Re-tubing Vox Valvetronix

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Sky Blue Lou

Sky Blue Lou

Well-known member
Hey all,

I have a Vox AD60VT needs a valve job. It runs on one 12AX7 - essentially a preamp tube, no? It came with a Sovtek. Has anyone tried a "better" tube in one of these? Maybe a Mullard EC883 (or whatever - there are several that are interchangeable I guess - I'm not a tube guru, I'm just going by what I've read).

How about biasing after the new tube is installed?

Thanks for any input. I haven't changed tubes in an amp since I sold my Musicman 212 twenty years ago. Back then I'd just buy a set of whatever they were (6L6 maybe), slap 'em in and rock and roll.


lou
 
Sky Blue Lou said:
I have a Vox AD60VT needs a valve job. It runs on one 12AX7 - essentially a preamp tube, no? It came with a Sovtek. Has anyone tried a "better" tube in one of these? Maybe a Mullard EC883 (or whatever - there are several that are interchangeable I guess - I'm not a tube guru, I'm just going by what I've read).

How about biasing after the new tube is installed?
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Biasing is not needed in this case. The actual role of the tube in this circuit is quite unique, but biasing does not apply.

A Mullard ECC83 should sound fine, as will any number of better 12AX7s. I'm assuming that his had the Sovtek 12AX7WA that is such a popular OEM tube. It's not a great sounding tube, but it is extremely rugged, which is why it's such a popular tube with manufacturers and road crews.
 
bongolation said:
Biasing is not needed in this case. The actual role of the tube in this circuit is quite unique, but biasing does not apply.

A Mullard ECC83 should sound fine, as will any number of better 12AX7s. I'm assuming that his had the Sovtek 12AX7WA that is such a popular OEM tube. It's not a great sounding tube, but it is extremely rugged, which is why it's such a popular tube with manufacturers and road crews.
Click to expand...

Bingo on the Sovtek. I was just wondering if there was any point in trying out some different spec or mfg. tubes. Mullard, Tesla, new, NOS, etc. I'm not familiar enough with the state of the tube art nor the Vox circuit to know if it would be a waste of time or not.

Thanks for the info.


lou
 
I just ordered a couple of EH tubes for my AD120. From what I have heard, the EH tubes are great, and they don't cost like the nos tubes. Just dont buy those CRAPPY Groove Tube "Mullards". I have heard nothing but bad things about them.

Peopl eon Voxtalks give the EH tubes good reviews in the Valvetronix amps. Apparently, Vox is recently started shipping all their new amps with EH.

H2H
 
The guy in town has Sovtek and EI (?) in stock. I think I'll grab a Sovtek for now and dig into this a little more. Didn't know about Voxtalks. Thanks for the tip - I'll check 'em out.


lou
 
EH= Electro Harmonix

It took my application for membership about 6 months to process on Voxtalks...and you can't even view the board withough being a member. Rough.

H2H
 
Hard2Hear said:
EH= Electro Harmonix
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Yeah I knew that. I had never heard of EI before (they're Slovak or maybe Czech or Yugoslavia or ...).

Hard2Hear said:
It took my application for membership about 6 months to process on Voxtalks...and you can't even view the board withough being a member. Rough.
Click to expand...
Snobby bunch? Maybe I won't bother.

I just went to my local guitar store and picked up a Sovtek 12AX7 and a JJ ECC832. Twenty bucks for the two and a handful of picks ($17 really - I tipped him.) I also had him order me an EH 12AX7. Fifteen for that in a week or two. For short money I can play around a bit and see what I like - assuming I can tell the difference.

Thanks for your help.


lou
 
Tell me how you like that JJ. I was thinking about getting a couple JJ ECC803's and trying them out, too.

H2H
 
Well I got sucked into the marketing b.s. on the Mullard "Groove Tube" and changed out my original vox tube. It sucked all of the tone out of my ToneLab.
Don't waste your money on that crap!
 
If you're hung up on the idea of different tubes sounding differently then I would suggest going to eBay and buying from a seller named Revolution Guitar. He offers many different makes and will combine shipping. I've purchased several times from him and the communication is fantastic and the shipping... well, I've received everything the very next day!. He will combine shipping costs in order to make the deal even better.

If you want to view a little data on tube types.... I always keep this link handy.

http://mywebpages.comcast.net/machrone/bjr/bjtubes.htm
 
Hey H2H,

I got on Voxtalk in about twenty minutes. I guess they just weren't sure about you. :D

The JJ was a mistake. Only had about a third of the volume it should have. My guess is that I should have put an ECC833 in there. This was an ECC832. I'll have to dig up some info on that model number and see if I can find a gain comparison.

Anyway I pulled that out - what a pain in the ass that job is - and slapped the new Sovtek 12AX7WA in. Rock and roll.

