Retubed my Marshall Class 5

[Aslan]

I decided to try some new tubes in my Marshall Class 5 since the preamp tubes were getting a little micophonic. First, it's a chore to change out the tubes because you have to pull the head out to get to them. The two preamp tubes were changed to JJ 83s and the power tube was changed to JJ EL84 (stock was a TAD EL84). Make sure you remove the screw holding the tube retainer otherwise it is really tough getting the tube through the rubber grommet.

The amp now sounds better in the following ways:

1) Increase in overall volume
2) Increase in clean headroom
3) Distortion has a nicer top end but not brittle
4) The edge of breakup tone is more sensitive to your touch on the strings
5) The amp has more "presence" overall
6) The amp has less Hiss when not playing

As you can tell I am pleased with the results, did some searching on the internet and it seemed that most folks liked the JJ's for new production tubes. I would like to find a NOS EL84 just try it out and see how much difference there is. Has anyone else retube their Class 5? I would like to hear their results.

[lang.murphy]

I tried a NOS Sylvania EL84 in my C5. (Now gone...) Honestly, changing the power tube made no noticeable difference to my ears.

[tybone]

New tubes every now and then are a MUST! for me to keep my amps sounding the way I like. Because it can be tough to tell when preamp tubes are compromised but not totally kacked, I like to keep a couple of tubes hand, an RCA a JJ and maybe an EH, and use them to swap in various positions (V1 cathode follower, phase inverter) to see if things sound any better to me.

LB

[grizdeluxe]

Preamp makes a bigger difference but I have also noticed a difference with certain EL 84's.