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Genz Benz Streamliner Tube Rolling
- Thread starter Joe Smithberger
- Start date
Definately, I'd like to try some of the RCA 7025's, but they're getting a bit "pricy". I'm hoping that the reissue TS's will work well enough.
I'm really loving the amp though. I've used it on the last 3 gigs and it's sounded awesome!
I'm really loving the amp though. I've used it on the last 3 gigs and it's sounded awesome!
You can usually find a used pair of RCA 7025's in good condition on eBay for $70 or $80. I got mine on eBay two weeks ago, but they were actually NOS, never used. I couldn't be happier with results though, using them in V2 & V3.
And you definitely can't go wrong with the NOS JAN Philips 5751 in V1.
And you definitely can't go wrong with the NOS JAN Philips 5751 in V1.
I've seen them on ebay like that, I've just been a bit reluctant to go that route for them. I guess like anything else there check the sellers feedback.
TC.65 said:
The last I heard, TAD wasn't actually producing their own tubes. They were cherry picking good ones, then giving them their stamp of approval.
If so, it still works for me- kind of like Groove Tubes in the good old days.
I have a TAD 12AY7, and it's a sweetheart.
steve_rolfeca said:
Yes, TAD selects and tests Chinese tubes, and they are very reliable because of it.
One Drop said:
I have a TAD Mullard premium reissue in V1 and V3 and a TAD 7025 premium in V2. Very warm, clean, clear and tons of headroom. I've had 5751s in V1 but they are very polite and and the TAD adds a nice flavor in V1. But the quality of the tubes is premium as they go through them and just cull the ones that aren't quality.
Maybe my ears are simply old and knackered but I couldn't really hear any significant difference between a NOS Philips 5751 and the original tube in V1. Nothing that a tiny tweak of the EQ couldn't sort anyway.
Unless you've got money to burn I'd recommend sticking with the original tubes.
I'm convinced that when people expect to hear a difference they will (bit like a placebo effect). Anyway, that was my experience. YMMV etc.
Unless you've got money to burn I'd recommend sticking with the original tubes.
I'm convinced that when people expect to hear a difference they will (bit like a placebo effect). Anyway, that was my experience. YMMV etc.
Was looking at some of the TAD tubes on ebay. Who deals in those stateside without having to resort to ebay. I'm also looking at some RCA 7025's on the bay also.
BTW, got my JAN 5751 in today, gonna put it in V1 if I have time before practice tonight.
BTW, got my JAN 5751 in today, gonna put it in V1 if I have time before practice tonight.
Strange, I heard a big difference. The bass immediately become less boomy and tighter, it was not that subtle a change. Maybe it's individual tubes? Or maybe it's your speaker cabinet. I'm playing through a fEARful, which is very revealing in the low end (and has SO much real response down there), so any change (and any boom) is really obvious.
I also put a Tung Sol in V2, and that was also a suprisingly big change. It's a lot louder and more aggressive in the mids now.
I have good ears, but they are by no means "golden". It's possible that part of it is a placebo effect, but I swapped 4 or 5 tubes in and out at least 20-30 times, and the results were very consistent even when I wasn't looking at which tube I put in next. I wasn't always sure which tube I liked more, but I could always tell them apart.
Probably not my cab .. main cab is a Genz 810 XB3 which has a tight full range response (way down low also).
May just be that I got lucky with a really "nice" original V1 tube.
Also is still possible that my ears are shot !
smeet said:
You can also tighten lower frequencies and cut boom by using a high pass filter. Less messy than switching tubes. The HPF is also a variable control, adapting bass signals for any venue's acoustics.
Genz amps already have a pretty good HPF, so I think the "flubbiness" that people complain about is not sub-bass frequencies, but rather a buildup of mid-bass or something like that. I don't think an external HPF would change that. I never felt like the Streamliner had too much sub-bass, it was more that the fundamentals around the middle of the E and A strings were sometimes a bit unclear. After the tube swaps, I no longer feel that way at all.
I've had the complete opposite perception using my SL900 with LDS 12/6 and 15/6 cabs, and my Crazy8 cab. The low frequencies were most certainly the culprit, and my Fdeck-Pre HPF eliminated the problem without swapping tubes. I've swapped tubes in the past with other Genz amps and did discern minor tonal variations. But seriously, if your main goal is to tighten up the low end, use a HPF. It's much easier and very precise. I get even more control with an Empress ParaEQ, which allows more fine tuned EQing than the Streamliner - especially variations on the Q bands.
Interesting. At what frequency does the Fdeck HPF cut off? You said it's variable? Is that his new one?
Cutoff starts at 35Hz. Francis recommends you turn the frequency up gradually until you're satisfied with the sound. That was counterintuitive to me, but I like the setting at about 55Hz. It's the Series 2, and I understand a new two-knee version will be released this summer. I believe it will have a fixed cutoff at 35Hz and an adjustable knee above that. Best to consult these threads for background.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f4/review-new-pre-amp-high-pass-filter-346669/
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/fdecks-hpf-865291/
[and back to Streamliner tube rolling.....]
Well, I put my JAN 5751 in V1. I only had about 5 minutes to play with it, but it was immeadiately evident that the bottom end was tightened up. I hope to get some more time with it tomorrow. I was pretty happy with the results.
pablomigraine
Commercial User
Any experienced swappers have a recommendation for a tube set that will retain the furry and fat low-end and midrange while perhaps also adding a little clarity and a crisp top end?
Thanks!
Thanks!
