Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: MDV on August 31, 2005, 07:41:14 PM

Title: Changing valves in my TSL
Post by: MDV on August 31, 2005, 07:41:14 PM

Ok, its time for a valve change.

At the moment I have stock valves (4 ECC83, 2 EL34, I dont know what make)

I'd like to change to something that makes it sound more aggressive and puts more low end in the sound. Can a different brand do this? Can other types of valve that fit the sockets do it without casuing problems?

Any help appreciated.

Cheers
Mark

Title: Changing valves in my TSL
Post by: TwilightOdyssey on August 31, 2005, 07:47:50 PM

A Groove Tubes 12AX7C in the V1 slot will give you more aggressive gain.

Title: Changing valves in my TSL
Post by: MDV on August 31, 2005, 07:50:59 PM

Cheers mate.

12AX7C is the same as ECC83, right?

Title: Changing valves in my TSL
Post by: TwilightOdyssey on August 31, 2005, 07:52:33 PM

The 12AX7 = ECC83.
The Letter C means it's a CHINESE tube. They make one that has an M after it, for MULLARD clone, but it's not as gainy.

Title: Changing valves in my TSL
Post by: MDV on August 31, 2005, 08:06:14 PM

Ahhhhh!

Okey dokey.

Will the chinese job still deliver decent tone? I wouldnt want to sacrifice tone for plain dumb gain.

Will it give me the added low end? (and can I have my cake and eat it please  :lol: )

Title: Changing valves in my TSL
Post by: HJM on August 31, 2005, 09:07:06 PM

Try both - I prefer the tone of the 12ax7M over the C, and then give it a bit more with my Big D pedal. Is V1 the main overdrive channel tube in the TSL? I don't have a schematic to check. Depending on the design, you may find some valves are only used in the dirt channel, some only for clean - allowing you to mess wit hthe clean and dirty tone independntly

Title: Changing valves in my TSL
Post by: Skybone on September 01, 2005, 05:38:23 AM

I've recently revalved my JCM800, but it had3 NOS pre amp valves in, so I left them there. I noticed some fizziness, so asked the question on the Marshall board, and apparently it's down to the pre-amp valves, so I put in 2 Sovtek 12AX7WC's, and left an ECC83M in the v3 position, now it sounds great.

If you go to http://www.hotroxuk.com and look them up, it states that they're ideal for high gain amps.

Title: Changing valves in my TSL
Post by: MDV on September 01, 2005, 01:52:31 PM

Yeah HJM the V1s the main drive valve

Skybone, yeah I heard sovteks are better for aggressive sounds....but I for all I know they migh be whats in there already  :lol:

Thanks fir the help fellas, I'll start the hunt for the best sounding 12AX7 in the V1 socket.

Cheers

 :drink:

Title: Changing valves in my TSL
Post by: Joe Dorcia on September 06, 2005, 02:53:20 PM

YO!

Give these gives a call http://www.watfordvalves.com.

They can help you out if you ask them exactly what your after. The 12AX7M (which i use in V!) is good for adding the tone taken away by lines of effects pedals. It works a charm

Title: Changing valves in my TSL
Post by: HTH AMPS on September 10, 2005, 02:50:23 PM

hmmm, aggressive tone & more lowend - sounds like you want some 6550s in the output stage.

As for ECC83s (aka 12AX7s), I only ever use NOS preamp valves as I have a huge stash of them and the tone is much better than anything currently being made. If I had to choose though, for a gainy amp I'd say most Chinese ECC83s tend to have alot of gain and cope well with high gain.  Dont spend a fortune of the 'super-duper gain-tested' ones Watford Valves sell, just the normal ones will be fine.

 :twisted:

Title: Changing valves in my TSL
Post by: HJM on September 10, 2005, 05:45:44 PM

Quote from: HEAVIER THAN HELL

hmmm, aggressive tone & more lowend - sounds like you want some 6550s in the output stage.

As for ECC83s (aka 12AX7s), I only ever use NOS preamp valves as I have a huge stash of them and the tone is much better than anything currently being made. If I had to choose though, for a gainy amp I'd say most Chinese ECC83s tend to have alot of gain and cope well with high gain.  Dont spend a fortune of the 'super-duper gain-tested' ones Watford Valves sell, just the normal ones will be fine.

 :twisted:

Well said!