EQP-WA Tube Swap?

Talk to Bowie !!

Why? Tung sol is solid

Honestly, I know very little about Tung Sol tubes other than they're not the tubes people talk about when they talk about the most desirable tubes. I really like the way the EQP-WA sounds in my rig but since they're the stock tubes, I often can't help but wonder if there's more creaminess to squeeze out of the unit with an investment in some Tele's. With all the talk about Pultec-style EQ's surrounding the KT unit, it's just been more on the top of my mind lately. 

It could be yet another undesirable byproduct of living in the L.A. area, (a.k.a. "Planet Siliconia: land of 1,000,000 hipster douchebags", but I never, ever find those hidden, lost gem audio pieces in a second-hand store, pawn shop or swap meet without someone either knowing or over-estimating the value, if I can even find them at all.

I remember earlier this year, on trash day, someone left this cool, crazy-looking vintage electronic control panel thing that looked it was from an industrial plant or 1940's radio station by the side of the road. Drove by it when I was taking my son to school and decided I would go grab it on my way home. 10 min later, it was gone by the time I got back.  

[

These days that exists everywhere, you have to invest time and realize often it's grab it or loose it. This why if I'm cash strapped and the deal is good , layaway is my best freind !
In fact I have more than once put something on layaway and sold it before I payed anything beyond the down payment 😎!

Didn't bowie say he had one of these? Have to go look.

  Actually, I don't own a Warm, but I've used a lot of different Pultec-style EQs and have a P2P EQP1a I built myself.  So far, of the couple dozen customers I've sold tubes to for their Warm Pultecs, there hasn't been a general consensus about how people feel about the stock sound of that EQ.  Some ask for tubes that'll give a richer/warmer/smoother vibe.  Others feel that it's a little dull and want to open up the top end.  While others still don't have a specific complaint, they just want to enhance the overall sound.

  The thing about the Russian Tung Sols is that they are nice in the mids (for a modern tube) but don't a lot going on in the top end.  And, like most modern tubes, the bass is somewhat smeared and lacks extension.  In some gear, that's not a big deal and the TSs sound better than most of the other inexpensive, modern offerings.  However, in something like a EQP where you're usually bringing out the bass and/or highs, some people feel a bit limited.  My experience with Pultecs, and most EQs in general, is that people tend to be most satisfied with a fairly well-balanced tube.  Tubes that boost or attenuate the top end often get less favorable feedback in those applications (though it entirely depends on the person, the gear, the style of music, etc).

  I think the best place to start is to figure out what you want to change (things you wish it did, things you wish it didn't do).  Sometimes, it takes a bit of hands-on time before you notice certain patterns in your mixing, frustrations, etc to decide what you like or don't like about a piece of gear.

  I'm not an advertiser here (but if my income ever allows it, THIS will be the first place I advertise on! ) so I don't want to spam the forum with info on products I sell.  However, I'll try to give some general info to help you out.
VO is very interesting when it comes to tubes as the midrange becomes a field in which little peaks and valleys in the spectrum can make or break the presentation, depending on the voice.  A lot of the 1960/early 70s production tubes do a great job and blending clarity and smoothness.  Sylvania, RCA, orig Tung Sol, Amperex, and to an extent, orig Mullard and Telefunken all had production periods in which they had good balance along with their own unique "tubey" characteristics that people love.  I wish it was as simple as that but there are factors like condition, variations in production, etc that comes into play.  You can PM or email (ProAudioTubes@aol.com) if you ever want to go into a more in-depth dialogue about which ones might be ideal for you.

  One more note; in the Pultec circuit, the 12AX7 has far more influence on tone and noise floor than the 12AU7.  I do feel that a quality 12AU7 is a good idea but I usually discourage people from spending a ton on an exotic 12AU7 in this circuit as many of the more modest NOS brands do a comparable job (in this position) for far less money.

Bowie has never steered me wrong !