Put NOS GE 12ax7's in the Vox Night Train: WOW!!!
- Thread starter Lewguitar
- Start date
Re: Put NOS GE 12ax7's in the Vox Night Train: WOW!!!
I put Raytheon black plate 12ax7's and RFT EL 84's in my TT...totally transformed it. I'm not. High gain player. With these tubes the amp is very dynamic with tons of harmonics. I usually have the gain on 3 and the volume from 5-10. It's funny I also have a cab with G12m-65's, and I like the TT best with a single 12" greenback.
I put Raytheon black plate 12ax7's and RFT EL 84's in my TT...totally transformed it. I'm not. High gain player. With these tubes the amp is very dynamic with tons of harmonics. I usually have the gain on 3 and the volume from 5-10. It's funny I also have a cab with G12m-65's, and I like the TT best with a single 12" greenback.
DesertRose
New member
Re: Put NOS GE 12ax7's in the Vox Night Train: WOW!!!
after hearing this .. I remember having a bunch of RCA 12AX7s in my closet somewhere.
I'm going to put them in my Fender super twin reverb and check it out soon
after hearing this .. I remember having a bunch of RCA 12AX7s in my closet somewhere.
I'm going to put them in my Fender super twin reverb and check it out soon
Lewguitar
New member
Re: Put NOS GE 12ax7's in the Vox Night Train: WOW!!!
There's at least two kinds. The ones with the longer black plates sound thicker and fuller than those with the shorter gray plates. Although both sound great to me!
There's also a version with a long gray plate. Also excellent.
In a vintage blackface or silverface Fender, I would use it as the preamp tube for the "vibrato" channel and looking at the amp from the back, it would be the second tube from the right.
The first tube to the right would be for the "normal" channel, which I never use.
There's at least two kinds. The ones with the longer black plates sound thicker and fuller than those with the shorter gray plates. Although both sound great to me!
There's also a version with a long gray plate. Also excellent.
In a vintage blackface or silverface Fender, I would use it as the preamp tube for the "vibrato" channel and looking at the amp from the back, it would be the second tube from the right.
The first tube to the right would be for the "normal" channel, which I never use.
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the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Put NOS GE 12ax7's in the Vox Night Train: WOW!!!
Ya know Lew...I never have even bothered to put some nice old glass in my Deluxe!!!
I have some killer pre amps tubes stashed back and might even have some good 6V6's but that amp sounds so good as-is I've never messed with it!
Maybe this is the kick I need to start tweaking a bit!
Ya know Lew...I never have even bothered to put some nice old glass in my Deluxe!!!
I have some killer pre amps tubes stashed back and might even have some good 6V6's but that amp sounds so good as-is I've never messed with it!
Maybe this is the kick I need to start tweaking a bit!
Lewguitar
New member
Re: Put NOS GE 12ax7's in the Vox Night Train: WOW!!!
I think I gave it to you with pretty good tubes.
I think I gave it to you with pretty good tubes.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Put NOS GE 12ax7's in the Vox Night Train: WOW!!!
When I bought it she was loaded with EH6V6's and 12AX7's and a Sovtek 5AR4...not bad tubes at all but I know that an amp like that would sound even better with some killer old glass, I've just never felt the need to mess with it!
I think I gave it to you with pretty good tubes.
When I bought it she was loaded with EH6V6's and 12AX7's and a Sovtek 5AR4...not bad tubes at all but I know that an amp like that would sound even better with some killer old glass, I've just never felt the need to mess with it!
Lewguitar
New member
Re: Put NOS GE 12ax7's in the Vox Night Train: WOW!!!
Oh! I remember now. I'd just gotten a dealership for Sovtek at NAMM. That was a fun time. Gary Carr and I went together. At the end of the show I bought this cool Art Deco tube display case from Mike Matthews and when we tried to leave the auditorium the guard wouldn't let us leave with it. So Mike Matthews gave Gary his ID that you wear around your neck at those events and Gary looked enough like Mike that we were able to slip on out the door. That was a good time. Met Evan, Seymour, MJ, Mike (of course). Bootsy was making the rounds looking totally cool and bad ass. The Ventures too if I remember right.
And right at the beginning I was standing in line to get my own ID and NAMM package and Bill Watrous, the jazz trombone virtuoso I'd seen a million times on TV and who I had admired for years, was standing right there in line behind me. Looked just like he did on TV. Had his trombone in a case beside him and everything.
I'm thinking very seriously of doing Lew's Guitars again, now that I'm retired from my custom furniture business. Just didn't have time for both.
Oh! I remember now. I'd just gotten a dealership for Sovtek at NAMM. That was a fun time. Gary Carr and I went together. At the end of the show I bought this cool Art Deco tube display case from Mike Matthews and when we tried to leave the auditorium the guard wouldn't let us leave with it. So Mike Matthews gave Gary his ID that you wear around your neck at those events and Gary looked enough like Mike that we were able to slip on out the door. That was a good time. Met Evan, Seymour, MJ, Mike (of course). Bootsy was making the rounds looking totally cool and bad ass. The Ventures too if I remember right.
