SWR Redhead tube alternatives

[Mike1962]

Hi,
I have just gotten myself the most awesome rig. SWR Redhead and an SWR Big Ben.
I was wondering what experience anyone has of different brands of ECC83 (12AX7) tube in SWR?
I'm after fretless sound.

[BassBod]

It won't make a huge difference, but the GT tubes SWR used to fit can be a bit brittle sounding. I've used old GE 12ax7 and 5751's with good results. The 12ax7 just sounded "better"...nothing dramatic, just a bit warmer and clearer. The 5751 has a lower gain, so reduces your input level a bit, but also sounds fuller and stronger. Sorry about the technical language.

I've also used Electro Harmonic/Sovteks with success, but the old USA valves did sound better to me. But only a bit, listening in isolation. On a gig you wouldn't notice much difference, unless you were recording from the DI output of the preamp.

[Mike1962]

Thanks so much! The tech speak is good!!! I've been looking at the Mullard ECC83 with interest.

[Toasted]

It's a hype valve so expect to pay a premium.

[Mike1962]

By hype are do you mean they aren't as good as reported?

[Toasted]

Sorry, I mean that a lot of people say they sound great, and they're relatively rare which drives up the price beyond what many comparable tubes cost. Expect to pay £40 to £50 when most other tubes would be around a tenner.

[BassBod]

I'd go for a Sovtek as a first try and see if you can hear any change. Go to Watford Valves ( or similar) and see what they suggest for around £15? the older GE valves weren't very expensive a few years ago, but they've gone up a lot since then.

[synaesthesia]

While you are at it you might as well change the TL072s in there, there are probably 8. A better spec BurrBrown or Analog Devices chip or even a Philips 5532 will lower the idle noise considerably, by about 10dB, anecdotally. (It is a very perceivable difference, it will sound like Dolby NR switched on if you are old enough to remember Dolby).

[Toasted]

Are they socketed in the Redhead or is it a soldering iron job, synaesthesia?

[Mike1962]

@ synaesthesia
Thanks for that.
As I'm new to tech speak so could you tell me what TL072s are?
I like that they will drop noise by 10 db!

[Mike1962]

Dolby! Isn't that that new thing.........

[Mr. Foxen]

I know you can't record heavy metal in it.

[Mike1962]

I've been googling!!
Would the Burr Brown OPA2134PA be a good replacement?

[Mike1962]

*

Edited March 22, 2012 by Mike1962

[voxpop]

If you want to lower the gain and get a great fretless sound try a Brimar ECC81. Its lush, warm and sounds fantastic with a fretless.

Try eBay as you will only get them second hand.

Hope this helps.

[Mike1962]

Hmm! I might try that!

[tomcheek]

I've just ordered a [font="Helvetica"][color="#000000"]Harma ECC83 Retro Cryo (12AX7) valve from Watford Valves to go in my SWR Redhead. It'll be interesting to see what this sounds like...? Just had a look inside the amp though, and there's a CINCH damper/shield around the valve, which I can't remove. Does anyone have any experience of removing the CINCH and the valve and then replacing the valve and putting back the CINCH!?[/color][/font]

[brensabre79]

I've not had great experiences with the Harma retro personally. I've had 4, two (cryo) sounded good for a while then started crackling, the other two (non-cryo) sounded OK, but not great.

I've found the most consistently awesome Preamp valve for me is the JJ ECC803S I've got these in both my amps now. But they are quite hi-gain so you might be better with JJ ECC83-S - I have one in my DHA pedal and its also warm and loverly and nothing like the cost of a NOS.

[BassBod]

The shield comes off with a twisting action (normally) but that can be hard to start moving. With my Baby Blue its a bit scary, as the circuit board feels like its going to break first! But it hasn't. May need a slight push down to get it started?

[tomcheek]

Thanks very much for the advise BassBod. I was scared of shattering the valve into a thousand pieces but it turned out to be a cinch in the end! Thanks BrenSabre, I took your advise and went for a [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]JJ ECC83-S.. it's sounding fat! [/font][/color]