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Post by dillinger4ever on Jan 17, 2008 21:34:38 GMT -7
I'm not sure if this is a really relevant question but I'll try anyway...
I've got this RXES which is kind of a transition model I guess. It has no footswitch, a 2 positions bright switch and an expand switch. Oh it also has this sticker that says Extra strength over the power switch. By the serial number it's from 2004.
It makes this incredible hissing noise. I tried taking out the preamp tubes one by one and found out that the EF86 is really noisy but not that much microphonic.
Everything I've read so far is about microphonic EF86 that makes noise when you touch it. But hissing and static noises (if my understanding of static noise is good) ?
Plus there is a slight noise remaining with only a 12ax7 in V3 but not as bad as with the EF86 plugged in. It's quiet as death with no tubes in the preamp.
I ordered some Russian Ef86 and should I order 5751 or 12AX7 and change all the preamp section ?
Thanks
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Post by awesome on Jan 17, 2008 22:08:28 GMT -7
do you know a shop around your area that has a tube tester?
get them all checked out.
the EF86 is a fairly problematic tube from what i have been told. i have a transition/prototype RXES also. i have noticed the hiss that your talking about in my amp too. i've played a couple of newer RXES's that all had the hiss but to varying degrees. i'm guessing it depends on the quality of the tube.
i can only suggest getting your tubes checked.
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Post by hogridr on Jan 18, 2008 11:59:54 GMT -7
Well that sounds like an original Prescription, ES only has Overdose switch. The original Prescription had the bright and expand switch. The Prescriptions did not have an EF86, they came with 12AX7 preamp tubes. Maybe there was a transition model I am not aware of, I do not have the Z knowledge that so many in here do. I thought there was a clean transition from the original to the Paisley design RXES
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Post by aj1169 on Jan 18, 2008 12:20:21 GMT -7
I would just order a good tested NOS EF86 and plug in there. These tubes can be troublesome, especially if they've been used for quite a while and seen lots of vibration. The Dario and Mullard EF86's sound great in my RxES.
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Post by Curt on Jan 18, 2008 16:23:33 GMT -7
Well that sounds like an original Prescription, ES only has Overdose switch. The original Prescription had the bright and expand switch. The Prescriptions did not have an EF86, they came with 12AX7 preamp tubes. Maybe there was a transition model I am not aware of, I do not have the Z knowledge that so many in here do. I thought there was a clean transition from the original to the Paisley design RXES There was a transitional RXES, had the original Rx faceplate with the 3 way brite sw and an 'expand' switch that was actually the OD, and a sticker for 'Extra Strength". Mine was quiet, look hard at the pre amp tubes, or perhaps it need a pilgramage home to Doc's place for a thorough check up. Here's a pic of mine;
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Post by dillinger4ever on Jan 18, 2008 18:59:01 GMT -7
Any good places to buy tubes ? thetubestore in Hamilton, Canada sells them 17.95$ a piece for russian made... Plus 8.95 shipping... Anyone knows a "special" place ?
Thanks
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Post by Curt on Jan 18, 2008 19:36:38 GMT -7
Dougs Tubes Mike @ KCNOS
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Post by awesome on Jan 18, 2008 21:22:54 GMT -7
hey tele62, my RXES has a 2-way brite switch instead of the 3-way. so i guess there were multiple transition models
+1 for KCA NOS Tubes.
i just bought a bunch.
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Post by dillinger4ever on Jan 18, 2008 21:28:37 GMT -7
i have a transition/prototype RXES also. i have noticed the hiss that your talking about in my amp too. i've played a couple of newer RXES's that all had the hiss but to varying degrees. i'm guessing it depends on the quality of the tube. Well that's weird. I got way older amps that are really quiet... Now I'm about sure the problem is the EF86 Hey Awesome have you ever tried original RX, yours and new RXES ? If you did have you seen any differences in tone between yours and the other ones ?
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Post by JASON (aka jgleaton) on Jan 18, 2008 23:47:17 GMT -7
I have an Original, and a newer style RX ES... and I also played a Transition RX ES right when they came out, for quite a while in a guitar shop trying it out... but I was STUPID and didn't buy it RIGHT THEN...
it was GONE before I could get back and get it... So I immediately ordered the RX ES I have now...
They are all slightly different, the Early RX ES's like the one I played and impressed me so much (and probably like the one Curt had too) were a little closer it seemed to me to the Original... BUT they had the EF-86 smoother little more articulate BEAUTIFUL cleans... to me they had a little less Drive to em than the later RX ES, but PLENTY of HAIR ... So in that respect they were kinda a little more like the Original. Nice headroom too...
I was fortunate enough to talk gear with Gary Hooker at a show, (BP's other guitarist, a mighty fine picker and like all of Paisley's crew... just a nice guy, real down to earth.) he was playing an EARLY RX ES... and he said he would kinda like to try one of the later ones with more drive... I would lean toward an Earlier version myself with Less drive but still alot of hair (I personally prefer more headroom). I remember talking with him about the difference between the one I had and the early one's like his, that I played. ALL of em are just GREAT amps... So I guess It really boils down to the taste of the player, which you'd prefer or how you might set your's up (different tubes/ speakers/ etc) to accent what it does well.
