SuperReverb2
Member
- Messages
- 2,992
When I ordered a matched pair of JJ KT88's (about a week ago) for a friends Hiwatt, Bob at Eurotubes "suggested" that I give the new JJ ECC803S pre amp tubes a try. (I believe LV is recommending these tubes as well) Bob suggested that these tubes would be ideal for V1 (clean channel) in the Hiwatt, (all my friend uses) but that they most likely wouldn't work in V2 (overdrive channel) or in other "high gain" applications as they tend to "squeal," or at least "can" be made to squeal in those applications.
Even before we put the KT88's in, (the amp had Tesla, not JJ, EL34's in it) installing the JJ ECC803S in V1 made the amp sound QUITE a bit better. The highs didn't seem as harsh, yet it didn't seem to "attenuate' or roll off any highs either, and the mids really seemed to come to the forefront with a nice clarity, yet complex as well. The tube REALLY "sweetened" the overall sound and seemed to make it sound "fuller" without being muddy in any way.
The KT88's were the "bomb" in this amp, and if I were ever to want a Hiwatt, it would have KT88's in it instead of EL34's.
Anyway, I wasn't sure if the tube was REALLY that good, as the 12AX7 that was in V1 previously was a Mesa Boogie something or other and it really didn't sound all that great. I found myself with some time to kill today, so I decided to try the remaing JJ ECC803S in a few postions in my Tweed Twin. For note, I have been using NOS RCA 12AY7's in the first three positions for more of a 50's "low gain" tone/sound/vibe (with humbuckers) but I have also been searching for a decent 12AX7 that might work in one or all of the postions, but doesn't have quite as much gain/bite as many of the current 12AX7's seem to have. (at least in that amp anyway) I think I may have found "that" tube in the JJ ECC803S. To my ears it sounded the best in V2, while I was plugged straight into Bright 1, volume on 4. It didn't sound as good in V1 (with me plugged into Normal 1) nor did it sound as good (in V 2) while I was using my Y-Cable and plugged into Normal 1 and Bright 1. (my usual set up) After today's trials, I ordered a few more so I can try them together in a couple of different positons, (most likely with the Y-Cable), but it sounded much better by itself than mixed with the 12AY7's.
This tube leans EVER so slightly to the dark side, thus the reason, (at least to my ears) that it didn't sound as dynamic in V1, or mixed with the 12AY7. (too thick) In V2 however, this tube sounded REALLY good. It is quite "full" sounding with GREAT highs that are never spikey, but present. To my ears though, it's the mids that this tube seems to bring out, are what makes it a winner in my Tweed Twin. Complex, clear, and detailed, with a tremendous "sweetness" to them. The tube doesn't have as much gain as other 12AX7's I've tried in that positon, (in my application that is a good thing) yet it seems to give me the impression that it has a lot of gain. VERY full, yet never muddy, and very dynamic. My Fulltone OCD even sounds better when the JJ ECC803 is in the amp. For certain applications, I still prefer the Y-Cable into Normal 1/Bright 1 with the 12AY7's, but I REALLY like the amp (almost as much) just plugged into Bright 1 with the JJ ECC803S in V 2. It's not quite as "fat" sounding as with the Y-Cable, but it's not anywhere near as thin sounding as just plugging into Bright 1 can be with some other 12AX7's I've tried in V 2.
When I performed a search I found a few previous threads that said some of these tubes have gone microphonic after a very short period of time. I hope that's not the "extended" case, because I think JJ (Bob) might be onto something here. Also, I was surprised to read that a few people felt that the orgiinal JJ ECC83S had more mids than the JJ ECC803S. I guess that just goes to show you how different we hear things, because I hear MUCH more of a mid presence in the newer ECC803S tubes, than I ever heard in the older version. Personally, I think the original JJ ECC83S tubes are one of the "plankiest" sounding tubes I have ever hear. Dull, boring, and lifeless is how I would describe them. Night and day between the old tubes and the new ones IMHO.
Chuck
Even before we put the KT88's in, (the amp had Tesla, not JJ, EL34's in it) installing the JJ ECC803S in V1 made the amp sound QUITE a bit better. The highs didn't seem as harsh, yet it didn't seem to "attenuate' or roll off any highs either, and the mids really seemed to come to the forefront with a nice clarity, yet complex as well. The tube REALLY "sweetened" the overall sound and seemed to make it sound "fuller" without being muddy in any way.
The KT88's were the "bomb" in this amp, and if I were ever to want a Hiwatt, it would have KT88's in it instead of EL34's.
Anyway, I wasn't sure if the tube was REALLY that good, as the 12AX7 that was in V1 previously was a Mesa Boogie something or other and it really didn't sound all that great. I found myself with some time to kill today, so I decided to try the remaing JJ ECC803S in a few postions in my Tweed Twin. For note, I have been using NOS RCA 12AY7's in the first three positions for more of a 50's "low gain" tone/sound/vibe (with humbuckers) but I have also been searching for a decent 12AX7 that might work in one or all of the postions, but doesn't have quite as much gain/bite as many of the current 12AX7's seem to have. (at least in that amp anyway) I think I may have found "that" tube in the JJ ECC803S. To my ears it sounded the best in V2, while I was plugged straight into Bright 1, volume on 4. It didn't sound as good in V1 (with me plugged into Normal 1) nor did it sound as good (in V 2) while I was using my Y-Cable and plugged into Normal 1 and Bright 1. (my usual set up) After today's trials, I ordered a few more so I can try them together in a couple of different positons, (most likely with the Y-Cable), but it sounded much better by itself than mixed with the 12AY7's.
This tube leans EVER so slightly to the dark side, thus the reason, (at least to my ears) that it didn't sound as dynamic in V1, or mixed with the 12AY7. (too thick) In V2 however, this tube sounded REALLY good. It is quite "full" sounding with GREAT highs that are never spikey, but present. To my ears though, it's the mids that this tube seems to bring out, are what makes it a winner in my Tweed Twin. Complex, clear, and detailed, with a tremendous "sweetness" to them. The tube doesn't have as much gain as other 12AX7's I've tried in that positon, (in my application that is a good thing) yet it seems to give me the impression that it has a lot of gain. VERY full, yet never muddy, and very dynamic. My Fulltone OCD even sounds better when the JJ ECC803 is in the amp. For certain applications, I still prefer the Y-Cable into Normal 1/Bright 1 with the 12AY7's, but I REALLY like the amp (almost as much) just plugged into Bright 1 with the JJ ECC803S in V 2. It's not quite as "fat" sounding as with the Y-Cable, but it's not anywhere near as thin sounding as just plugging into Bright 1 can be with some other 12AX7's I've tried in V 2.
When I performed a search I found a few previous threads that said some of these tubes have gone microphonic after a very short period of time. I hope that's not the "extended" case, because I think JJ (Bob) might be onto something here. Also, I was surprised to read that a few people felt that the orgiinal JJ ECC83S had more mids than the JJ ECC803S. I guess that just goes to show you how different we hear things, because I hear MUCH more of a mid presence in the newer ECC803S tubes, than I ever heard in the older version. Personally, I think the original JJ ECC83S tubes are one of the "plankiest" sounding tubes I have ever hear. Dull, boring, and lifeless is how I would describe them. Night and day between the old tubes and the new ones IMHO.
Chuck
