New valves :)

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New valves :); Yummy
Topic Started: Apr 29 2009, 02:51 PM (191 Views)
Rampant	Apr 29 2009, 02:51 PM Post #1
Immortal (well, ...so far!) Posts: 403 Group: Top Contributor! Member #8,896 Joined: October 7, 2008	So my Crate V5 amp that I bought cheap in Vegas turns out to have cheap looking proprietary tubes manufactured in Russia by SOVTEK. When I initially replaced the power tube (EL84) with a Mesa Boogie item the improvement in tonal quality was tangible. After lots of searching when I was trying to order a preamp tubes I found that some users often replaced the preamp tube with a different output valve. So I ordered both the direct replacement 12AX7 and the alternative 12AT7 valves to try this out. Only the alternative 12AT7 has been delivered so far, again a Mesa Boogie tube, so I decided to give it a whirl. All I can say is that it's another step improvement in tone - the sound is so much more vibrant and rich but not at the expense of sharpness. I also noticed that with this alternative tube for the same volume of sound I need to tweak the volume knob up marginally higher than I did previously - probably due to its lower output(???). Not a problem because I was only using the range from under 1 to under 2 (on a scale of 10). Now I'm using range 1 to 2... I have a couple of questions about this - has anyone ever done this before with a tube amp and does anyone think I'll harm the amp or any of the other components??? Thinking about it I should probably run the amp while it's disassembled to see whether the tubes are glowing and note what colour and intensity they are. Cheerz Mark H
	NEW - Scarlet red PRS Custom 24 (25th anniversary birds) Black/white Yamaha Pacifica 112V Translucent red Ibanez Artcore AFS-75T semi-acoustic Vox Valvetronix VT30 Roland Micro Cube travel amp Sensei called Johnny Oriental red sunburst Yamaha APX700 electro-acoustic


monwobobbo	Apr 29 2009, 06:45 PM Post #2
Posts: 1,032 Group: Moderator Member #8,625 Joined: June 23, 2008	12AT7 tubes have a lower output and are often used as a rectifier tube. many Fender users also like those for there clean sound as they don't distort as much. if you put another 12ax7 in then you'll notice an increase in volume and better distortion sounds. i should get off my ass and replace the tubes in my crate with better ones.
	and now for something completely different


Bullet	Apr 29 2009, 06:55 PM Post #3
Admin Posts: 1,912 Group: Admin Member #183 Joined: January 13, 2007	SOVTEK aren't bad as tubes go. I don't really like Mesa tubes to be honest either. If I had to pick it would be JJs. That's all I have to say as I don't have an answer to your question... I'm not an expert in that field.



Rampant	Apr 29 2009, 07:02 PM Post #4
Immortal (well, ...so far!) Posts: 403 Group: Top Contributor! Member #8,896 Joined: October 7, 2008	Thanks dudes monwobobbo - troble with my amp is that it only has 1 volume and 1 tone control - so to get distortion I have to drive the amp really loud. That's why I rely on the PANDORA box for effects. Great gizmo. Bullet - I'll try a search for JJ tubes. The SOVTEK do look cheap, though Keep the replies coming guys
	NEW - Scarlet red PRS Custom 24 (25th anniversary birds) Black/white Yamaha Pacifica 112V Translucent red Ibanez Artcore AFS-75T semi-acoustic Vox Valvetronix VT30 Roland Micro Cube travel amp Sensei called Johnny Oriental red sunburst Yamaha APX700 electro-acoustic


voodoorider	Apr 29 2009, 11:45 PM Post #5
Garry Posts: 673 Group: Members Member #8,964 Joined: November 3, 2008	Dunno that it would make that much difference in your amp really as far as noticeable worthwhile changes are concerned, although things would change a bit obviously, then it's a bit of a science understanding how the pre-amp and power-amp sound together.. as neither on their own creates a distortion, so it's finding a pre and power amp that love eachother lots, bit of a trial and error, i dont THINK, you can do too much damage messing around with different valves An amp expert i was talking to in my local shop was trying to explain how he improves amps by matching tubes and adjusting the settings in bias and what works well together and things to avoid blah blah, i was confused as hell by the time he'd finished
	Guitars: PRS CU 22 R/W neck \| Organic Classic \| Heritage H-150 \| Fender Eric Clapton Strat \| Fender Deluxe Ash strat, scalloped \| 2001 USA std Telecaster \| 2008 USA std Telecaster \| 1996 Gibson Les Paul standard \| PRS Santana SE \| Maverick X1 \| Epiphone SG \| Freshman FA400J Amps: Orange Rockerverb 50 \| Mesa Boogie Electradyne \| Traynor YCV40T \| VOX AD60VT \| Fender Pro 185 \| Zoom Fire 15


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