Tube Reviews by Amplifier

• Allen Amplification
• ART Mic Preamp
• Bogner
  • Ecstacy
• Buddah -
  • Phatman
• Carr
  • Rambler
• Clark
  • Beaufort
  • Tweed Champ
  • Deluxe
• Diesel
  • VH4
• Dr. Z
  • Maz38
  • Route 66
    
  • Z28
• Engl
• Fender
  • Bandmaster
  • Bassman and Bassman Reissue
  • Blues Deville
  • Blues Jr.
  • Deluxe (Tweed)
  • Deluxe Reverb
  • Deluxe Reverb Reissue
  • Hot Rod Deluxe
    
  • Hot Rod DeVille
  • Princeton and Princeton Reverb
  • Prosonic
  • Super Reverb
  • Super Reverb Reissue
  • Tone Master
  • Tremolux
  • Twin Reverb
  • Vibrolux Reverb
  • Vibroverb
• Jim Kelley
• Komet
• Laney
  • VC30
• Marshall
  • Silver Jubilee
  • DSL 100
    
  • JCM 800
• Matchless
  • Chieftain
  • DC-30
  • John Jorgenson
  • Pheonix 35
    
• Mesa Boogie
  • MK IV
• Peavey
  • 5150
  • Classic 30
  • Delta Blues
  • VMP-2
• Rivera
  • M-60
  • R-30
• Soldano
  • Hot Rod 50
  • SLO
• Sunn
  • Bass amp
• Swart AST
• THD
  • Bi-Valve
• Texas Tornado
• Tone King
  • Imperial
• Tone Works
  • Real Tube
• Top Hat
  • Emplexador
• Traynor
  • YCV40
    
• Two Rock
  • Emerald Pro
• VHT
  • Pit Bull
• Victoria
  • 4510 Bassman

  • Victoralux

• Vox/Korg
  • AC30

Allen Amplification
Mazda 6V6GT's
Mike:

Just got done installing the Mazda 6V6's you sent into my Allen Amplification Fender Twin Reverb Clone. Man, just exactly what I was looking for. I set the bias at about 21 ma's and it really sings with my Tele. Now it's not too loud (my fault for getting the 80 Watt version) and has wonderful harmonics and tone.

Thanks. I'll be ordering more soon.

Sincerely

Jim Jenkins

ART Mic Preamp
RCA 5751's, Telefunken ECC83/12AX7's
Mike Im using these tubes in Microphone Preamps I have a home studio and Im just as concerned about my sound as guitar players. I use the Tele's in a Peavey VMP-2 preamp and I use the RCA's (5751's) in my Art Mic Preamp. The RCA 5751 tubes are incredible they make my Art Preamp sound like a thousand dollar preamp.

Keep my card on file cause I wont do business with no one else but you. Your service is great! Ps feel free to use me as a reference if you wont to....Many
Thanks...Mike Hall

Bogner
Ecstacy
Mullard CV4004s (12AX7)
Man, these Mullards (CV4004's) are frigging soulful!!! I'll write more later....I gotta play now! Thanks for the FREE pin protectors!

...(later that same week)
By the way, after a year and a half of playing a great amp (Bogner Ecstasy 101), I started to sense and feel something wrong with my favorite Bogner tone. My music's life and soul seemed to be diminished somehow. I then plugged your Mullard (box plate CV4004's) into the first three preamp slots. Good God Almighty! My tone is back and better than ever! I must get more Mullards from you. Afterall, there are three more preamp slots in this amp alone!

B.S.

Mullard CV4004s
Man, these Mullards (CV4004's) are frigging soulful!!! I'll write more later....I gotta play now! Thanks for the FREE pin protectors!

...(later that same week)
By the way, after a year and a half of playing a great amp (Bogner Ecstasy 101), I started to sense and feel something wrong with my favorite Bogner tone. My music's life and soul seemed to be diminished somehow. I then plugged your Mullard (box plate CV4004's) into the first three preamp slots. Good God Almighty! My tone is back and better than ever! I must get more Mullards from you. Afterall, there are three more preamp slots in this amp alone!

B.S.

Buddah
Phatman
Mullard CV4024/12AT7 (From Webervst.com tube discussion bulletin board)
Try this too: I use 2 NOS Mullard CV4024/ECC81/12AT7 tubes that I bought from Mike Kropotkin in my Budda Phatman overdrive stomp box. Same results: great blues tones, and a much wider variation of tones from the
gain control.