Of course when I played the early RX ES, this was before Doc came out with the Ray and until I heard the Ray it was the MOST beautiful clean sound I had ever heard... and STILL rivals the Ray to me. I like the bite the RX's have even when clean and chimey, as compared to the Ray's big round smooth n Chimey fatness. The RX's are a little more... can I say it... Dare I say it???
PUNCHY! ;D
The Original RX doesn't get the due it deserves in my opinion, that is a GREAT amp and there was NOTHING wrong with it. It is the Most percussive, More bite, and has a little less articulate character, less Drive but lots o hair... closer to what you hear in the NR drive of a MAZ JR or SR but BIGGER and nastier... thats it, I'd say it's "hair" isn't as smooth... it's HAIR is Nasty!!
Of Course, all these amps overlap some, they seem to have an RX sound and all of these descriptions can change ALOT depending on different speakers and especially different tubes.
A few other guy's around here (like cementman), have had or played different versions... maybe they'll "chime" in with their thoughts...
BTW, My Original RX, RX ES AND the transitional/ EARLY RX ES I played were ALL dead quiet... even CRANKED... if the one you have isn't, it's a tube or something else is wrong with it.
Jason
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Post by awesome on Jan 19, 2008 23:21:23 GMT -7
hey dillinger4ever, i completely forgot to ask and add something. Do you mean you hear it all the time? i was talking more about varying hiss levels when the expand/overdose switch is engaged. which i believe would increase microphonics. but like i said i have noticed different degrees of it. and if you get new tubes, DON'T cheap out. dont go overboard either but thats your decision. i have never played an original RX. only the transition and the new one. the new RX has more sizzle and drive. it also has a more solid feel to me. but that really is up in the air i suppose. the transition has higher headroom, not too much higher though, and has little bit more sparkle. basically what jgleaton said. but despite my love for the RXES, i am enamored with the Stingray. i love thick, smooth sounding amps. and classic rock overdrive. which it nails. i hope this doesnt offend any RX lovers in here.
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Post by myles on Jan 24, 2008 21:03:48 GMT -7
Well that sounds like an original Prescription, ES only has Overdose switch. The original Prescription had the bright and expand switch. The Prescriptions did not have an EF86, they came with 12AX7 preamp tubes. Maybe there was a transition model I am not aware of, I do not have the Z knowledge that so many in here do. I thought there was a clean transition from the original to the Paisley design RXES Actually.... mine is one of the Pre Paisley test amps and has a few differences from what is around these days..... The output transformer is heavier ... more low end ... too much for Brad. It was changed. The ones that look like mine probably have the later transformer that Brad liked as even his original red one with the sticker and bright switch had a different transformer. With a Les Paul my particular ES has more low end than just about anything I own other than a Fender Tone-Master and that runs closed back cabs and peaks out at about 140 watts and does not have a tube rectifier so it is one of those "right now" amps or .... in the old days ... one of those amps that push levels that used to push the ashtrays off of tables when you could still find an ashtray in a club. The bright switch is on my amp but is only active in one of the two positions... and really does very little at that. My expand switch later became the overdose switch which later became foot switchable. At one time Brad may have planned that when he came back for an encore and if the RxES was on the stage he might flip on the OD switch for the encore. In my amp when you flip it on it is sort of like being in an F-4 Phantom Jet (I am showing my age) when you hit the afterburners. It was too much of a jump so the expand switch was "throttled back" on later amps. Mine has the 12AX7 - EF86 - 12AX7 config. Prior to the ES the original RX had three 12AX7s. A duet of EL34's was also tried but it was not a big hit. My amp looks the same as the one above sitting with the Airbrake and the red cab from Tele62. Your amp will be less noisy with any of the preamp tubes removed as you are cutting the gain down to nothing. That is not a good way to test things. First off, if you suspect a bad EF86 DO NOT replace it with a Russian one!!!! Go to www.kcanostubes.com and get an NOS one. The Dario Miniwatts are nice and not too pricy. If the output set is getting a bit old as in over 300 hours of use then replace it as well with a fresh quad of EL84S in a #6 rating. Mike has those as well. Swap a good 12AX7 into V1 just to assure it is not noisy and passing that on to V2, the EF86.
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Post by dillinger4ever on Jan 25, 2008 18:30:21 GMT -7
Thanks guys !!! Really helpful advices here ! Thanks for the evolution of the ES story Myles !!! I've got some EF86 on the way and I just found a place near where I can buy NOS 12AX7 if the EF86 is not the problem.
I'll let you know if the EF86 was the problem as soon as I get the tubes
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fixed
Full Member
Posts: 133
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Post by fixed on Feb 13, 2008 8:37:02 GMT -7
I had a problem with my RxES making a low frequency hum, and I tried 3 different Electro Harmonix EF86's which all had the problem. I finally took the EF86 out of my Z-28 and put it in the RxES and the hum was gone!
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Post by dillinger4ever on Feb 20, 2008 11:19:38 GMT -7
Got the new tubes... That is not the problem... Darn it...
So I guess it's back to the tech again.
But I'm almost sure it is relied to the Ef86 because when I engage the expand switch it gets louder and if my understanding of the circuit is good, the expand switch has something to do with the EF86 in V2.
Thanks guys for the advices and I'll let you know once it is fixed for good what was the problem.
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