Product: Groove Tubes SAG-AX7-MPI
Price Paid: US $28.00
Submitted
07/30/2004
at
07:01pm
by
Daniel
Email: none
Ease of Use
:
9
Alright...I have a Marshall TSL122, it's fitted with GT-928-PR's duet, so it makes my Marshall 20watts Class A. It has GT-EL84-S #7 rating and GT-12AX7-C's in the V1 and V2 positions, stock tube in V3.
I just recently made this modification to my Marshall and I love it, it helps me get power tube saturation at lower volumes, the help of the EL84 tubes. But, I always heard about Matched phase inverters/drivers in the V4 position in my case, and how they help smooth out the lows and highs...and in an overall nutshell, the amp will 'sing' with a matched pre-amp tube in the driver position (which is part of the power section of the amp and not the pre-amp, I guess the driver tube, drives the power tubes). I finnally gave in and bought one off of GT's website. Got it a few days later and put it in the driver position.
Sound Quality
:
10
I play a Gibson Les Paul studio plus with stock pickups, monster rock cables, then strait to the amp. I like simple set up.
I didnt specify what make 12AX7, cause they would either send me the 12AX7-C, the new mullard reissue, or some other make, and any one of them would be fine for me. I got the 12AX7-C, and it said on the box the tube was in "SAG MPI". (Special Applications group, Matched phase inverter) I put it in the driver position and every single thing was improved about the sound and tone. I can only explain it by saying, it makes the amp 'sing' and clarity is unbelieveable...my amp has never sounded this good before. I can find NO fault with the tone or sound of my Marshall now. Simply put...I have great power tube distortion that sounds amazing, and the clean channel, when it breaks up a little bit...its just heaven. No blurring of notes cause of odd chords either, something i cant stand. MATCH YOUR ENTIRE POWER SECTION!! I cant stress it enough. I am now a firm believer in matched phase inverters. My search for amps is over.
Do your research, learn about your amp, it's company and learn about tubes...it's all worth it.
BTW i never give a 10 on sound, but for me, it would be a shame to the amp if i gave it less than a 10.
Reliability
:
10
I never think twice about reliability when it comes to groove tubes.
Groove Tubes KNOWS what their doing, they are an awesome company. They dont get enough credit for the things they do.
Customer Support
:
10
Beyond excellent. Thank you GT for everything! I am now a better player and a better sounding player thanks to GT. I cant reccomend GT enough. Superb!
Overall Rating
:
10
I play rock punk/rock. like : Relient K, Lifehouse, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Dashboard Confessional, Coldplay among others. I've been playing for a little over 3 and a-half years. I also own a Gibson J-185EC.
As the stock version the amp sucks, I agree with every reviewer out there that dissed the TSL. Marshall just might as well change the Marshall TSL122 line into TSL20 (20watts class A) Put some 928-PR's in there with a pair of JJ EL84's, some chinease or mullard reissue 12AX7's and a matched phase inverter from GT of course, and I would bet money that they would sell like hot cakes.
I'm addicted to my amp now.
Everyone has their own style and sound in their mind of what their striving for...as for me, my amp now sounds awesome, for me it works great. And everyone doesnt like Marshall, but remember mine isnt in stock form anymore...I dont even consider it a Marshall anymore...it must be a sin to put in a matched phase inverter and have an amp sound this good. The best $28.00 bucks i've ever spent.
God Bless.
