Orange TB500
 

How many people have changed out the chinese tubes in their TB? Which ones did you use? What did it change on your amp?

I for one put some JJs ECC83s in mine and it made the EQ more useful. Originally it was only good as a cut. Nothing seemed to happen once the dial went past 12:00. Now I can boost the EQ well past 12:00 and hear a difference. Best $28 I spent.

I've heard/read that you can put a 12AT7 in the V1 spot for more clean headroom/volume before the breakup. But I'm happy with the Orange dirt/sound so I just kept 12AX7s while switching to a better set of tubes.

Its a passive eq, so its all cut, but relatively, the mid is cut only, the bass and treble are boost only.

I put a JAN 5751 in each spot. It's warmer and smoother all the way around...

I swapped out the stock tubes for Tung-Sol 12AX7's. The result has been a smoother gain stage, which is what I was looking for.

5751s were recommended to me for smoother gain by Eurotubes..

Thanks for this post! This reminds me to try some new tubes. I have tons of 12ax7's, NOS and as new old stock.

Frankly, I'd like even "smoother," if anyone has any suggestions. Or should I just get the 1000 watt model and b done with it? Sorry for hijacking...

Not a hijack.. I've thought about the TB1000... but what do I need that kind of power for? I'd rather have a greater assortment of cab choices for my TB500 and make a tube change or two to get the power level/smoothness I want...

This change made the amp much more usable, and still left plenty of headroom. Actually, I push it a lot further now without breaking up.

You could try a 12AT7 for even less gain--I think it would really mellow it out. If you search for the orange club, or Terror bass threads there is a chart of sorts that shows the relative gain of 12AX7 tubes, i.e. 12AX7 =100% 5751 =80%


:cool: