Favorite Preamp Tubes in Your Mesa Boogie 400+?

[TaySte_2000]

So is this just going to have the same effect as turning down the input volume? Because mine are where they are for a reason

 

[Pitbull Growl]

kinda.... it's like turning down the input gain, but still having the same volume. To me it reminded me of a blackface Fender Bassman... but louder. Nice sound for stuff like blues, but not my thing really. As always YMMV.

 

[MAMMOTHvolume]

I think I'm "over" the 12AU7 mod. I've tried it twice now.

It does make the head a lot more friendly to use in more mellow settings. (My micro-head gave the bigger rigs a run for the money when I first got it - looked like it might be time for some Mesa payback. )

But on a louder gig the other night, it totally ran out of juice. I had the master at 10 and I was fuzzing out all over the place but still not loud enough. (Think I was distorting some earlier stages but not really pushing the power section.)

I threw a 12AX7 back in and it was back to its old self. Filling the room way up with the master at 3 1/2 & not breaking up nearly as much. That works for me.

No harm done, tho - was worth a try.

+1 theres no way a 12au7 is gonna drive 6 6550s/6l6s up to full clean wattage without being overdriven. my recomendation would be to change the whole preamp out for 5751s

 

[Pitbull Growl]

Hey Mammoth (or anyone else reading this),

Any thoughts/experience/insight on the Groove Tubes Link Removed, Link Removed or the Link Removed? The latter 2 seem like they'd be ideal for a driver tube based on the description. Is it just marketing hype, or are the claims valid?

 

[Krügmeister]

Anyone else have anything to add? I swapped out my AT for a vintage Mullard AU and it sounds great.

 

[TaySte_2000]

Yeah I finally did this and put an AU in and it sounds great, might change it for a more high quality one in the future though