Well, after some initial confusion caused by my trying to install a mod too soon, and some bad (new) tubes, I'm ready to report on my new rig. I got a few new preamp tubes to play with in addition to a JJEL84 Power tube, and:
The ElectroHarmonix 12AX7 tube sounds really, really great - for classic rock sounds etc. - not as much gain as the stock tubes, but just the perfect sound. Very nice.
But:
I tried out a JAN / Phillips 5571 too. This tube has a 'lower gain structure' - it's between a 12ax7 and a 12at7, according to the Tubestop. And, lo and behold, it's a great great match wih tthis guy. Clarity is amazing, wow. I'm not a 'tone connoisseur' but I love this tube. I wish I could have two amps, one with this pre tube and one with the EH. At 5w It gets very crunchy and compressed but doesn't go overboard like the original tubes at all. The 3w setting with this tube is like a totally different amp. If you've got a BH and think you might like a cleaner sound with more clarity, highly recommended.
Like everyone else has said, this amp is really very fantastic. I mean, my Vox valvetronix modeling amp sounds like complete garbage next to this thing, and I used to think it was a nice little practice amp. As far as loudness, my main problem is that it's too loud, and when I crank it to get some crunch, I'm fighting a bit with the guitar volume and the attenuator. The attenuator is a must for me, but it's true that it sucks tone when you're running a cranked amp through it at very low output volume. For moderate amounts of volume reduction, it works fantastic.
Amazon has the 1w 'killer ant' for 139$, free shipping and in stock. I'm thinking I really need one now, then I could keep the 5571 in the little giant and the EH 12ax7 in the tiny guy. I mean, that's cheaper than a lot of the boutique pickups out there.
And if I cash out my retirement stocks right now, I can just about get one! :icon_jokercolor:
The ElectroHarmonix 12AX7 tube sounds really, really great - for classic rock sounds etc. - not as much gain as the stock tubes, but just the perfect sound. Very nice.
But:
I tried out a JAN / Phillips 5571 too. This tube has a 'lower gain structure' - it's between a 12ax7 and a 12at7, according to the Tubestop. And, lo and behold, it's a great great match wih tthis guy. Clarity is amazing, wow. I'm not a 'tone connoisseur' but I love this tube. I wish I could have two amps, one with this pre tube and one with the EH. At 5w It gets very crunchy and compressed but doesn't go overboard like the original tubes at all. The 3w setting with this tube is like a totally different amp. If you've got a BH and think you might like a cleaner sound with more clarity, highly recommended.
Like everyone else has said, this amp is really very fantastic. I mean, my Vox valvetronix modeling amp sounds like complete garbage next to this thing, and I used to think it was a nice little practice amp. As far as loudness, my main problem is that it's too loud, and when I crank it to get some crunch, I'm fighting a bit with the guitar volume and the attenuator. The attenuator is a must for me, but it's true that it sucks tone when you're running a cranked amp through it at very low output volume. For moderate amounts of volume reduction, it works fantastic.
Amazon has the 1w 'killer ant' for 139$, free shipping and in stock. I'm thinking I really need one now, then I could keep the 5571 in the little giant and the EH 12ax7 in the tiny guy. I mean, that's cheaper than a lot of the boutique pickups out there.
And if I cash out my retirement stocks right now, I can just about get one! :icon_jokercolor: