Tube change for Express 5:50 - advice please !

[Newysurfer]

G'day guys ,

Doug from Doug's Tubes has recommended the following tubes to me

Preamp
V1 - Tung-Sol reissue 12AX7 Part ID: TS12AX7
V2 - High gain JJ ECC83S Part ID: JJECC83HG
V3 - Penta Labs 12AX7C Part ID: P12AX7C
V4 - Shuguang 12AX7C9 Part ID: SHUG12AX7C9
V5 - Sovtek 12AX7LPS Part ID: 12AX7LPS

Power Amp
TAD 2x6L6's Part ID: TAD6L6GCSTR or
SED 2x6L6

He says this is what he normally recommends for Mesa amps. I'm looking for a tube set-up that'll give me more distortion gain on channel 2 but still keep the same great chimey cleans. Plus I want quiet and long lasting tubes.

What's your opinion tube guru's ????
Will Doug recommendation give me what I'm after or do you have better suggestions ???

 

[Rocky]

long lasting cannot be guaranteed...tubes can just go anytime.

I dont like JJ tubes but that list looks good to me. Doug's Tubes is a great place to get tubes. Doug knows his stuff.

 

[recto-robbie]

Ive bought from Doug a few times and always seemed to get good stuff.
Matter of fact I ve tried most of these tubes from doug at one time or another.
When I used to run these tubes I owned a Rectoverb combo.
My suggestion would be to get a few tungsol reissues and the penta labs.
The sovtek 12ax7lps are not the best to use in a combo because of the long plate which most likely wont last too long,, just my opinion here.
I also ran some of those TAD 6l6wcgstr short bottles and they were great.
And all honesty I thought the SED 6l6 c winged were the best that I owned....
I found that I like the jj12ax7 high gain better than the rest in my new stiletto deuce,,, so all you can do is try some preamp tubes and go from there,,, also my best suggestion is to buy a few different preamp tubes to swap around and find what you like best,,, otherwise before you know it you will have all kinds of tubes collecting dust.