HXDA 50 Watt White Knob Head Re-Tubing

[WeFixFlats]

Thought I'd ask the community what Make and Model of Tubes folks have used to re-tube one of these? We're hot on the trail getting a older used 2nd owner unit and I prefer to use my own fresh set, and like to keep it as 'factory stock' as possible. Thanks for the feedback~!

 

[László]

Not sure what a white knob HXDA is...they have all come stock with black/silver cylinder knobs. Maybe you're referring to the Recording Amp? Or maybe at a customer request they put white knobs on a single amp, etc.

Anyway, the factory set are JJ preamp tubes and Winged C EL34 power tubes. It appears that Winged C have stopped production, so those will soon be only NOS as well, and worse, a bunch of factory seconds were made available to some of the larger tube dealers at the end of the run, so if you want the stock tubes, be sure to buy tested tubes from a reputable dealer.

My guess would also be that any great sounding NOS tube that works well with an old Marshall would do well with these amps; obviously NOS Mullard EL34s would be the premier choice for power tubes, and Mullard ECC83s would be a great choice for the preamp tubes. But I would guess that Siemens EL34 NOS and Amperex, Brimar, and other ECC83s would be very good in the preamp section.

I'm happy with the stock tubes, so unless I can find the right set of NOS at a good price, I'm sticking with JJs and good-source Winged C. Not sure if Telefunken smooth plate NOS would be any good in this amp; I haven't liked the ones I've found all that much with Brit style amps lately, though they've sounded very good in Two-Rocks, etc.

It's always like this chasing tubes these days...I found a nice set of matched NOS 80s Russian military EL84Ms for my DG30 amp a few months back, and snatched them up so I'm prepared for the day when I need to replace the ones that came on my DG30. I still need to find a set of BRIMAR preamp tubes for it to match what's there (mine was one of the first 25 or so made with NOS tubes).

 

[WeFixFlats]

We bought the used HX/DA 50 watt head with the 2x12" Big Mouth Cabinet loaded with Vintage 30's. The white knobs(from a PRS Recording Amp Model) were either added by the 1st(original) owner or that's all the factory had the day it was made.

Power Tube Sockets 2 & 3: National Electronics 6CA7-571A-83781-8721. The tube decal says: NOS Mullards EL34.

Pre-Amp Socket #1: TAD 12AX7A-C 'Selected'; Sockets #2 & #4: JJ ECC-83S. The tube decal says: JJ 83 for all.

As for right now, we're just going to play it damn good and loud and not sweat the tubes.

Thanks for the feedback~!

 

[László]

Sounds like this amp was a special one, if the decal on the amp says NOS Mullards! Have fun with that amp!

I love mine.

I play it through a Mesa 212 Recto cab that's similar to the Big Mouth and is also loaded with V-30s. Great combination.

 

[Boogie]

The Amp Doctor's selected 12ax7s are really quiet and nice in V1. A vintage Mullard in the same spot will change the character of the amp in a very cool way, though. You know, that honkey Kerry Livgren/Kansas kind of almost hollow tone? They're pricey, and you don't need to spend money on a clearly labeled one, but I have one in my Boogie MkIII with EL34s and the difference is staggering. I highly recommend experimenting.

 

[László]

The Amp Doctor's selected 12ax7s are really quiet and nice in V1. A vintage Mullard in the same spot will change the character of the amp in a very cool way, though. You know, that honkey Kerry Livgren/Kansas kind of almost hollow tone? They're pricey, and you don't need to spend money on a clearly labeled one, but I have one in my Boogie MkIII with EL34s and the difference is staggering. I highly recommend experimenting.

You are so right, the tubes really do make a difference.

When I was close with the former owners of Two-Rock, and bought my fifth or sixth TR from them, Joe sent me a few NOS 12AX7s. And they made a huge difference in the amps - though there were times I actually preferred the tubes the amps came with! (at the time, these amps came with NOS Chinese preamp tubes from the early 80s that sounded quite good, but really weren't in the same league as the RCAs and Telefunkens, etc.

With the Custom Reverbs, it was hard to beat NOS RCA preamp tubes, but I also used Telefunken Smooth Plates and Amperex to good effect.

I'd like to try some NOS Mullard preamp and power tubes in my HXDA, and plan to buy a set for the amp at some point. I have NOS glass in my DG30 and the thing just sounds great.