When the EH comes in I'll swap 'em out and let you know. If I can get the Sovtek out! My fingers still hurt. Bastards must have designed that just so you'd go see their techs. Freakin' tease job - they shouldn't have left it stickin' out!!

Let me know how you like your EH swap.


lou
 
From Easto's link (Thanx fer that): "There's also a weird cousin, the 12DW7, which has non-identical triodes. One has the gain of a 12AX7, while the other has the gain of a 12AU7."

That would be the ECC832 according to www.eurotubes.com. 40% of the gain of a standard 12AX7. It was only ten bucks so what the hell.

From Tubedepot: Try this tube for some interesting gain reduction effects on certain amps.

lou
 
I like it.

I'd love to say how I researched all the modern amps and found the best sound for the buck but...it was a gift. My wife bought it for me for Christmas two years ago. I was a bit doubtful at first, "Valve Reactor Technology" and all that modelling stuff. It actually sounds pretty good. It's my gigging amp. I don't use the effects and I don't even know which amp model I have dialed in...the one that sounds good. The variable output is very nice. I use 15 watts for practice and 30 for gigs.


lou
 
I liked this amp when I saw it for the first time at NAMM in 2001. I posted a long description back then that you might be able to find in the archives here. Vox had a sound booth set up with an AD120 and an AC30 and I really enjoyed playing them right next to each other.

I love the sound of the AD120. It is so easy to control for recording, and get a sound you want. I actually just use the 15 watt (x2) setting live with the amp micd up. But I also like my own amp in my own monitors, and it depends on how your monitoring system is whether or not you can do that. Anyways, Ive owned many many good tube amps, Fender, Marshall, Ampeg, Soldano, Laney, and others. This amp sounds really great next to any of those, plus it has so many different sounds in it, it has become invaluable to me. I used to always take at least 2 amps with me everywhere, and I now just take this one.

The "AC30 TB" is so close that in a concert situation you just can't tell it from the real thing, and the "UK Modern" is extremely close to the Marshall JCM2000TSL that I still own. The differences in sound are mostly attributed to speakers and cabinet design. I should also add that I recently went for the extra edge and installed a set of Celestion Blue Anlico speakers in mine. One of the other reasons I only use the 1 watt or 15 watt setting is cause the Blues are only 15 watt speakers.

H2H
 
Lou, bring that amp with you when you come to CT, for the Fest,...


I am bringing a ton of tubes, and you will be able to compare on the spot,..... I have a new favorite, but they are very hard to find,...... a NOS RCA 5751,..... it is the bomb for small low wattage amps,.... I wonder how it would sound in yours,....????

I have several for you to try,...


Steve
 
Hi Steve!

Didn't you read the part about what a bitch it is to pull that damn tube out of there? :p

I'm not gonna say never but this year's fest don't look too good. Working band blues. We're tentatively booked the 13th - and maybe the 12th as well. I'll know for certain soon - I'd better!! There is a chance I can come down Thursday/Friday. I think I'm off work that week. What day are you arriving?

Besides seeing you guys again I'd love to play around with some tubes. I'd like you to see my boutique 300B as well.

Fingers crossed.


lou
 
I will be there Thur morning..... with a full load I am sure....


Hope to see you there man...!!


Steve
 
Hard2Hear said:
I liked this amp when I saw it for the first time at NAMM in 2001. I posted a long description back then that you might be able to find in the archives here. Vox had a sound booth set up with an AD120 and an AC30 and I really enjoyed playing them right next to each other.

I love the sound of the AD120. It is so easy to control for recording, and get a sound you want. I actually just use the 15 watt (x2) setting live with the amp micd up. But I also like my own amp in my own monitors, and it depends on how your monitoring system is whether or not you can do that. Anyways, Ive owned many many good tube amps, Fender, Marshall, Ampeg, Soldano, Laney, and others. This amp sounds really great next to any of those, plus it has so many different sounds in it, it has become invaluable to me. I used to always take at least 2 amps with me everywhere, and I now just take this one.

The "AC30 TB" is so close that in a concert situation you just can't tell it from the real thing, and the "UK Modern" is extremely close to the Marshall JCM2000TSL that I still own. The differences in sound are mostly attributed to speakers and cabinet design. I should also add that I recently went for the extra edge and installed a set of Celestion Blue Anlico speakers in mine. One of the other reasons I only use the 1 watt or 15 watt setting is cause the Blues are only 15 watt speakers.

H2H
Click to expand...


Id like to second every word here ... I, too, own(ed) several all tube amps - and received the ad120 as trade in w/ plenty of money on top for a 73 fender bassman ... and I must say I am VERY POSITIVELY surprised about the sound quality of this beast ... not mentioning that it might as well be the best recording amp there is out there...

mine came with the "something12" footcontroller ... which makes for an extremely well thought out live-rig ... its lightyears ahead of a "regular" amp in terms of user-interface ...

kudos to VOX!!!

cheers
alfred
 
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