Looking for brighter tubes

Not sure about the power supply but the caps were Maryland Jolida upgraded (along with other items in the "upgrade" mod version). The 12AT7s currently are EH Russians (the only non-Tung Sols).

The amp is new-ish (newest version actually, and supposedly improved over older versions), I haven't tried any other tubes in it yet, but so far it sounds great (quiet, looks cool, very well built, sweet tone). I'm not complaining, just fishing for info among my fellow tubists. Tubers? Tuboids? Bottle Heads? Valvers? At the current price for these new, I'm surprised everybody doesn't own one just to play with the damn thing. It's fun. I appreciate the suggestions...keep 'em coming.

I'm still only a third or so of the way through the "break in" period of my amp (300 hours...gives me a reason to live!), after which I'll be more able to decide what, if anything, needs sonic tweaking. The dude who designed the amp is a fan of old tubes like the Phillips Miniwatt, etc., so it will be interesting to see what this stuff sounds like.

Man...the 502p sounds damn good as new (getting better every day) even without the use of this collective wisdom, so once I digest all this and cram some new glass into the thing it just might sound TOO good, thus giving me nothing else to do. Except maybe asking "Johnsonwu" to completely rebuild it. I've been using tube guitar amps since the 60's and like most professional musicians life seemed too short to worry about tubes...you just want the things to keep functioning (for interested guitar players: my current fave amp is a really sweet Reverend Goblin 5/15 with a Jensen Neo 10).

I am wondering if the Jolida transformers can handle KT120s...anybody have a clue? Well "Wilson667?" Come on man...do it! I do plan to talk to the Jolida dudes more about that.

In a phone conversation about 10 minutes ago, Mike Allen of Jolida told me that KT120s should work fine in my (newer version) JD502P. So there. Also, he seems like a cool guy.

Wilson667...good question...if yours is a couple of months old it's likely a current version, although of course I have no idea. On mine the labeling on the front has the silk screened Jolida name and a small gold logo badge, unlike any pics of them I've seen. The bias screws are even with the bias leds...I was told they sound a little more dynamic now, but I have no clue what makes them different other than what little specific info I've gleaned from talking to people at Jolida...I suggest you call 'em.

Also, reading that somebody has had bad luck with EAT tubes strikes me as amazing...at nearly $1400 for a "quartet" of 'em...man...

I've decided mine some ore and melt some sand and make my own tubes...I mean really...how hard could that be?

That video is hilarious, and also...Edwin Howard Armstrong's story is really interesting although tragic.

I think the consensus is that KT120s will work in a 502P, and not set your cat on fire...I'm off to melt some sand.

I think you just make a glass bulb and stick some wire in it...I plan to suck the air out with my vacuum cleaner or merely place the thing in range of a Lana Del Ray song...this should work...

Thank you.

Excellent point.