Replacement Tube for a Multi-Effects Pedal

[AdamBrad]

Hopefully this slightly unusual question will generate some interest.

In short my gigging amp has a nice clean but a bit of a weak/thin distortion. As a result I find myself wholly reliant on my multi-effects for the sound I'm trying to generate.

This isn't a problem as I'm used to using it like that but it occurred to me recently that if people change the tubes in their amps to improve their sound, would the same not be possible with a pedal?

The tube currently in there is a stock Chinese (?) 12AX7 so I would assume a retrofit would improve the sound but I have no relevant experience.

As such my two questions are:

1. How much would a retrofit tube improve/affect my tone?

2. Which tube would you suggest as a replacement?


The pedal I'm referring to is a Zoom G7.1ut (http://www.zoom.co.jp/english/products/g71ut/index.php)

 

[speed2dirt]

Re: Replacement Tube for a Multi-Effects Pedal

Good question. I've been wondering the same thing.

 

[Gforce9]

Re: Replacement Tube for a Multi-Effects Pedal

Look up Doug's Tubes on the east coast. Great guy, very knowledgeable, and tests his tubes thoroughly unlike the big name tube resellers. His suggestions have always paid off in my case.

 

[AdamBrad]

Re: Replacement Tube for a Multi-Effects Pedal

Have heard good things about Doug's Tubes, but seeing as I live in England, he's not really an option...

 

[eschoendorff]

Re: Replacement Tube for a Multi-Effects Pedal

The easiest way to know for sure is to try a couple different 12AX7s in that zoom pedal.

However... in my experience, the tubes in hybrid equipment generally don't do much to color the sound. I tried changing tubes in a Marshall Valvestate as well as a Vox Valvetronix and it didn't seem to matter what I put in them, the result was so similar that I went back to the OEM tubes.

Another thing to consider is whether or not that tube in the Zoom pedal is actually running at a high enough voltage to even matter... but I suppose that it is all in how the circuit was designed. So we're back to my initial answer: try a couple other tubes (JJ, EHX, etc) and see what happens.