Sound City 120L MKIV

Best valves for Sound City 120L MkIV

The Sound City 120L and the 120R amplifier uses:

• 3 x ECC83 preamp valves (also called 12AX7).
• 1 x Balanced ECC81 (12AT7) for the phase inverter (in position V4).
• 6 x EL34 matched power valves/power tubes.

Note: The balanced ECC83 goes in the V4 position which is the preamp valve furthest from your input jack.

A brand-new set of valves will get your amp sounding better than ever.

We always recommend JJ valves for this amplifier. This is because they guarantee you get awesome tone and long life and they don’t cost a fortune.

Remember, JJ is one of only five manufacturers in the world. So don’t pay higher prices for valves from the same factory that have simply been rebranded by other companies.

Order your valves below and hear the difference

So restore the tone, the power and the sparkle to your guitar amplifier. Treat yourself to a brand new set of valves today.

• All of our kits are carefully selected, fully tested, digitally graded, balanced and matched.
• A significant upgrade in quality compared with stock valves.
• We offer a variety of shipping options with full tracking and insurance so you can order with confidence.
• We have 30 years of experience so you know you are in safe hands.
• International shipping – we post all over the world every single day.

Replace the valves on your Sound City 120 amplifier

If you have any queries please get in touch. We have over 30 years of experience so one of our team will always be happy to help and advise.

If you haven’t changed your valves before, please take a look at our FAQ section before you contact us. Here we answer the most popular questions we get asked each week.

If you want to know what your shipping options are, simply add the product to the basket and when you get to the checkout it will show you delivery costs, options and delivery times.

About the amp

The 1974 L/B 120 Mark IV comes from an evolved Sound City lineup and is one of the notable designs to have moved on from the brand’s Hiwatt roots.

Its knobs offer the standard functions you see on Marshall and Hiwatt amps, but in a different order, and they control the amp in a totally different way.

Standard and Attenuated inputs for the Normal and Brilliant channels feed their respective Volume controls, after which the signals are junctioned into the Bass, Middle, and Treble controls. Unlike the EQ stages of most amps, however, each knob in this lineup is entirely active.

Turn up Bass, Middle, or Treble respectively, and you add gain precisely to that portion of the frequency spectrum, courtesy of an individual ECC83 (aka 12AX7) triode attached to each stage in the circuit. Turn them all down, even with each channel’s Volume control fully up, and you get nothing. This configuration makes for an amp that takes a little getting used to alongside the standard passive-interactive tone stage, but one that makes a powerful sound and tone creator once you get the hang of it.

Tubes for sale for Sound City 120L and 120R amplifier   

Order your new tubes today and get your amp sounding better than ever.