David Goode

Mullard CV4024/12AT7
By the way, I used the two Mullard 12AT7 tubes (bought from you) to replace the crappy Sovtek 12AX7's in my 'Budda Phatman' overdrive pedal... definitely money well spent.

Max Wolf

Carr
Rambler
Westinghouse/Marconi 6V6Gs
Mike:
The Westinghouse/Marconi 6V6Gs are awesome! I love them in my Princeton Reverb and Carr Rambler.

Thanks,
Tim Scannel

Clark
Beaufort
Westinghouse/Marconi 6V6Gs
Hi Mike, I like the Marconi 6V6G tubes alot! They have beaucoups of vibe. They are a bit darker, more powerful and thicker sounding than any GT's I have. I am a big fan of ST shaped tubes, and these are fine examples. These went in my Clark Beaufort (tweed Deluxe). Thanks!

Take care,

Kenny Lippe]

Tweed Champ
Only had time for a little bit of picking, but the Mullard CV4004 and the Westinghouse-Marconi sound super in the Clark Tweed Champ. Nice combo of tubes for the little tweedy.

Appreciate everything, and thanks again for the straightener.

John DeCecco

Deluxe
I bought two Westinghouse-Marconi 6v6's from Mike. I ordered one, liked it, and ordered another one a few weeks later.
I was using them(it) in a tweed Champ, and wanted a "backup".
Just recently I bought a Clark Deluxe, and put this "pair" in. WOW, what a sound!
I have nothing to "test" these with, other than my ears and eyes. They don't seem to glow too brightly, and the sound is to die for.
How far matched or mismatched they are is a mystery to me, but the sound a whole lot better than the JAN Phillips that were in there.

John DeCecco

Diesel

VH4

Hey Mike,
Thanks for the super fast service and quality advice. I've decided on the RFT's in V1/V4, the GE 12ax7a in V3 and the EH 12ax7's in V2/V7. Compared to the slightly harsh Sovtek 12ax7wb's that came stock in the amp, the tube upgrade has created a warmer, fuller, more 3D sound. When I opened up the amp volume-wise for the first time after the swap, I immediately noticed that channel 2 had even more of that AC/DC vibe I dig so much. The upgrade gave channels 3/4 a browner high gain with more girth. Anyone with a VH4 knows how great the amp sounds to begin with. The foundation is already there. It can get better with the help of KCA. Any amp would benefit. It's money well spent.

Whenever the need arises for tubes, KCA is the place I'm going to.

Thanks,
Brendan

Dr. Z
Maz38
Mullard CV4024/12AT7
Mike:
.....
By the way. You DO use those Mullard 12AT7s( 4024) in your Fenders as PIs don't you.(YES!)......They gotta be the best(PI) tube on earth.........especially for the money . I am thinking about buying every single one I can find $22.00 ? I have them in my DR Z Maz 38 ,the Matchless Jorgenson and the Matchless chieftain + the super. They have improved the sound of each amp an almost infinite ammount in my opinion(especially the chieftain).

How many of the military Mullard CV4024 do you have? (Good stock on hand)

Lynn Bitterman

Route 66
Hello Mike,
You are my new favorite person. Thank you for your recommendation for my Dr Z Route 66. The Dario Miniwatt EF86 and GE 12AX7 have completely revived
this amp. I was ready to sell this head and find something else but I thought I would see what some new tubes could do to the amp. Incredible sustain, beautiful mids, rich and warm. I believe this is the way this head is supposed to sound.

Thanks again for your help and quick shipping. You're the best.

Jon

Z28

Mike I got those 6V6's and installed those suckers in my Dr Z Z-28 and they are a fine match.I don't know if it is the sparkle or what but that amp seems to have more headroom.It may just be the sweetness of the tone but I could swear it has more headroom.I think I like it better than the RCA's.That's what was in there and they didnt have but 10-20 hr. on them.Thanks buddy Engl
Mike,
Just wanted to say thanks for the RFT's (ALL MATCHED!!) and GE's. I popped the RFT's in the V1-V5 of my Engl and a matched GE in the PI and instantly noticed a sweeter sustain and more even tonal range. Finally got the power tubes replaced and biased and *!yowza!* this thing is SMOKIN!

