Re-tube?

[Slippery fingers]

Hi all,
I have a Traynor YCV 40WR it's only about 6 months old I really like this amp, it's pretty versital, at least for the stuff I play, anyway it comes stock from the factory with Sovtech tubes. I was told that if I re-tube the amp with JJ's it would sound better. Now better is a relative term, I asked him what he ment by better, (in what way would it sound better) but he could'nt give me an answer to that. So could someone here tell me what JJ's tube's would do differantly in my amp than the Sovtech's? Im willing to re-tube it, but I'd like to know what the differances will be befor I lay out the dollars for the new tubes.
Thanks,
Paul

[admin]

Paul: I am afraid that all I have to offer on this one is my experience and for this reason you are dealing with a sample size of one in my case.

I changed the tubes in my Traynor YCV40 to JJs which included preamp and power tubes. The first thing you will find is that the task is a tad more difficult than with a Fender amplifier.

After my changes my perception was that the tone improved, but as you have so correctly pointed out, what is meant by better? What I was looking for was a just-noticeable difference and comparing my memory of the tone moments before the change I was pleasantly surprised.

To take things a bit further, a few months later my friend brought over his Traynor YCV40 and we compared them side by side. My amplifier with the JJs produced a tone with greater definition and had a scintillating or shimmering quality that differed from the stock tubed one.

I was pleased with the outcome but it did cost me about $100 to make the changes.

After changing tubes on all of my amplifiers over the years and experimenting in many different ways with tube combinations, I have come to realize, at least for my ears that the greatest single change (providing all tubes are functionally sound) is in the power tubes. Next the V1 tubes in the Fender amplifiers produce the next greatest difference. I cannot honestly say that I could hear the difference in the remainder of tubes swapped out. I am not saying there isn't a difference with the other tubes, I just haven't been able to hear it. In the interest of saving money, I would first replace the power tubes and then V1.

I have read a number of articles over the years that have argued that tube preamp sections in tube amplifiers are not that far ahead of solid state preamp sections in tube amplifiers. I will leave the technical arguments to Greg and others here why that may or may not be the case.

If you have $100 to spend I would be incl inced to go the JJ Tesla route with the Traynor YCV40. I do not feel that you will be disappointed with the overall quality or life of these tubes and the difference was clearly audible to myself and others present at the time of our head to head comparison.

[soundmasterg]

I only replace tubes when they fail, or when there is an audible problem with a given tube. Some of the amp makers put some cheap tubes in their amps that are reliable so they will make it through the warranty period, but these tubes don't sound as good as some others. usually the house brands are Sovtek or Chinese stuff. They function fine, but don't sound as good as JJ, EH, Tung-Sol, Winged C, etc. You can change to any brand of tube and the amp will sound different with them. Whether it is better or not is subjective since everyone hears differently. JJ make a good product, though lately they have had some quality issues. Winged C makes some very good tubes, but don't offer the wider seletion of other makers, and aren't as easy to find. The new Tung-Sol are VERY good so far, but are even harder to find and are more expensive. Many of the EH offerings are the same or similar to Sovtek stuff, and some of the Sovtek types are good and sound good. Look at it this way, it doesn't hurt to have a backup set of tubes. Find the ones you like and try them out. You might be surprised.

Greg

[Slippery fingers]

Greg and Pete,
Thanks so very much for your CLEAR and DEFINED answers, it was exactally what I was looking for, it's so refreshing to get an intellegent answer to a question. Im going to get a set of JJ's and try them out, can you guys recommend a good place for me to buy the tubes? If possible I'd like to get them from someone related to this site, after all this is a great site, and one can always rely on good professional answers from the people here as you guys have just demonstrated.
Paul

[soundmasterg]

You're welcome.

There are a lot of places to buy tubes. I am a dealer for many types, though I don't generally make that known here. If you want to get some through me then send me a PM. Eurotubes is probably the best vendor for JJ tubes. He's actually across town from me, and I've never met him, though I probably should one of these days. He's a fellow vintage Sunn amp nut like me.

Greg

[rick36]

I have been very happy with JJ's in my Carr Mercury (E34L) & Gibson GA-5's (EL84). A couple of other sources are "thetubestore.com" and "tubedepot.com". They've got it all...
I also highly recommend Dave Hunters book: "The Guitar Amp Handbook: Understanding Tube Amplifiers and Getting Great Sounds". It is the best investment ($16.47 @ Amazon) you'll ever make in your tube amplifier and guitars!