Preamp tubes in Trainwreck Express

[redshark]

Now I'm trying to start experimenting with preamp tubes. Reading old threads I found some information saying that Ken prefered tungsram 12ax7 and ei 12ax7 for his express builds.
Does anyone that owns originals can tell me how did he used those brands in V1, V2 and V3?
Also why did he chose those brands? was it low noise? warmer tone? gain?
thanks for your answers!!

[Cliff Schecht]

I've had fantastic luck with old GE tubes. V1 has a GE tube with a thinner vertical plate ridge and V2/V2 are identical GE's with a wider vertical plate ridge. Just about any other tube I throw into V1 kills the sound of the amp, V2 and V3 are less picky. I've tried old Telefunken's, Amperex, RCA, Raytheon, Sylvania, etc.. and always come back to the same set of tubes.

[Blinkie]

Kenny used Tungsram and Pre-war EI's because he loved the sound of them. I seem to remember he had his bible out once which detailed every wreck he ever made. He said he shipped every wreck originally with tungsram and/or pre-war ei's. There were different combinations 3 of the same across two of one and one. I did make a note to point out as he was reading them to me there wasn't a one, one and one. There were always two consecutively in all of the combinations. He just said that is the way it is. Mine seems to like three tungsram across or sylvanis long plate like Glen's.

[redshark]

Very interesting guys, from ei and tungsram which one is brighter?

[tejastubes]

Very interesting guys, from ei and tungsram which one is brighter?

Generally speaking the Tungsram will be a little brighter, but I do not consider these to be bright tubes, just compared to the pre-war EI. The pre-war EI are a long plate tube so they will tend to be a little warmer, creamier, and a little more compressed. Also, they are more prone to being microphonic, so they need to be screened properly especially if you are planning on putting them in V1 of a Trainwreck. The % of tungsram which will be microphonic is much lower than the % of EI which will be microphonic.

Joshua

[redshark]

After diferent experiments the combination that sounded the best to my ear so far is:

V1 ecc83 mullard
V2 tungsram ecc83
V3 EI ecc83