So thanks for the prompt handling of the order, the matched RFT's and all-around professionalism. Your insight really helped the decision-making process and probably saved me a few bucks along the way as well. I know who I'll be turning to before N-O-S becomes G-O-N-E!! Thanks!!
Greg Ulankiewicz

Fender

Hi Mike & Donna,

Just heard the tubes and am absolutely ecstatic with the results. And so embarassingly -- and rather rashly too soon -- I am back for more. Now that my fingers are too sore to play anymore......

Would you kindly send me 6 more Mullard CV4004/12ax7's? It didn't matter what amp these were installed in -- Matchless, Brownfaced Pro,Tweeds, BF Pro Reverb, Twins, Marshalls, even a Hot Rod Deluxe! -- all sounded superlatively great whether you're looking for the rhythm sound of doom, a supremely oily lick, or delicate chording.
Could you also tell me whether this is the same tube as the Mullard ECC83/M8137 box anode which does so well in audio applications? [YES]

Best regards again and I look forward to hearing from you soonest,

Andy Locsin

Bandmaster
Mullard CV4024/12AT7
Mike, I just got finished with a couple of amps for a client (BF Bandmaster, BF Deluxe non-reverb.) He ordered your CV4024 for the phase inverter, and it was my first exposure to this tube. Wow! These are really sweet! I'm going t recommend them in the BF Fender stuff from now on. I think it may be the best-sounding PI I've heard in there - even better than the RCA.

Pete Cage (Cage Amps)

Bassman and Bassman Reissue
RCA Black Plate 6L6GC's
Regarding the RCA 6L6's.....I ran out years ago, and have been making due with GE's and (gulp) Svetlanna's offering, which wasn't too bad for the money. But when you have an early 1960 Tweed Bassman 5F6A, only Black Plate 6L6's will
conjure up that reeks of the entire history of American Rock and Blues! The Blackplate's sound is defined by its firm bottom-end, sweet mids, and glassy Highs and they don't give up the Ghost when hit hard. There is no better 6L6 to be found anywhere, and life's too short for Bad Tone.

I'm set.....barring an earthquake of course.

Michael Fuller/Fulltone Fulltone Custom Effects

JAN Philips 7581A's (super 6L6GC)
Dear Mike,

I have been playing the Jan Phillips 7581A's you sent me for about a week now, and can not believe the difference
they made in my 59 reissue Bassman. I had replaced the original Sovtek's with NOS GE 6L6GC's a while ago. This
made a huge difference in sound, but I still wasn't satisfied. The amp seemed a little dark and too midrangey. I experimented with different NOS preamp tubes including the 5751's, along with rectifier combinations, and was recently researching new
speakers. I decided to try the 7581A's, based on your recommendation and viola! The sound is pure, sweet, Fender. They seem to bring out the best of the Bassman's unique tone, as well as enhancing the sound of my pedals. Instead of trying different combinations of preamp tubes to improve the tone, the 7581A's make any combination sound awesome (lower tubes like the AY7 are sweeter and warmer, while using all ax7's now sounds smooth and articulate, instead of excessive).
You responded to my early Sunday morning email right away, and as in the past, the tubes were delivered
intact within two business days. You are definitely a man of his word, and honesty and integrity seem harder to find these days. You have my business for life.

Many Thanks,

Rick

Hi Mike/Donna,
I just got my Fender Bassman back from my amp tech and the new tubes sound great! The RCA 12AX7's are a huge improvement in fullness and character and they compliment the Svetlana 6L6's very well.. I'll be back for more - (probably additional RCA's for my Princeton)..
Thanks again for the recommendations..
Best Wishes..
Greg Passler

Blues Deville
JAN Philips 7581A's (super 6L6GC)
Mike -

You were right. The Philips 7581A's are great in this amp (Fender DeVille 410). I couldn't get the bias any lower than 39mA - but heck, that's only 53% of the plate voltage! I think they'll last a long, long time. Even my wife commented on the great tone, which is different than saying "please turn that thing down!"

Thanks, T
Tom Houser

Svetlana 6L6GCs and JAN GE 12AX7WAs
I put the Jan GE12AX7WA's and the Svetlana 6L6GC's in my Fender Blues DeVille...unbelievable difference. This is like a new and different amp. I have wonderful power with tone that is easily adjusted and does not waiver. It is clean, smooth, powerful or soft. I don't loose my mids when I increase my treble. Thanks for the new amp?

