[bigyank]

Have this preamp which started life as a super pas four and was updated by AVA (bought it from their used equipment section). Runs great but I feel like tube rolling.

Has 2 ecc83s and 2 ecc81, wondered if I should look for 12ax7 and 12at7? Thoughts? I'm a tube newb.

[dB Cooper]

ECC83 is just another name for 12AX7a.

Original version had these in all four spots. Updated version (if you have the one I think you have) has two 12AX7's and  two 12AT7's IIRC.

AVA has generally taken the view that tube rolling won't make much difference due to the circuit designs, but I doubt it will hurt anything either, My advice would be just leave the cover on and play some tunes.

[Hydro]

I have a couple of Super Pas 3's and the Dynaco branded Telefunken tubes really make a big difference in the size and definition of the sound stage. RCA's are too bright. Tube rolling is a great way to dial in your system.

[yeldarb]

The Baldwin organ tubes, especially those made by Raytheon, are nice in the AVA 12AX7 spot.  Baldwin 12AT7 should also be great.  I have the Telefunken and the Baldwin are comparable.  Don't be afraid of other NOS brands.  What suits me may not be in your sweet spot.  I am especially enamored of the Tesla 803S.  It has short plates and gold pins and you probably won't find them, but they are remarkably quiet on the phono board.  Brent Jesse has descriptions that at least will help you.  The Baldwins are much cheaper.  And not as counterfeited.

[Brett Buck]

ECC83 is just another name for 12AX7a.

Original version had these in all four spots. Updated version (if you have the one I think you have) has two 12AX7's and  two 12AT7's IIRC.

AVA has generally taken the view that tube rolling won't make much difference due to the circuit designs, but I doubt it will hurt anything either, My advice would be just leave the cover on and play some tunes.

   That's good advice in general. But I did a little bit of it anyway, and I found the JJ ECC83 to be superior to the Telefunken, with greatly reduced microphonics. The only issue is the high infant mortality. I overcame that by buying more of them and burning them in, after a few tries, you get two good ones and after the initial drop in the "bathtub curve", they last a pretty long time. Even with having to buy 4 of them instead of one Telefunken, it's still cheaper, because the Telefunkens cost so much. I suppose Telefunkens will last longer overall, but I don't know that for sure, because once I got past the first 100 hours, none of them have failed yet.

       Brett