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Post by cassavanova on Apr 9, 2018 9:51:04 GMT -7
Howdy fellas,
Best to start with a TLDR; I haven't been happy with my Remedy tone lately (too much mids, fizzy highs, and breakup just isn't sounding very growly or clean). I'm wondering if new tubes will solve the problem - it's been a long time (never in the past 2 years) that I've replaced any of the tubes, and I run it pretty hard, with a Brakelite full on and the both volumes up around 3 o'clock. Think new tubes will solve my problem?
So, some background: I bought my Remedy used off Reverb. The previous owner had two JJ6v6s in it, and two other tubes that looked completely different - may have been 6v6s, maybe not, but they were black around the outside. Surprise surprise, after a few hours of playing, I blow a fuse. So replace the two weird-looking 6v6s with JJs, and it's been working fine ever since. That was maybe back in 2015. Haven't touched any of the other tubes since I've owned it.
Recently, the tone just hasn't been impressing me. I play in two bands (about 6+ hours of play time a week), and I'm driving it pretty hard. I run at half-power and full attenuation with my Brakelite. I read online that running at half power eats up tubes even faster, and since I'm always driving it hard, I imagine those two 6v6s that are "on" when it's in half-power are getting smashed. Also, I always run an Xotic EP booster into the front, so I'm hitting the first ECC83 really hard.
I went ahead and bought a whole new set of tubes because that's probably the wise thing to do before blaming my dislike of the tone on the amp. It's hard to remember now, but I feel like it sounded different - crisper, clearer, cleaner breakup - a couple years ago.
Think the tube change will do the trick? Also, which tubes wear out faster than others? I read somewhere that the first preamp tube is going to need replacement much sooner than the other two preamp tubes. I also read that running half-power eats your tubes much faster than running full, so I should just run full all the time to save my tube life, especially if I'm running it that hot when I play.
I'd love to hear your opinions/feedback/ruminations! I hate to leave the Z camp, but I need this amp to sound the way I want it to to justify keeping it around.
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Post by bryan0418 on Apr 9, 2018 10:04:08 GMT -7
I believe the JJ brand of 6v6 tubes is what is best for the Remedy. That is what was selected by Doc and I can tell you after many years and dollars of trying different tubes, his selection is usually what sounds best. I would say a matched quad of JJ's may help improve your sound.
I don't believe running the Remedy at half power will wear any tubes more or less. Maybe someone on here with knowledge of the circuit can chime in.
The pre-amp tubes usually do not wear out for a long long time. The only one that could wear out is the phase inverter tube. That is the tube in the V3 position, closest to the larger power tubes. You may want to replace just that pre-amp tube with the 6v6's. Just be sure to get a 12AX7 for that position which has balanced triodes. The stock tube for the phase inverter is a Tung Sol 12AX7.
Another option you could do that works really well is to have Dr Z's team install a post phase inverter master volume and boost footswitch on your amp. The master volume really sounds good and will eliminate your need for the Brakelite. Plus the boost is nice to have for solos. If you send the amp in, the repair team can give the amp a once over and make sure everything is working as it should. Email repairs@drzamps and Don will hook you up.
What speaker are you running? The Creamback M65 to me sounded the best with the Remedy.
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Post by cassavanova on Apr 9, 2018 10:27:20 GMT -7
Running a 2x12 cab with G12H30s in it. Loud as f*ck. I'm on the fence about getting the MV mod done. If I do get it done, I'm going to want to keep this amp for a long time. If I don't get it done, I might sell it, but not sure what I'd replace it with. The resale value isn't that high, and it's unlikely I can find an amp as good as this for the price it would go for used. It might just be a "forever" amp, and I'm okay with that
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Post by BritInvasion on Apr 9, 2018 10:45:52 GMT -7
I agree with bryan0418. From what you describe , your tubes - especially power tubes and phase inverter - are long overdue for a change. I think it will sound like a new amp once you get a good set of tubes in it.
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Post by cassavanova on Apr 9, 2018 10:49:07 GMT -7
Nice! That's what I'm hoping!
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Post by headshrinker (Marc) on Apr 9, 2018 12:21:50 GMT -7
Running the amp at half power doesn't wear out the tubes any faster compared to full power. Running the amp at higher settings of the volumes (with no master) will wear out the power tubes faster than lower settings. So if you set the volumes high and then attenuate it back with the brakelite, they will wear a little faster. In my experience, the difference with a 6V6 isn't all that big. If they were EL-84s you would notice it more. Also, when you are in half power mode all four power tubes are still wearing at the same rate, so you want to replace all four. I would get a new phase inverter. Then listen to the amp with the old one in, swap in the new one and listen again. If you hear a difference, leave the new one in. If not, put the old one back in and keep the new one for the future. I wouldn't mess with the other preamp tubes until I listened to the amp with the new power tubes. Then if you go for it, again listen with the old ones, swap out ONE AT A TIME and listen again. I've seen (heard) amps go from sounding great to worse with new preamp tubes.
