Tube rolling and the Ampeg SVT-3 Pro

audiomitch · #1 12-06-2010, 09:21 PM

I was thinking of re-tubing my SVT-3 Pro with Tung Sol 12AX7 preamp tubes. I realized that I had just got done re-tubing my Fender Twin II with 5 Tung Sol 12AX7s. So I swapped V4, V5, & V6 from the Twin with the Sovteks in V1, V2 and V3 in the Ampeg. So the SVT-3 has brand new Tung Sol tubes in the first 3 sockets. The Twin still has Tung Sols in V1 and V2, and the used Sovteks in sockets 4, 5, and 6 (this is a weird Twin with an extra preamp tube).

My question is would it make much sonic difference to order another Tung Sol and some other 12AU7 for the last two sockets in the Ampeg? I think I read that those tubes don't make much difference in sound? I could be wrong.

The Sovteks are the original tubes from 2008 and probably have a fair amount of life left in them. No issues, I'm just not a big fan of Sovtek tubes.

Thanks

Jim C · #2 12-07-2010, 06:28 AM

I tried real Mullards as well as RCA, Sylvania, and others in my old 3-Pro and didn't hear much difference at all. Most agree that the V1 slot makes the biggest difference.

stiles72 · #3 12-07-2010, 08:41 AM

I've ran the Sovteks, Tung Sols, and JJ's in both of my 3-Pros. I've even experimented a few times with changing brands around in different positions. For the longest time I ran a Tung Sol in V1 and JJ's in all the rest. Honestly, I can't tell that big of a difference. I really don't think I could differentiate the brands in a "double blind taste test". In the future if I retube, I'll proabbly just go back to stock Sovteks for the price.

audiomitch · #4 12-07-2010, 01:33 PM

I've noticed more clean headroom with the Tung Sols. I'm diming the gain knob and can boost with the Graphic EQ Level slider higher with the new tubes. It could be that the old tubes needed replacing for gain reasons.

That said, I think I have more note definition now too. My tone is somewhat Chris Squire territory (too bad my playing doesn't match!), but love that throaty Ampeg growl thrown in. If I was playing my P with fingers in a blues band I may not notice it as much. OTOH, I could be imagining things.