And right at the beginning I was standing in line to get my own ID and NAMM package and Bill Watrous, the jazz trombone virtuoso I'd seen a million times on TV and who I had admired for years, was standing right there in line behind me. Looked just like he did on TV. Had his trombone in a case beside him and everything.
I'm thinking very seriously of doing Lew's Guitars again, now that I'm retired from my custom furniture business. Just didn't have time for both.
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the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Put NOS GE 12ax7's in the Vox Night Train: WOW!!!
I remember that too!
Good times!
I say do Lew's guitars again...help out the forum and make a little cash for yourself!
I remember that too!
Good times!
I say do Lew's guitars again...help out the forum and make a little cash for yourself!
James Rock
New member
Re: Put NOS GE 12ax7's in the Vox Night Train: WOW!!!
In my experience VOX amps love NOS (or just old brand tubes) in my families household we have a 74 AC30 with RCA blackplates and that sound amazing but the biggest improvement was blackplates RCAs in my brothers AC15 totally changed it more 3D less low end fartyness (for lack of better word) just fuller chimier and nicer overall. Got them all on eBay used (so not NOS) and some werent great but its worth the gamble when you find the right ones.
In my experience VOX amps love NOS (or just old brand tubes) in my families household we have a 74 AC30 with RCA blackplates and that sound amazing but the biggest improvement was blackplates RCAs in my brothers AC15 totally changed it more 3D less low end fartyness (for lack of better word) just fuller chimier and nicer overall. Got them all on eBay used (so not NOS) and some werent great but its worth the gamble when you find the right ones.
hermetico
New member
Re: Put NOS GE 12ax7's in the Vox Night Train: WOW!!!
The EH 6V6GT has the same problem as the EH EL84. Tone-wise, they are probably the closest to the original sound of current production tubes but: they don't cut the mix. Both seems to have a negative dimensionality and, the sound seems to como from the back side of the cab, instead of jumping in the front.
Tone-wise, the Tung Sol 6V6GT is maybe less correct sounding but, it cuts way better than the EH and has more dimensionality.
Anyway, I realized that all my 6V6T loaded amps never satisfy me, since they hardly cut the mix. They tend to sound awesome alone but, they tend to be lost in the mix. Maybe I need some EQ pedal.
So, IMHO, if you have real NOS 6V6s there, throw them in your amp, FFS!.
The EH 6V6GT has the same problem as the EH EL84. Tone-wise, they are probably the closest to the original sound of current production tubes but: they don't cut the mix. Both seems to have a negative dimensionality and, the sound seems to como from the back side of the cab, instead of jumping in the front.
Tone-wise, the Tung Sol 6V6GT is maybe less correct sounding but, it cuts way better than the EH and has more dimensionality.
Anyway, I realized that all my 6V6T loaded amps never satisfy me, since they hardly cut the mix. They tend to sound awesome alone but, they tend to be lost in the mix. Maybe I need some EQ pedal.
So, IMHO, if you have real NOS 6V6s there, throw them in your amp, FFS!.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Put NOS GE 12ax7's in the Vox Night Train: WOW!!!
This is the first time I've ever seen anyone blame not cutting through the mix on the brand of power tube...
The Deluxe in question stands out in the mi just fine...it's the freqs that amp produces, it's all int he midrange and add to that a late 60's alnico G12 Celestion and I have no issues being heard in even the most dense of band settings.
This is the first time I've ever seen anyone blame not cutting through the mix on the brand of power tube...
The Deluxe in question stands out in the mi just fine...it's the freqs that amp produces, it's all int he midrange and add to that a late 60's alnico G12 Celestion and I have no issues being heard in even the most dense of band settings.
hermetico
New member
Re: Put NOS GE 12ax7's in the Vox Night Train: WOW!!!
Saying Celestion you say everything.
6V6 little amps are usually paired with Jensen.
And, if you have oportunity, make your own tests comparing EH and Tung Sol 6V6GT tubes.
I feel at home with EL84s and EL34s, paired with Celestions.
Just my experience and, my taste. You haven't to share it, I haven't to share yours.
Saying Celestion you say everything.
6V6 little amps are usually paired with Jensen.
And, if you have oportunity, make your own tests comparing EH and Tung Sol 6V6GT tubes.
I feel at home with EL84s and EL34s, paired with Celestions.
Just my experience and, my taste. You haven't to share it, I haven't to share yours.
Lewguitar
New member
Re: Put NOS GE 12ax7's in the Vox Night Train: WOW!!!
IMO, the right speaker for a brown Deluxe like Christian's is hard to decide on. It's a great amp and this particular one used to be mine and always reminded me of the Marshall sound in my head.