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Apr 9, 2018 15:41:33 GMT -7
Ditto on the power tubes. I always replace them on any used amp I get right off the bat. New production is cheap and readily available and is recommended by Doc. Trust me, you’ll notice the difference right away with fresh set of tubes.
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Post by doctorice on Apr 9, 2018 16:06:09 GMT -7
"Two JJs and two other tubes" is trouble. Remedy needs matched quad. Get those new tubes!
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Post by John on Apr 9, 2018 17:50:04 GMT -7
I read somewhere that the first preamp tube is going to need replacement much sooner than the other two preamp tubes. I also read that running half-power eats your tubes much faster than running full, so I should just run full all the time to save my tube life, especially if I'm running it that hot when I play. There's a lot of nonsense on the internet. You're statements above are wrong. Preamp tubes can last decades. 1/2 power on the Remedy doesn't burn up tubes faster. (too many crazy internet loud mouths.) But it does sound like you're in need of a retube. If you are unhappy with your tone...and the amp is working correctly, you have three choices: 1) New tubes 2) New speakers 3) Both 1 & 2 Running a 2x12 cab with G12H30s in it. Loud as f*ck. I know what I'm about to say is personal taste, and people hear things differently....but... Those speakers are AWFUL with the Remedy. The WORST I've ever tried with the amp. Most people gravitate towards something in the greenback camp. (Greenbacks, greenback clones (which most speaker manufacturers have) and the creamback M) Greenback-ish speakers seem to be a big hit with the remedy. Remedy and Greenbacks seem to be made for each other. A perfect match. And yes, G12H30's are very loud speakers...because they're very efficient. (meaning, they make a lot of sound for a given amount of amp power) There are less efficient speakers out there, which allow you to crank up the amp (or use less attenuation)....usually a desirable thing. But if you like the G12H30's...that's your decision and no one can tell you it's wrong. But I encourage you to find someone who's got a cabinet loaded with greenbacks, and give it a try. Not as much bass, not as much crispy highs...but a LOT more mids. Or honestly, find a cabinet....ANY cabinet that has different speakers, and see if your ears like it. It's also been my experience that G12h30's sound ok for recording, but for playing in a live band...terrible. The recessed mids make it hard to hear the guitar....because the guitar is a mid instrument.
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Post by cassavanova on Apr 10, 2018 21:17:39 GMT -7
Thanks all for the advice. I have a full new set of tubes in the mail. The power tubes will be the first ones in, and then, per u/headshrinker's advice, I will test the new phase inverter tube to see if it sounds better/worse. Then I'll try the other preamp tubes, see if I notice a difference. If not, I'll leave the current preamp tubes in and save the others for a rainy day.
I haven't had the chance to try a lot of other cab/speaker combinations with this amp. It's a rare day I can crank it as it is, let alone have a bunch of friends with cabs laying around I can try. I wouldn't mind bringing it into Guitar Center and testing it in their iso room, but the closest one is 2 1/2 hours away.
I also wouldn't mind less volume, so yes, greenbacks would be nice, and probably the best fit for this amp. I'm not a huge fan of how much low-end and how piercing the high end is with these speakers. I have more bass than the bass player (seems to be a thing with ported 2x12s).
Anyone feel like playing through this amp really feels like you hear more of the amp than the guitar? I can play my strat with single coils or my PRS with Seymour Duncans, and they both sound less like distinct guitars and more like the Remedy. Again, that's with the volumes around 1-3 o'clock - where I usually sit with it. And it's not a bad thing - it nails that type of classic rock breakup. Also has a really beautiful shimmer that makes playing rhythm a ton of fun. Everything about it screams "high fidelity."
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Post by John on Apr 11, 2018 5:37:45 GMT -7
I'm not a huge fan of how much low-end and how piercing the high end is with these speakers. You just described G12H30 speakers. Personally, I'd sell those G12H30's....and buy a set of greenback clones from WGS. wgsusa.com/gbThey're MUCH cheaper than celestions. Same great tone. (I have one)
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Post by cassavanova on Apr 11, 2018 13:02:17 GMT -7
RIP my next paycheck and sex life for the next two weeks.
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Post by cassavanova on Apr 14, 2018 20:17:37 GMT -7
UPDATE:
I replaced the 6V6s with a matched quad of JJs and the phase inverter with a Tung Sol 12AX7, per the doctor's advice. I practiced with my band today, and my tone is back to liquid gold! Some abstract tone descriptors: chewy, liquid, articulate, crisp.
