Valve advice if you please...

[Haselsh1]

I have recently bought one of the last ever Croft Micro 25 Basic preamps and until later in the year when I hope to upstage it with a Micro 25R I would like to upgrade the valves. At the moment it contains a GE ECC81 and two Sovtek ECC83's. I have now tried it with three National ECC82's and absolutely love it as it is much more refined and laid back and a lot less strident and forceful. The question is: Should I purchase ECC82's in the future or is it best to stick with ECC83's...? It is my intention to buy gold pinned Genelec Gold Lion's from Hotrox.

As always is the case, your input is most welcome.

[Ali Tait]

I take it it's ok to use either?

[Jazid]

I have recently bought one of the last ever Croft Micro 25 Basic preamps and until later in the year when I hope to upstage it with a Micro 25R I would like to upgrade the valves. At the moment it contains a GE ECC81 and two Sovtek ECC83's. I have now tried it with three National ECC82's and absolutely love it as it is much more refined and laid back and a lot less strident and forceful. The question is: Should I purchase ECC82's in the future or is it best to stick with ECC83's...? It is my intention to buy gold pinned Genelec Gold Lion's from Hotrox.

As always is the case, your input is most welcome.

I don't doubt that you like the sound, but the tubes will not be running anywhere near their optimum operating points.
I would suggest that you go back to the ECC81, play with others eg. Mullard or Telefunken ECC81 (which will not be strident or harsh) if it takes your fancy, and also if you like the lower gain of the amp with '82s in it, try putting a 5751 in place of the ECC83 instead of that ECC82. They are genuinely compatible with the ECC83 but with lower gain so may make the pre less strident as that was part of the problem?
5751 are available easily enough from America - there is a lot written about them some of which may be worth reading, but GE or Sylvania triple micas are a safe bet.
Hope this helps :)