Retube: Vox AC30HW, 65Amps London 65, BadCat HotCat 30R

[Sniper-V]

Need to retube a few amps:
- Vox AC30HW
- 65Amps London 65
- BadCat HotCat 30R

Looking for tube suggestions and/or recommendations:
- where
- brand
- tone


Thanks!

[fullerplast]

Pretty tall order.....you'd likely get better responses if you provided a bit more input:

-Why are you re-tubing? Tubes have greatly different lifespans based on type, function, and particular amps. It's doubtful that all need replacing.

-What are you currently using? What do you like or not like about them?

-What is your budget? No sense getting recommendations for tubes out of your price range.

-Your most difficult tube will likely be a non-microphonic EF86 for your London and Badcat. Are you having trouble with those now? If not, don't change it!

Overall, you can probably do a bit of swapping between amps for the preamp tubes. They generally last a very long time. Spend your most time and money on getting a good V1 tube. Get a couple of nice NOS tubes to swap in. Mullard, Telefunken, Raytheon, Amperex are all good. There are tons of reviews and shootouts for more specifics. For power tubes, EL84's don't usually last very long (say a year of moderate use) in amps like the London or HW so unless you have money to burn you probably won't want to get NOS Mullards there. JJ's work well and are a solid choice. NOS rectifiers will last a very long time, so are worth the NOS premium.

Where to get them? Why not start with forum member Mike (blue strat) for some ideas? He's got a good selection. I've also had great luck with Lord Valve for new production as he does great burn-in testing to sort out duds.

[Sniper-V]

Pretty tall order.....you'd likely get better responses if you provided a bit more input:

-Why are you re-tubing? Tubes have greatly different lifespans based on type, function, and particular amps. It's doubtful that all need replacing.

-What are you currently using? What do you like or not like about them?

-What is your budget? No sense getting recommendations for tubes out of your price range.

-Your most difficult tube will likely be a non-microphonic EF86 for your London and Badcat. Are you having trouble with those now? If not, don't change it!

Overall, you can probably do a bit of swapping between amps for the preamp tubes. They generally last a very long time. Spend your most time and money on getting a good V1 tube. Get a couple of nice NOS tubes to swap in. Mullard, Telefunken, Raytheon, Amperex are all good. There are tons of reviews and shootouts for more specifics. For power tubes, EL84's don't usually last very long (say a year of moderate use) in amps like the London or HW so unless you have money to burn you probably won't want to get NOS Mullards there. JJ's work well and are a solid choice. NOS rectifiers will last a very long time, so are worth the NOS premium.

Where to get them? Why not start with forum member Mike (blue strat) for some ideas? He's got a good selection. I've also had great luck with Lord Valve for new production as he does great burn-in testing to sort out duds.

Ok...

I had the Vox for about 3-4 years now and I've never changed the tubes but then again I never really played it. Not until recently, my buddy has been using it in our Church group next to me and I figure it could use a fresh set of tubes. Also, there is a random "pop" that the amp makes every few minutes, although I don't think that's a tube thing but I'm not sure. Maybe you know what it is...

The London does infact have a microphonic tube and I believe its the delicate EF86. Along with the microphonic humming, and ringing that I get, there is a crackling and hissing in the background. The amp is playable at lower volumes but becomes hard to manage the "bad" tubes when the amps is pushed. I have had the London for about a year and have been playing it 3 to 4 times a week for about an 1 to 3 hours at a time and the amps is pushed. So, I'm sure its just time for the retube. From your recommendations I guess I can go JJ but what about for that EF86? I guess I can call Mike (KCA NOS) or Doug (Doug's tubes), but if you guys have any suggestions, please chime in...

The HotCat is actually new and doesn't need tubes, but I figure I'll be ready for when the time comes. Also, I don't believe the HotCat is loaded with an EF86, so I don't have to worry about it on this one. I want to say that BadCats are coming loaded with JJs.

Now that I remember it, I think I saw a member selling an EF86 on the "Buy and Sell"...I'll go look again...

Thanks!