Blues Jr tube question

  • Thread starter Thread starter notCardio
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notCardio

I walk the line
I've got a stock Blues Jr., with stock Groove Tubes JJ's in the pre. I've read that non-GT JJ's are better, but how significant a difference would that single change make? I use it with the master way down, around 2, so I figure the power tubes aren't really coming into play that much, same with the speaker. I've usually got the volume (gain) up between halfway and full out. I notice what to me sounds like an odd harmonic that's really prominent. I assume that's a product of the tubes.

Would changing the tubes be a night and day difference, or a total waste of time and money? I'm going to take mine in and a/b it against a totally upgraded and heavily modded Blues Jr. and a Hot Rod Deluxe, but I was just curious if maybe I could get by with just a tube change. If it'll sound the same, then I could better apply that money towards a new amp.
 
If you're looking to mod your BJr - the speaker is probably the first place to look. With tubes, you can be fairly confident of getting rid of bad things (like hiss, fartiness (especially from the power tubes), yucky overtones) by using better tubes, but imo you can't be sure you'll actually improve the "root" tone, although you might. The night/day change is the speaker though.

I changed the tubes (currently using Austrian ones I got from Mask in the classifieds here, but also use old RCA EL84 and new "Tung Sol" 12ax7), changed the speaker to a Weber 12F125A, and did a couple of the BillM mods - changed the mid knob to cut all the way when you turn it down all the way and lowered the bias by swapping a resistor (didn't add variable bias) and I *really* like the amp now.
 
Kop - Well, what I got from that thread is that nobody agrees on anything, so I guess Ill try swapping the pre tubes.

anitichef - As I said, it's an odd harmonic that happens even at whisper-quiet, as long as the pre is overdriven, so I'm sure it's in the pre somewhere.

I'm also looking at a Blues Jr. that has had all of the tubes and speaker swapped, and all of the billm mods done.

Thanks for the replies.
 
notCardio said:
Kop - Well, what I got from that thread is that nobody agrees on anything, so I guess Ill try swapping the pre tubes.
Click to expand...

lol you're right, but there's some info there that might help you with your question... if you don't mind reading through the bickering that is ;)
 
notCardio said:
Kop - Well, what I got from that thread is that nobody agrees on anything, so I guess Ill try swapping the pre tubes.
Click to expand...

What I took way from that thread was this:

Change the preamp tubes out/around and you might hear a difference and you might not. If you hear a difference, you might like it and you might not.

That's pretty much what I knew going in. :D
 
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