Ray Stokes

Blues Jr.
JAN Philips 6BQ5/EL84's
Mike.....

You are -- THE -- man. Got the tubes today, like 2 or 3 days after I ordered them? Well I didn't feel like waiting until Christmas so I gave them to my friend Mike today, we plugged them in ( into his Fender Blues Jr. replacing the stock Sovtek EL84s) and WHOA, what a difference..... you know, I honestly didn't think new Fenders were able of attaining anything more than an earsplitting buzz when you overdrive them, but no joke, these tubes did the trick!

Oh yeah, there's a thread on the Strat email list that's been going around for about a week now, and over a half dozen guys recomended you when some guy asked if new tubes would help in his Blues Jr. and where to get them from -- thought you might like to know that ;)

Later on, happy holidays to you,
-Ross "Yung-Gun"

Mullard CV4004s (12AX7)
Mike & Donna:

I want to thank you for the quick response on my order for the Mullard CV4004 tubes. In a nut shell, I love what they have done to my Fender Blues Jr. Pure tonal bliss.
Jeff Reeder

Mullard CV4004s (12AX7)
These tubes kick butt!!!
Whoa,man! These thangs are smoke'n(MullardCV4004's) my 'lil Fender Blues Jr. is real leg breaker now! None of
my buddies can belive this is the same 15 watt combo I was jamming with last week! They all think I had some
"big dollar" Hop-Up done to it! But it's all in the tubes baby! Can't wait to get some more for back-up
when gawd forbid these go to that big tube ranch in the sky!!! Thanx a bunch!
Scott A.K.A. Wondercatjr.....

Deluxe (Tweed)
Brimar 6V6GTYs
Mike,
... I popped the BriMar 6V6's into my 1960 tweed deluxe. Wow. Big difference. A powerful and rich sounding tube, with a warm middle and a creamy smooth breakup. Very nice tubes.

Ken

Ken Rad 6V6GT's
There are certain tubes that exemplify a clear aspect of their respective eras. The Golden Age of 6V6 productions, to
me, had ended by the mid 1950s. The RCA 6V6GT signified the culmination and end of that era. The VT-107, in its several forms, is a true pinnacle within that short-lived period. The Ken Rad, which appears as part of the GE family of the VT-107, is a wonderful tube. It is similar to the Sylvania in that it has an incredible clarity and warmth from the upper bass region, on into a very sparkly and extended high frequency range. The Sylvania versions I have (GT and not G) are very sharp and slightly edgy. The GE and Ken Rads, by contrast, exude warmth, but do not sacrifice clarity. The family together seem to resist being
pushed too hard. The breakup occurs more rapidly than the classic RCA. Consequently they require more sensitivity in playing through them, in order to maintain control into the distortion range. The RCAs seem easier to control overall, but
lack the beautiful midrange presence exhibited by the GEs and Ken Rads. And the Sylvanias seem nearly razor sharp by comparison.

My verdict on the Ken Rad is that they are absolutely necessary. My life is suddenly more complete. They are great for Country, Pop and Rock guitarists who don't need to stray too far into overdriven Blues-Rock. And they are definitely not
Metal or Grunge.

By the way, they were tested in a '57 Tweed Deluxe.

Thanks once again.
Richard Schense

Westinghouse/Marconi 6V6Gs
Hi Mike,
I know you get a ton of responses to your tubes, just wanted to say I like the Westinghouse 6V6G's I bought from you. Not having a bias meter handy, I put the tubes in ( cathode biased 5E3 clone ) and assumed all was well with the 250 ohm C.resistor and 22uf bypass cap in place. The amp sounded great. The plates weren't glowing at idle or cranked up ( haven't had a venue to dime it yet ). I took the amp to a jam, had two guitars plugged in and played at 9 for 3 hours. Got some nice comments about the tone..

I did voltage checks on my first smoke test when I built this amp, but didn't crunch the numbers to see what bias current I was at. I decided to check voltages again Saturday night, and to my surprise, I found 23.5vdc on the cathodes. Unless my math is off, that's 47ma per tube at idle! With 365vdc on the plates ( 5V4G rectifier ), we're talking 15 watts dissapation at idle. Ouch! They didn't complain.

