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I should say that I have a basic nowledge about tubes but I don't so much about which are the better brands. I have a ENGL Thunder (50watts) which has 4 preamp tubes and 2 power tubes . From the manual:

1-12AX7 (input tube)
2-12AX7 (selected)
1-12AX7 (standard)

2-6L6GC (mached)

I would like to get less output and and overall clearer tone. The amp has plenty of gain to start with. Groove tubes offers this power rating system and it seems that quot;level 1-3quot; it's what I'm looking for, but I am open to any suggestion...

So... What do you recomend?

Send Bob at Eurotubes an e-mail, i'm sure he'll be able to help you out. Great guy!
https://ssl.eurotubes.com/index.htm

Groove Tubes system is 1 to 10 for quot;hardnessquot;; 1 being the softest ...
1 -3 are quot;softquot;
4-6 are quot;mediumquot;
7-10 are quot;hardquot;

for the cleanest tone, you'd want something in the quot;hardquot; range
most amps that use Groove Tubes come stock with something in the medium range


Originally Posted by CurlyGroove Tubes system is 1 to 10 for quot;hardnessquot;; 1 being the softest ...
1 -3 are quot;softquot;
4-6 are quot;mediumquot;
7-10 are quot;hardquot;

for the cleanest tone, you'd want something in the quot;hardquot; range
most amps that use Groove Tubes come stock with something in the medium range

I don't fully undestand. Is it something like: The bigger the output, the higher the clean headroom?

Sorry if this is a silly question....

I've put some JJs in my Engl Screamer and they reduced the gain and made the sound clearer (less fizzy).


Originally Posted by MarinbluesI've put some JJs in my Engl Screamer and they reduced the gain and made the sound clearer (less fizzy).

Did you change all of them?


Originally Posted by BreoganI don't fully undestand. Is it something like: The bigger the output, the higher the clean headroom?

Sorry if this is a silly question....

tubes of the same make and model will have the same overall theoretical output, but softer tubes distort sooner

Thanks!!

Now I've got it...

You might want to put (after checking with ENGL folks but it's usually OK to do) a 12AY7 in the first position instead of a 12AX7. The 12AY7 has less gain and should give the amp a less aggressive quality.

Thanks Slyfox!!! I'll check that!!!

Or is that a 12AT7...can't remember. Check the Groove Tubes site. Lots of good info on the differences between common guitar amp tubes.


Originally Posted by BreoganI should say that I have a basic nowledge about tubes but I don't so much about which are the better brands. I have a ENGL Thunder (50watts) which has 4 preamp tubes and 2 power tubes . From the manual:

1-12AX7 (input tube)
2-12AX7 (selected)
1-12AX7 (standard)

2-6L6GC (mached)

I would like to get less output and and overall clearer tone. The amp has plenty of gain to start with. Groove tubes offers this power rating system and it seems that quot;level 1-3quot; it's what I'm looking for, but I am open to any suggestion...

So... What do you recomend?
With Groove Tubes, the higher the number the longer it takes to break up, so go with a #7 or above if you want cleaner tone. I love GT's and highly recomend them.

Jeff


Originally Posted by JeffrecWith Groove Tubes, the higher the number the longer it takes to break up, so go with a #7 or above if you want cleaner tone. I love GT's and highly recomend them.

Jeff

I think when I mean cleared I mean more detailed. A tone with more quality in the clear range...

I also would like my amp to break up earlier since it will compress earlier and will reduce the output (which i consider too much).

Is that possible? A detailed/quality tone in the clear range with an early break up?


Originally Posted by BreoganDid you change all of them?

No need to. V3 and V4 are the phase inverter and reverb.

I have EH 6L6 but there's not much difference tonally with respect to the originals.

Im with JJ's too, contact bob at eurotubes, he'll fix you up nicely

I retubed both my ENGL Savage 120 and mesa 50cal with JJ's last year and they sounded heaps better afterwards!


Originally Posted by BreoganI think when I mean cleared I mean more detailed. A tone with more quality in the clear range...

I also would like my amp to break up earlier since it will compress earlier and will reduce the output (which i consider too much).

Is that possible? A detailed/quality tone in the clear range with an early break up?Then the lower number/rating is what you want. As far as clarity, that will be a matter of your volume setting, because once you crank up the lower valkue tubes, they'll distort.

Engls get most of their distortion from the preamp. Changing power tubes quite possibly won't give you better distortion at lower volume. I haven't played too many tube amps that give up the goods at under 90 dB without an attenuator. The ones that could often struggled to generate enough volume to be practical with a band.
In amps of this design, preamp tubes make a bigger difference in distorted tone than power tubes. For clear distortion, I'd suggest either 9th Generation Chinese (e.g., GT 12AX7-C), GT Mullard quot;clonesquot; (GT 12AX7-M), or the EH 12AX7. Though I like JJs for edge-of-distortion tones, I haven't had great experience with their preamp tubes in high gain applications.
IMHO, FWIW, YMMV, etc.