find out which tubes in your stash have hum and microphonics when you're swapping them in this amp.

[Big Jim]

Wow, this thread is still going? Just for the sake of completion, I figured I'd post up where I wound up with the amp.....I have Siemens (RFT) EL34's from Bryan. Great tubes. I also was lucky enough to score a good used set of Mullards. I keep those around for special occaisions. V2-3 are NOS blackplate RCA, and after going through dozens of tubes for V1, I wound up using one I got from 'ol Terry Kilgore years ago. I honestly don't know what it is....most of the markings, if not all, are wore off. I do know my Express is really quiet with that tube in there Maybe I should post up a pic and get educated!

[Big Jim]

By the way, I just retubed 2 Marshalls with the Mullard reissues, and they sounded pretty nice....the price is right too.

[overtone]

Wow, this thread is still going? Just for the sake of completion, I figured I'd post up where I wound up with the amp.....I have Siemens (RFT) EL34's from Bryan. Great tubes. I also was lucky enough to score a good used set of Mullards. I keep those around for special occaisions. V2-3 are NOS blackplate RCA, and after going through dozens of tubes for V1, I wound up using one I got from 'ol Terry Kilgore years ago. I honestly don't know what it is....most of the markings, if not all, are wore off. I do know my Express is really quiet with that tube in there Maybe I should post up a pic and get educated!

re. the V1 from Terry Kilmore,
I'd wager that is also an RFT,
best, tony