TrainWreck Rocket Tube Suggestions Please...

[Scumback Speakers]

I just picked up a TrainWreck Rocket clone recently. I've already swapped out V1 and V2 for Amperex Bugle Boy 12AX7's and that woke the amp up quite a bit, and made it much more vibrant and alive sounding.

It's got some Russian EL84 power tubes (can't remember the name right now) in it, but I'm going to swap those out for something else, too.

When I did a search for "Rocket Tubes" it came back with about 900 plus threads, so that was kind of a long list to read through.

I'm looking to give the amp a bit more grind when I turn it up, but still clean up fairly well when I roll the guitar volume back. Basically I'm a plug straight in kind of guy, Les Paul/humbuckers. I set the amp up for a singing/sustain with a decent overdrive tone, then roll back the guitar volume for cleans (similar to Glenn Kuykendall).

Any suggestions on tubes? Thanks in advance.

[Lonely Raven]

Good to see you in here, Jim!

Sorry I really don't have much to add to this. My Rocket is so sensitive to tube swaps, if I want it to sound like a different amp, I just swap tubes in it!

So many options, though I've not really had any that jumped out as OMG I need to keep that!

~Eric~

P.S. I'm saving up for some of your alnico for my Rocket! I hope to put in an order next month!

[KellyBass]

I really, really like R.J.'s saratovs....and for the price, you can't beat em'.

To me, they have much more of an powerful, in-your-face thang than the JJ's I've used. As far as any particular NOS, I can't comment.

BTW, I heard one of your speakers in a friend's cab recently. It sounded fantastic!...I'll be ordering soon.

[M Fowler]

I tried the russian but went back to using the JJ's which have good test reviews from what I have read.

For increase in gain/boost I switch (DPDT mini) in and out a 5uf and 25uf cap on V1b.

That can be left on and use the volume on the guitar for soft clean playing.

[rawnster]

+1 on the Saratov el84s. I've been running those in my rocket build for quite a while now. Sound fantastic. Nice and warm. Allyn (Allynmey) suggested that I try a BugleBoy in V1, Mullard long plate in V2, and Telfunken long plate in v3. I tried this combination with very good success. I get loads of clean chime with the amp set on about 1oclock, and the guitar rolled back a bit. Dime the guitar at that amp setting and get PLENTY of crunch/overdrive.

I got the tubes from http://vintagetubeservices.com/. Terrific prices too. But, Andy is a bit slow in shipping.

Here's an excerpt from Allyn when he posted a Rocket build back a few years ago:

"For tubes, most new stuff I tried (jj, EH, etc.) sound oK but could be better. I have a matched quad of 70's russian military tubes in their now and they sound beautiful for cleans. Dirty sounds I don't like too much with them. I want to try some Valvo's, Telefunken, and Amperex to see if the dirty sound smooths out. The pre's I've tried a few different things. New stuff...not so good. V1 right now I have a Brimar, V2 a Tungsram, and a Valvo in V3. It sounds fantastic. Like I said before. These amps are made to stay clean. I compared the sound with two peoples amps (real wrecks) and it is the same. It is of some importance to note that one of the guys has modded his real Rocket to the higher taps and higher cathode resistor to get more "Girth" out of his amp. The other chooses to keep his stock for the incredible jangley cleans. "
https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.ph ... s&start=30

[paulster]

Saratov EB EV EM from Terry work great in these builds.

[Lonely Raven]

I'm glad Allyn mentioned that about the dirty vs clean. Mine has always been a bit harsh on the dirt, but jangly and loud/present on the cleans. I figured something wasn't quite right with the build, but the one Rocket video I saw on YouTube sounds very much like what I have here at home.

I think I need to build another express or an 18watt 'pool.

[jaysg]

Don't ignore V3. It needs to be a great tube also.

[RJ Guitars]

I'm using a combo of GE and RCA preamp tubes and the Saratov's for the output. I don't like any of the modern preamp tubes and I'm not a fan of the JJ's for output tubes either. I thought they were not as harmonically rich as the Saratovs... kinda plain sounding to my ears.

I think mine sounds best using a Stratocaster, especially for clean tones. They have a lot of gain so for me it breaks up pretty easy with Humbuckers but never gets farty. These amps were intended to take the very best of the AC-30 sounds with none of the amps other problems and that definitely comes through for me. The sparkle is awesome and push it just a bit and the crunch is the best of anything I've played through.

If you look up the info on the Dr. Z Rocket he is also using the Russian mil spec output tubes.

let us know how it turns out.

rj

[redshark]

I'm running mullard in V1 and V2, a telefunken in V3, saratov el84's and a mullard GZ34. You can't go wrong with this tubes, but I would like to try bugle boys in the preamp and valvos for el84's.

[Scumback Speakers]

I really, really like R.J.'s saratovs....and for the price, you can't beat em'.

To me, they have much more of an powerful, in-your-face thang than the JJ's I've used. As far as any particular NOS, I can't comment.

BTW, I heard one of your speakers in a friend's cab recently. It sounded fantastic!...I'll be ordering soon.

I need to check to see what power tubes I have. The seller said Russian military EL84's, so it's time to check them out. I'm glad to hear you heard one of my speakers, too!

Thanks very much for the tube suggestions everyone. Looks like I need to dive into my pile of tubes and start swapping!

[Gargoyle]

Another vote for the Saratovs, a lot more happening on the harmonic front than the TADS I tried.
In the pre I have Tungsram, RCA (short plate) and Pre war EI in the PI. Rectifier is Sylvania Fat boy...
I found this combo sounded better with sealed cab when driven but open cab when clean...

[redshark]

Ok I got an amperex made in holland which I tried for V1 instead of the mullard.
The reason to use the mullard was because is the tube that I though was more harmonically rich and could deliver that swirly sound that the rocket can only do. Put the amperex made in holland and it was an eye opener (or should I say ear opener?), less dark than the mullard and that caused the amp to open up a little bit more but not making it necesarily brighter. Similar in gain to the mullard but better with string definition and made that wavy bloom little bit faster than the mullard. Like in a soft tremolo turning the speed up...
Great advice to use a Holland made amperex in V1 of the rocket....

Just reporting my results.....

So now, tube compliment in the preamp is V1 amperex, V2 mullard and V3 telefunken....very good!!!

[Scumback Speakers]

Hmm, I may have to try the A/M/T mix to see how that works out. Too bad my demo room is in the final stages of construction and all my cabs are piled in the center of it, or parked in the enclosed patio!

But thanks for the update!

[amplifiednation]

I'm running an NOS Amperex Bugleboy in V1 right now and it gave some awesome crisp seperation to the notes when playing chords. I have some EL 84 Saratovs coming that I bought on eBay two weeks ago. I'm not sure where they are coming from but not anywhere in the US.

I've had the amp going for a little over a month now and I'm also feeling that the sound has either gotten better with some break in, or I'm just liking it more.