I did the sensible thing and replaced the 250ohm with a 470ohm. For now I've also replaced the 5V4G with a 5Y3GT. I'm now calculating 8.05 watts at idle. If there's a change in tone, I can't tell, other than less gain. Still sounds great. I won't say anything at the next gig and see if anyone notices the change.

Love yer tubes man..

Bill Range

Mullard CV4004s (12AX7)
Mike Kropotkin; Thanks for the very quick turn around on my last order. I finally got to plug in the tubes over the weekend. I am using them in a deluxe clone I built and wow what a difference. The (Mullard) CV4004 is full of that fat blues tone. I may be exagerating, but the difference between this and the JAN Philips 12AX7 it replaced was almost as great as the difference in going from a solid state to a tube amp. The CV4024 in the phase inverter had a noticable impact in smoothness of tone as well, although not as great as the CV4004. ------ Anyway, I would like to place another
order. I would like to get another of those CV4004 just to keep on the shelf
for an emergency.

Michael Angle

Deluxe Reverb
Westinghouse/Marconi 6V6Gs
Hi Mike,

First I'd like to say that those Westinghouse (Canada, made by Marconi) JAN 6V6Gs I recently purchased from
you are absolutey fantastic sounding in my deluxe reverb.

What I was wondering is... do you have any idea what year those tubes are? Just currious. (1940s)

Thanks,
Richard

RCA Black Plate 6V6GT
My BF Deluxe Reverb has never sounded this good.....because I've never run NOS RCA Blackplate 6V6's in it! I've run just about everything else. After popping the NOS RCA's in, all that Sparkle, Spank, and Shimmer was there , with a nice tight bottem-end that didn't fold under my heavy right hand and .011 gauge strings! Mike K's a great guy....prompt, fair, and when he says "matched" he means it.

I'm in heaven,

Michael Fuller/ Fulltone Custom effects Fulltone Custom Effects

RCA BLACK PLATE 6V6GT
These sound like the Sylvanias (6V6GTA's) with butter, cream and maple syrup on them. Absolutely wonderful, mismatched bottles and all.
I am keeping these right where they are, in my Marshall. Creamy but with bite and good power. You can run your Deluxe or Marshall 4001 wide open ( for hours) with these.
OVERALL RATING 10
Lynn Bitterman

Brimar 6V6GTYs
Mike:
Well, I finally installed the Brimar 6V6GTYs and the Mullard CV4024 with matched triodes plus the Mullard CV4004s in my BF Deluxe Reverb and WOW! I loved the sound of the DR with the RCAs but now I'm literally blown away! I've now got the smokingist, most awesome tone that I find myself smiling all the time. Your recommendations are right on! Time to stock up for the future I reckon........
Thank you!
Jeff Kind

Mazda 6V6GT's
I received the Mazda 6V6s and I am really impressed with the way they sound in my '65 Deluxe Reverb. It came with Sovtek 6V6s, which are not built nearly well enough for that amp. Not only that, but they where very dark and bottom heavy, almost boomy. In my brief comparison I find the Mazdas to be very well balanced, much clearer and more sensitive to touch than the Sovteks. The Mazda can sound sweet but get really agressive when you lean into them.

Overall I really really like them a lot! With the Sovteks I thought I needed to change my amp's speaker. Now I realize that it just needed some fresh NOS tubes. Thanks for the recommendation!

Ryan Linderman

Mazda 6V6GT's
Hey Mike

Got those Mazdas in my Deluxe over the weekend I've just got to tell you thanks. They are some fine sounding tubes - the amp came alive with these babies. Much clearer tone, and they hold their sound at both low and high
volumes.
Thanks again

Don Herring

Mike,

Thanks for the Ken Rads! They sound great (in a Deluxe Reverb).

Jason Smith

Mullard CV4004s (12AX7)
Wow! The Mullard's really made a difference. I thought my amp (SF Deluxe Reverb) sounded great with the plain old Groove Tubes in them and I didn't think I would hear that much of a difference. The moment I turned the amp on, the sound was amazing. The (Mullard) CV4004s really bring out the tone of my guitars and the reverb from the CV4024 is so incredibly deep. I even have some increase in gain at a lower volume.

