AmpliFIRE

Hey Myles, Sorry to beat a dead horse but I'm still undecided about my new preamp tubes. As mentioned earlier, I have newer JJ 12ax7's in all preamp positions and I plan on swapping them. I've narrowed my choices down to NOS RFT ECC83's and EH 12ax7's. I have EH's in my Carvin x100b and I've used them in several previous amps which much success. How do the RFT's compare to the EH's overall (tonal characteristics, level of gain etc.)? I'm basically looking for a nice tube to compliment the high gain nature of my Rivera KHII. The lead tone is great, but the rhythm could use a little work IMO. Thanks Again!!!

AmpliFIRE......... The JAN WGB's are super tubes. I love those. The Svets are great too, but ones with a 2002/2003 date code need to be well tested, as many have low vacuum, sound flubby to some, and have shorter life. I use the GE's in most of my own amps, which is similar to the WGB, and in fact, use the WGB in my S-45. I break all these down in my tube primer paper, which is up to about 24 pages now. Myles, If I install RFT 12ax7's and the 6l6WGB's will this tighten up my rhythm tone while keeping the lead tone similar to how it is now? The lead tone on this amp is to die for IMO and I'm just looking to tighten/clean up the bottom end a tad. It seems like it would be a drastic change to me since I'll be swapping out all of the tubes. Thanks in advance!

Ok, I think I'm going to go 6l6 (a change of pace from my Carvin x100b). Which 6l6's are your favorite and why? I'm looking at Svetlana 6l6GC's and Phillips Jan 6l6WGB. Any others I should consider?

Paige, A few things. When Paul Rivera advised no Chinese, this was a while back, and the latest 12AX7C tubes work pretty nicely in Rivera amps like yours. But ... in your amp, I prefer the 12AX7R3 (12AX7EH) in V1 and V2. On the KT88 issue .... unless you are looking for max clean headroom, with no output stage crunch and tone until you are right up to max ... and get all your tone and distortion from effects and pedals, then get those out of there right now. .... that is my personal opionion. Get in some E34LS or 6L6GE tubes, depending on taste between EL-34 and 6L6 tubes. Thanks for the help Myles! Are the KT88's in the EL34 family or the 6l6 family? I'm not looking for a drastic change in tone, just refining. The previous owner installed the KT88's and the JJ 12ax7's....not sure we he did, though. There has been a knock on this amp that the bass is too loose and flabby, but I don't notice that at all. Would the KT 88's have helped that problem? I love the lead tone that I'm getting out of the amp, but the rhythm could use a *little* work. It sounds a bit muddy, but not bad (MUCH better than my Tremoverb was). I guess my main goal is to tighten up the bottom a tad and smooth out the top end...Rivera actually recommends that I use NOS Chinese tubes in there and I was wondering how they would compare to the EH12ax7's (I use the EH's in all of my amps). On a scale of 1-10 here's how I would rate the amp's current tone: Clean: 9 Lead: 9.5 Rythm: 8 Thanks in advance for your help!!! Paige

Hi Myles! I have a Rivera Knucklehead II that I'm looking to install new tubes in. Currently, the amp has JJ KT88's in the power section and JJ 12ax7 preamp tubes. I love the lead tone from the amp, but I'm looking to improve on the rythm tone. It tends to be a tad muddy and can use a little more gain as well as a tighter bottom end. I would also like to improve the clean channel a little. Rivera advised that I use Chinese NOS tubes and I was wondering what your thoughts on these are. Please advise on which tubes IYO (either new or NOS) would satisfy my needs. Thanks! Paige