ALSO I cut 1/3 out of back panel of my closed 212 to make it open-back, and that solved a lot of my problems with having too much low mids. It's a whole new ball game. Before today, I was looking at other amps that I might want to have to complement, or replace, the Remedy. Now I'm thinking I should just get a second Remedy as a back-up! (And several sets of replacement tubes...)
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Post by John on Apr 15, 2018 4:23:10 GMT -7
So are you going to pursue a pair of greenbacks? (or clones)
Glad to hear the tubes brought your amp back.
Switching from closed to openback will add mids (not lower mids)....so it sounds like you like more mids?
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Post by bryan0418 on Apr 15, 2018 10:46:54 GMT -7
UPDATE: I replaced the 6V6s with a matched quad of JJs and the phase inverter with a Tung Sol 12AX7, per the doctor's advice. I practiced with my band today, and my tone is back to liquid gold! Some abstract tone descriptors: chewy, liquid, articulate, crisp. ALSO I cut 1/3 out of back panel of my closed 212 to make it open-back, and that solved a lot of my problems with having too much low mids. It's a whole new ball game. Before today, I was looking at other amps that I might want to have to complement, or replace, the Remedy. Now I'm thinking I should just get a second Remedy as a back-up! (And several sets of replacement tubes...) Awesome! Glad it worked out. Now consider getting that master volume/EQ Bypass mod done to make a good amp even better!
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Post by cassavanova on Apr 15, 2018 13:41:35 GMT -7
So are you going to pursue a pair of greenbacks? (or clones) Glad to hear the tubes brought your amp back. Switching from closed to openback will add mids (not lower mids)....so it sounds like you like more mids? Opening the cabinet dropped the bass and low mids a ton, making it less thumpy, which is exactly what I wanted. Mid mids and high mids are still there. It's also quieter, I've noticed, probably because I'm losing a lot of the energy out the back of the cab. Also a good thing. I'm not sure if I'm gonna go greenbacks or not. I'm in a 2 bedroom apartment right now, and limited on space, so I don't really want to own two cabs right now if I can avoid it. I'm thinking about getting a fender-esque head, such as Morgan PR12 or a Certiatone OTS 50, so I can cover more tones from fender clean to Remedy zing, but only have to own cabinet. So, I might leave the G12H speakers in it for now until I have a chance to try it with different amps, and then later experiment with some speakers than can walk the line and do a decent job with differently-voiced amps.
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Post by LT on Apr 20, 2018 14:27:42 GMT -7
Glad those new tubes did the trick! The Remedy is a great amp.
As for the cab, I bet opening up the back also made it less focused/beamy. I personally like both open and closed cabs for different playing situations.
Welcome to the forum BTW!
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Post by anacephalic on Apr 21, 2018 20:31:32 GMT -7
you might want to try balancing one of the g12h30 with a v30. with that pairing you get more of a full spectrum tone because the v30 is all about midrange. i think that combination is what is in initial issues of the z-best cab. v30 is really efficient so loud remains front and center in the equation, A v30 and a greenie is another combination that i have heard nice results from and it is a little more forgiving than the g12-v30 combo.
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Post by cassavanova on Apr 25, 2018 15:02:40 GMT -7
I found a decent deal on a pair of Creambacks, so I took the plunge. Although the tone is much better with the new tubes, the cab/speakers are still too bass-heavy, and sound mid-scooped. Hopefully the creambacks will solve that problem.
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Post by "Z" Steve on Apr 25, 2018 16:21:48 GMT -7
One Creamback is great, but two? Stand back and enjoy!
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Post by cassavanova on May 3, 2018 8:43:43 GMT -7
UPDATE 2:
I put in both Creambacks, took out the G12H Anniversaries. Result: exactly what I'm look for! Thick, rich mid-range tone. Less bass, no mid-scoop. They sound very balanced, with a bass roll-off, unlike the scoopiness of the G12H.
I'm a happy man. This amp just shines by itself. All I use on my pedal board for my lead tone is an Xotic EP booster (I leave it always on, and just roll the volume back for rhythm playing), and that's literally as good as it gets. Overdrive pedals simply don't make this amp sound better than the amp itself driven with a booster. To reduce the attack and a get a nice, creamy Dumble-esque sound out of it, I select the bridge pickup and roll the tone way down, to around 3 or 4, and put the volume on 10. It's raunchy and thick, and the Creambacks put me perfectly in the mids of the mix.
Hope all you other Z owners are enjoying your inferior models. The Remedy and a booster is all I need.
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Post by John on May 3, 2018 10:14:16 GMT -7
I had a feeling you'd like those creambacks over the G12H30's.
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2018 10:16:51 GMT -7
Thanks for following up with your excellent result. A lot of times these posts just hang in the wind.
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