NAD: AMPEG VL503 (Hello Chiropractor!)

[p4vl]

Got this from Guitar Center for $399, 70-something shipping ("blfjøpavµ, plus tax", as Elvis once said). I was really into saving up for the Randall modded-MTS series but that started to look unrealistic, price-wise. This is based on old hot-wired 800 Marshall, has 3 channels, an attenuator and you can change the power tubes from el34 to 6550/KT88. Bingo.

Guy I talked to on the phone called it the heaviest amp he's ever lifted. It's not as heavy as my XXX 2x12, and that thing doesn't even have casters.

Unfortunately, it got here really late. Someone in house has Bronchitis, so I'm going to deal with the tone blue balls until tomorrow.

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: NAD: AMPEG VL503 (Hello Chiropractor!)

Nice bro. I bet it will sound killer.

 

[p4vl]

Re: NAD: AMPEG VL503 (Hello Chiropractor!)

I'm thinking it has potential to be a metal machine but it needs a complete retubing. Clean tone and Reverb are as lush as I've ever heard. However, the gain channels are rather muddy right now but I blame that on old/craptacular preamp tubes (you have to remove the chassis to change the preamp tubes).

Anyone know anything about retubing these amps, as far as which brands are best? I'm thinking of putting a JJ 12ax7 in V1 for cleans, and JJ's for stuff like the reverb, PI and loop slots. Can anyone recommend a brand/combination of brands that might better suit this beast? It has a total of 6 preamp tubes:

V1 - The first triode of this tube is the initial input for Channels 1, 2 & 3. The second triode of this tube is used for Channel 1. (If I were to use a lower gain tube for this socket, how much of an effect would it have on the gain channels?)

V2 - Just for Channel 2.

V3 & V4 - These tubes are just for Channel 3. (Tung Sol HG's)

V8 - Effects loop. No effect on reverb, as it is not tube based.

V5 - Phase inverter. (should I bother with a Sovtek 12ax7wps?)

V6 & V7 are power tubes. No, I don't understand why either.