Retro Valves? Anyone tried them??
- Thread starter BloodRose
- Start date
devastone
Well-known member
Re: Retro Valves? Anyone tried them??
The diagrams in that patent are just block diagrams for potential uses for the "VTRD" (vacuum tube replacement device), not schematics. This patent is cited in that one and offers a little more info on "Bifet Vacuum Tube Replacement Structure", but I doubt the actual schematic is out there (but I could be wrong, happens all the time...).
The diagrams in that patent are just block diagrams for potential uses for the "VTRD" (vacuum tube replacement device), not schematics. This patent is cited in that one and offers a little more info on "Bifet Vacuum Tube Replacement Structure", but I doubt the actual schematic is out there (but I could be wrong, happens all the time...).
Re: Retro Valves? Anyone tried them??
Maybe... Im all about MORE GAIN!!!!!! hahahaha J/k.. I really hope they work as stated and they do help tailor the gain (and not degrade amp tone)
I havent had chance to try mine and am itching to. prolly wont have time till after new year. looking forward to (hopefully positive) feedback from all these guys that have ordered em..
Maybe... Im all about MORE GAIN!!!!!! hahahaha J/k.. I really hope they work as stated and they do help tailor the gain (and not degrade amp tone)
I havent had chance to try mine and am itching to. prolly wont have time till after new year. looking forward to (hopefully positive) feedback from all these guys that have ordered em..
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
Re: Retro Valves? Anyone tried them??
I popped it in the Excelsior (v1) and it sounds great. However I am playing at bedroom volumes, the Excelsior has to be cranked to get some gain. Once everyone in the house is awake I will bring the amp to deafening volumes. I am hoping the amp breaks up sooner typically the volume needs to be at around 11 o'clock depending on the pickups. So far I am getting a nice round full tone banging on some pentatonics and 9th chords.
UPDATE: I cranked it and the amp is definitely hotter. The gain is a lot grittier almost buzzy, kind of cool but not how I want the amp to sound all the time. It is also a lot darker tone wise. Some of the dynamics of the sustain are also gone. Notes have a sharp attack and fall off very quickly cool for choppy rhythms bust almost useless for lead playing. I am going to plug in my Treble Booster and see what that does but the real tube will be going back in at the end of the day. I would not say the amp sounds bad it this was a setting I would definitely use it, I would love to have a pedal with this tone. For my number one tone out of the Excelsior I am going back to the regular tube.
The cool thing is the RetroValve was short money and if I need a fuzzy, buzzy tone I can pop the tube in in a couple of seconds. I would call it a good buy.
I popped it in the Excelsior (v1) and it sounds great. However I am playing at bedroom volumes, the Excelsior has to be cranked to get some gain. Once everyone in the house is awake I will bring the amp to deafening volumes. I am hoping the amp breaks up sooner typically the volume needs to be at around 11 o'clock depending on the pickups. So far I am getting a nice round full tone banging on some pentatonics and 9th chords.
UPDATE: I cranked it and the amp is definitely hotter. The gain is a lot grittier almost buzzy, kind of cool but not how I want the amp to sound all the time. It is also a lot darker tone wise. Some of the dynamics of the sustain are also gone. Notes have a sharp attack and fall off very quickly cool for choppy rhythms bust almost useless for lead playing. I am going to plug in my Treble Booster and see what that does but the real tube will be going back in at the end of the day. I would not say the amp sounds bad it this was a setting I would definitely use it, I would love to have a pedal with this tone. For my number one tone out of the Excelsior I am going back to the regular tube.
The cool thing is the RetroValve was short money and if I need a fuzzy, buzzy tone I can pop the tube in in a couple of seconds. I would call it a good buy.
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dominus
King Midas to Cheap Guitars
Re: Retro Valves? Anyone tried them??
Cool!! Great feedback! plus you have an extra "tube" in a pinch.. I figure if they were dead on replacements, they would be much more widely used and talked about. gonna be hard to replicate the dynamics and feel of good old tubes I suppose..