Paul Gonzalez

Mullard CV4024/12AT7
Mike, I just got finished with a couple of amps for a client (BF Bandmaster, BF Deluxe non-reverb.) He ordered your CV4024 for the phase inverter, and it was my first exposure to this tube. Wow! These are really sweet! I'm going t recommend them in the BF Fender stuff from now on. I think it may be the best-sounding PI I've heard in there - even better than the RCA.

Pete Cage (Cage Amps)

Deluxe Reverb Reissue

Mike:
I've installed the pair of Brimar 6V6GTY's along with two Mullard 4004's and two Mullard 4024's which I recently ordered from you, in my Fender Deluxe
Reverb Reissue. The results are outstanding, I was almost ready to sell this amp after 3 years of tweaking. Your suggestions on the website improved the tone immeasurably.
Art

Brimar 6V6GTYs
Mike and Donna,
Just wanted to let you know, I got to play out with the Brimars for the first time Friday.... what a great sounding tube for my Deluxe Reverb R.I.- Although my drummer made me turn down just a bit, this amp has never sounded fatter, or tighter.
Thanks
Denny Altaffer

Brimar 6V6GTYs
Yes you are right . Tone is subjective. By the way, the Brimar 6v6gty tubes in my Deluxe Reverb Reissue are just amazing. Thanks for your email
responses. You run a great business.

Bill Irvine

Mazda 6V6GT's
Mike, I just wanted let you know that the set of Mazda 6V6GT's sound incredible in my reissue Deluxe Reverb. With GE JAN 12AX7WA's and the Mazda's it really brings out the best in this amp. I've haven't done a thing to it in a year expect gig with it regularly and it still sounds excellent. Thanks for your great customer service.

Thanks,

Jim Pfoh
Westinghouse/Marconi 6V6Gs
Mike, geez what a difference (Mullard CV4004, CV4024, Westinghouse/Marconi 6V6G)!!! The amp has TONE now. Lest any stone be left unturned, please send me the rectifier tube of your choice (65 reissue Fender Deluxe Reverb). Our relationship will be: You tell me what I need and send it to me and I will pay for it! Thanks for the excellent advice, your patience and the good service. I'll tell my friends! By the way the 55 Pro I mentioned earlier I sent to Mark Baer at Victoria Amps. I'll be in touch with you later about it. If you need credit card info let me know.

Rod Scroggins

Mullard CV4004s (12AX7)
Mike,

I guess you hear this a lot - WOW!

What a difference the CV4004's and CV4024's make, especially, in the Blonde Reissue Deluxe Reverb. It had a really closed, almost muffled, tone. Just changing the preamp tubes opened it up. There is so much more clarity and
responsiveness to a dynamic attack.

Thanks,
Jonathan Morrison

Hotrod DeLuxe
I own two of these amps and have experimented with literally hundreds of dollars worth of different tubes, external speakers, etc. in the search for perfect HRD tone. When it comes to the tubes:

V1 - NOS GE JAN 12AX7WA - for the textbook example of that classic clean Fender tone. I like the JAN PHILIPS 12AX7WA and have tried several in the HRD. They sound good, but they do not have the sparkle or complexity of the GE.

V2 - NOS GE JAN 5751 - for taming the drive channel's piercing qualities and leaving you with a usable, blues type on-board drive.

V3 - Mullard 4024 (12AT7 type)

And for the power tubes, those Svetlana 6L6GCs are hard to beat for the money. Great tonal qualities and very affordable. I keep something like 7 matched pairs.

Good luck.

Hey Mike!
Got the tubes today and tried them all out in the HRDlx in different locations with different powertubes, etc. I cannot believe this is the same amp! Ended up sticking with a GE6072A in V1, and the CV4004's in V2 and V3, the clean channel is nice and sharp and the drive channel is just awesome! I ended up putting the Philips 6L6WGB's in the power section, they sounded more lively to me than the Svetlana 6L6GC's. Biased at 35.0mA with 427V on the plates...so just under 16W at idle. I checked the stock 5881wxt's that were in it, they were only pulling 24mA at idle, maybe that had something to do with the crappy sound?

As soon as I get somemore cash, I'll be getting more of those Mullards!

Thanks,
Michael Newman

Hotrod DeVille

JAN Philips 6l6WGBs, Raytheon 12AX7 Grade I