Post by dave on Mar 22, 2006 5:32:51 GMT -7
There was a thread a while back where you guys were talking about swopping different tubes for different sounds and I expressed dismay at the prospect of this new layer of complexity/uncertainty/paranoia/expense in getting different sounds from an amp in this way. (Myles came to the rescue with the kind offer of some tubes to experiment with next time I was in SoCal - still intend to drop by someday!)
My fleabay Ghia was said to be 'retubed' and its sounded great apart from what seemed to be a overly bright sound (tone was always at 3 o/c), and a hint of mid range buzziness when cranked. Anyway I talked to our UK valve guru at Watford Valves and he sent me his reccomendation set, a GE 5751 and a pair of Harma EL84's (he thought the JJ 12AX7 was OK, so that was unchanged)
Sceptic, me. Didnt expect much change in sound. I can report there WAS a change in sound!
Replaced the Electroharmonix 5751 with the GE 5751. Very noticable difference! Warmer, smoother, perhaps a tad less output but very nice improvement. Tone control was set back to about 1-2 o/c to compensate.
The Harma EL84's went in and the bottom end tightened up. Chunky palm muted notes that almost vibrated the head off the cab. I think this is the 'focussed' bass that Myles talked about.
Now all midrange buzz has gone, sweet sustain and tighter bass.
Everyone on fleabay will say they have recently retubed the amp they are selling. The definition of 'recent' can be quite flexible. I dont know if he was spinning a porky, but the tubes looked new, had shiny lables on them and he seemed straight up when I bought the amp.
So, I am unsure whether the improvement was just 'new' tubes or 'different' tubes. Well, I guess I am hooked on this now. Myles, I'll be knocking on your door!
My fleabay Ghia was said to be 'retubed' and its sounded great apart from what seemed to be a overly bright sound (tone was always at 3 o/c), and a hint of mid range buzziness when cranked. Anyway I talked to our UK valve guru at Watford Valves and he sent me his reccomendation set, a GE 5751 and a pair of Harma EL84's (he thought the JJ 12AX7 was OK, so that was unchanged)
Sceptic, me. Didnt expect much change in sound. I can report there WAS a change in sound!
Replaced the Electroharmonix 5751 with the GE 5751. Very noticable difference! Warmer, smoother, perhaps a tad less output but very nice improvement. Tone control was set back to about 1-2 o/c to compensate.
The Harma EL84's went in and the bottom end tightened up. Chunky palm muted notes that almost vibrated the head off the cab. I think this is the 'focussed' bass that Myles talked about.
Now all midrange buzz has gone, sweet sustain and tighter bass.
Everyone on fleabay will say they have recently retubed the amp they are selling. The definition of 'recent' can be quite flexible. I dont know if he was spinning a porky, but the tubes looked new, had shiny lables on them and he seemed straight up when I bought the amp.
So, I am unsure whether the improvement was just 'new' tubes or 'different' tubes. Well, I guess I am hooked on this now. Myles, I'll be knocking on your door!