Cool!! Great feedback! plus you have an extra "tube" in a pinch.. I figure if they were dead on replacements, they would be much more widely used and talked about. gonna be hard to replicate the dynamics and feel of good old tubes I suppose..
dominus
King Midas to Cheap Guitars
Re: Retro Valves? Anyone tried them??
Tested and working in a Marshall Valvestate. Found a sweet spot with the standard tube and then swapped the red Retrovalve in. Had to adjust the noisegate a little bit after the swap, so it definitely added more gain. It is almost like adding a tube screamer (at about 1/4 drive/gain) to the amp.
Tested and working in a Marshall Valvestate. Found a sweet spot with the standard tube and then swapped the red Retrovalve in. Had to adjust the noisegate a little bit after the swap, so it definitely added more gain. It is almost like adding a tube screamer (at about 1/4 drive/gain) to the amp.
JOLLY
Super Simonologist
Re: Retro Valves? Anyone tried them??
LMAO....I don't know why I laughed like hell at that, but I did.
GilmourD
Burritotoneologist
Re: Retro Valves? Anyone tried them??
If I had any deniros right now I'd probably pick up a three-pack of each color. I bet the red would be sweet in the PI of my Bugera 1960 Infinium.
So you'd probably be happy with the amber or blue instead of the red.
If I had any deniros right now I'd probably pick up a three-pack of each color. I bet the red would be sweet in the PI of my Bugera 1960 Infinium.
dominus
King Midas to Cheap Guitars
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
Re: Retro Valves? Anyone tried them??
I am not sure. Is the gain a characteristic of the voltage being passed through the tube or the design itself? I think the amber or blue would have the same tonal characteristics but would not break up as quickly. I am not unhappy with it at all. I like the tone, but I love the original tone of the Excelsior better. It is creamier and smoother with a real tube. I am guessing different amps will get different result ranging from drastic like in my case to no noticeable difference. It sound cool with the treble booster but still an acquired taste. Even the wife picked up on the amp sounding different with a resounding "I don't like it". Dan Auerbach or Jack White would be in heaven but most people would be turned off by this can o' bees. I have been looking for this tone for a while I just wish I had it in a pedal.
I am not sure. Is the gain a characteristic of the voltage being passed through the tube or the design itself? I think the amber or blue would have the same tonal characteristics but would not break up as quickly. I am not unhappy with it at all. I like the tone, but I love the original tone of the Excelsior better. It is creamier and smoother with a real tube. I am guessing different amps will get different result ranging from drastic like in my case to no noticeable difference. It sound cool with the treble booster but still an acquired taste. Even the wife picked up on the amp sounding different with a resounding "I don't like it". Dan Auerbach or Jack White would be in heaven but most people would be turned off by this can o' bees. I have been looking for this tone for a while I just wish I had it in a pedal.
Securb
One of Jerry's Kids
Re: Retro Valves? Anyone tried them??
I am going to play with it for a couple of weeks. If you want I will pop it in the mail and you can play with it for few weeks.
I am going to play with it for a couple of weeks. If you want I will pop it in the mail and you can play with it for few weeks.
GilmourD
Burritotoneologist
Re: Retro Valves? Anyone tried them??
It's just a word I use often. I'm a word borrower.
Did I do something?
It's just a word I use often. I'm a word borrower.
GilmourD
Burritotoneologist
Re: Retro Valves? Anyone tried them??
I appreciate the offer but I still haven't actually moved my amps into my new place from my parents', yet. It's part organizational issue and part time issue (new job, new baby, assembling furniture, other priorities, etc.). Thanks, though.
dominus
King Midas to Cheap Guitars
GilmourD
Burritotoneologist
Re: Retro Valves? Anyone tried them??
I didn't even realize I did that. Lack of caffeine and infant-interrupted sleep. LOL
But, yeah, I need dinero for other things (like possibly a USB audio interface) before I buy "tubes" I don't really need, as much as I'd love to test them out in my various amps.
ROFLDinero is not spelled DeNiro.
I didn't even realize I did that. Lack of caffeine and infant-interrupted sleep. LOL
But, yeah, I need dinero for other things (like possibly a USB audio interface) before I buy "tubes" I don't really need, as much as I'd love to test them out in my various amps.
