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Post by Norrin Radd on May 12, 2009 9:09:25 GMT -7
I just re-tubed my Ray head. Yep - I did all of 'em at once. I noticed a pretty good change in tone. In it previously were GT EL84s (rated 6), a Sovtek 12 AX7 LPS, a Russian EF 86 that I can't identify - (it has a "C" with a circle around it with 3 lines protruding from the east and west side on it for a logo - is this a winged C?) and a Pentagon with CCCP inside it as well. The rectifier was a Sovtek 5AR4. Replaced with: Mullard EL84s EHX Gold 12AX7 EHX EF86 Groove Tubes 5AR4 The tone is now much darker/deeper/richer - not nearly as brilliant as before. I used to run the cut with my Tele at just below 2 - with new tubes I have it on 4, and it could go even further without approaching the "cut" that it had with the previous tubes. What's great is I can achieve the tone I had with the old tubes by engaging my Durham Sex Drive and setting it just so - plus I have more thump in the bottom than before like that. Anyways - I always thought the AX7s had the greatest impact on tone (and in this case - the EF86 as well). Is that a correct presumption? If I put in the old pre's - should I expect the old tone back or will the new rectifier and power tubes also have a big impact on the tone? Just curious. I'm new to single channel and class A amps. ALSO - if anyone wants to make any recommendations for tubes with the Ray and how those recommendations affect the tone - I'm all ears! Thanks guys!
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Post by Phil (aka Phil) on May 12, 2009 9:48:52 GMT -7
Simple circuit amps like Dr. Z's will show variations in tubes much more readily than amps with a lot of "stuff" in the circuit like pots, resistors, caps, etc. Amps like the Stangray, Mazerati GT, Route 66/Delta88/KT45/Z28 really show off tube differences.
Having said that, V1 will make the most difference. It's the one tube that takes a small voltage (from your pickups) and amplifies it a lot before hitting the next stage of the amp. On Z amps like the ones I just mentioned, the next (and only other preamp) tube is the phase inverter, which will show differences from tube to tube but not as much as V1. The power tubes i would say are almost as important as V1, especially if you're comparing a worn set to a new set, or something like the old Sovteks to JJ's. The rectifier makes the least difference in "tone" of all these, but contributes to feel and clarity.
In my experience with the Dr. Z EF86 amps, the change in tone from different EF86's can be literally shocking. Just going from something like a Dario to a Mullard makes a *huge* difference.
The best idea when tube swapping/tweaking is to follow the old scientific rule of only changing one variable at a time. The idea is to gather data that you can use in the future when you need to tweak that amp or another amp. You need to observe the changes that happen with each brand and type of tube. Right now you don't know if the effect you like was due to the V1, V2, output, or rectifier tube change (or the cumulative effect of all of the changes).
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