First brown Deluxe I ever fell in love with was Ted Nugent's! I spent a few hours with Ted in Hell. Hell, Michigan that is. That's where his home and ranch was in 1970 and maybe still is.
In any case, Ted had an Electro Voice SRO 12 in his and we took turns jamming through it. Sounded great!
When I got my own brown Deluxe it came as a head. No cabinet and no speaker. So I built a nice dovetailed solid cherry cabinet for it and tried it with quite a few speakers.
Like I said: the two best sounding speakers with the brown Deluxe were the '58 Jensen P12Q and the Celestion G12 alnico.
At the time, Ted Weber was sending Bruce and I speakers for testing and we tried Ted's own versions of the Jensen C12N and Celestion Vintage 30 among others. And also a real Vintage 30 and a vintage G12M greenback I had.
The '58 Jensen P12Q and the '60-something Celestion G12 alnico I had always sounded better.
IMO, the right speaker for a brown Deluxe like Christian's is hard to decide on. It's a great amp and this particular one used to be mine and always reminded me of the Marshall sound in my head.
First brown Deluxe I ever fell in love with was Ted Nugent's! I spent a few hours with Ted in Hell. Hell, Michigan that is. That's where his home and ranch was in 1970 and maybe still is.
In any case, Ted had an Electro Voice SRO 12 in his and we took turns jamming through it. Sounded great!
When I got my own brown Deluxe it came as a head. No cabinet and no speaker. So I built a nice dovetailed solid cherry cabinet for it and tried it with quite a few speakers.
Like I said: the two best sounding speakers with the brown Deluxe were the '58 Jensen P12Q and the Celestion G12 alnico.
At the time, Ted Weber was sending Bruce and I speakers for testing and we tried Ted's own versions of the Jensen C12N and Celestion Vintage 30 among others. And also a real Vintage 30 and a vintage G12M greenback I had.
The '58 Jensen P12Q and the '60-something Celestion G12 alnico I had always sounded better.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Put NOS GE 12ax7's in the Vox Night Train: WOW!!!
Putting that Deluxe in a pine cab made a big difference.
I Liked it with a Greenback and like it with the G12 alnico...
One day I'll stop being lazy and try a nice old cone alnico Jensen with it...I played a brown Deluxe a few years back that had the original P12R in it and it sounded really good but I think I'd have liked a Q or N even better.
I keep saying I want to try the EJ signature speaker form Eminence too as well as an alnico Tone Tubby but for now I just call it a day with the G12!
Putting that Deluxe in a pine cab made a big difference.
I Liked it with a Greenback and like it with the G12 alnico...
One day I'll stop being lazy and try a nice old cone alnico Jensen with it...I played a brown Deluxe a few years back that had the original P12R in it and it sounded really good but I think I'd have liked a Q or N even better.
I keep saying I want to try the EJ signature speaker form Eminence too as well as an alnico Tone Tubby but for now I just call it a day with the G12!
hermetico
New member
Re: Put NOS GE 12ax7's in the Vox Night Train: WOW!!!
Yup, the Jensen P12Q is not the same as the typical C10R that cames stock with the Princeton RIby example. I've inmediatelly upgraded it with a Webber 10A150T speaker. But, for the money, I think I better went for some Greenback.
Two amps I've got with Jensens came with a P12R and a C10R that I didn't liked. Sure, N or Q are other thing.
Yup, the Jensen P12Q is not the same as the typical C10R that cames stock with the Princeton RIby example. I've inmediatelly upgraded it with a Webber 10A150T speaker. But, for the money, I think I better went for some Greenback.
Two amps I've got with Jensens came with a P12R and a C10R that I didn't liked. Sure, N or Q are other thing.
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Lewguitar
New member
Re: Put NOS GE 12ax7's in the Vox Night Train: WOW!!!
Yes. I learned that I like the look of cherry but not the sound of cherry.
But I had two of those amps for a while Christian. One in the stock pine cab and one in the cherry cab I built.
You're right. The pine cab sounded better.
Yes. I learned that I like the look of cherry but not the sound of cherry.
But I had two of those amps for a while Christian. One in the stock pine cab and one in the cherry cab I built.
You're right. The pine cab sounded better.
Lewguitar
New member
Re: Put NOS GE 12ax7's in the Vox Night Train: WOW!!!
My favorite amp for slide and lap steel is my 50's Gibson GA20 and it came to me with the stock P12R. Sounds ridiculously great! Ry Cooder uses one too.
Not sure I'd love it as much in any other amp I have, but in that amp it's wonderful. Breaks up beautifully.
My favorite amp for slide and lap steel is my 50's Gibson GA20 and it came to me with the stock P12R. Sounds ridiculously great! Ry Cooder uses one too.
Not sure I'd love it as much in any other amp I have, but in that amp it's wonderful. Breaks up beautifully.
