The reason valvekings are so affordable.....(bull**** filter applied)

[rumblebox]

1. They're assembled in china.
2. They really need different tubes to be useful.

That pretty much sums it up.

I got a VK100 head last week and was rather unimpressed with either channel for any style of music. (Stock tubes)

The lead channel sounded floppy and harsh. The gain boost function just added excessive amounts of unusable distortion.

I experimented with different JJ preamp tubes in different slots and came up with excellent tone for both classic rock and metal.(extremely surprised by the classic rock tone)

I put the long plate JJ ECC803S 12AX7 in V1, an ECC832 12DW7 in V2 and a standard ECC83S 12AX7 in V3 slot.

It cleaned up the lead channel drastically and sweetened up the clean channel a bit. The lead channel, with the gain at 8-10 o'clock, has a nice low-gain crunch. Engage the gain boost with the gain around 9-12 o'clock, and i get tight, articulate, percussive metal tone.

Next, I'm replacing the sov tek 6l6's with JJ's. it could still benefit from a little less gain too, so I'm going to try an ECC81 12AT7 in V3 and see how that works.

 

[fretburner]

Re: The reason valvekings are so affordable.....(bull**** filter applied)

I've only spent a few minutes with a 1x12 VK, and I was able to dial in good high gain sounds. They're a little to scooped and tend to get mushy quickly, but it wasn't bad at all considering I'm partial to Marshall dirt sounds. The clean channel though was bad.

 

[DankStar]

Re: The reason valvekings are so affordable.....(bull**** filter applied)

I'd like to try it with said tubes.

 

[TSE]

Re: The reason valvekings are so affordable.....(bull**** filter applied)

Remove R122 and change R116 to 10k. This will reduce the gain switch to the same amount with it off, but you still get the tighter, brighter sound with it on. Turns the gain switch to a bright switch.

 

[TSE]

Re: The reason valvekings are so affordable.....(bull**** filter applied)

And the "JCM 800 mod" is a must for this amp. With the mod above you get 5 different sounds out of this thing.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: The reason valvekings are so affordable.....(bull**** filter applied)

With low gain tubes, i need the gain boost.

 

[TSE]

Re: The reason valvekings are so affordable.....(bull**** filter applied)

With less gain you can use whatever 12ax7 you want and wouldn't need low gain tubes. I understand if you like the sound of at, ay, au, wd, types though.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: The reason valvekings are so affordable.....(bull**** filter applied)

With less gain you can use whatever 12ax7 you want and wouldn't need low gain tubes. I understand if you like the sound of at, ay, au, wd, types though.

You're missing the point. I need the darker sounding low gain option without the gain boost, AND i need the gain boost for the tighter high gain. Turning the gain boost into a bright switch wouldnt benefit me at all, since standard 12AX7's still have too much floppy gain without the boost engaged.

Having a lower gain lead channel with a functional boost gives me 2 distinct tones. They may as well be seperate channels.

 

[Toe-Knee]

Re: The reason valvekings are so affordable.....(bull**** filter applied)

Have you looked at the various mods available for the VK? If i recall correctly there's an entire wiki dedicated to the amp.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: The reason valvekings are so affordable.....(bull**** filter applied)

Ill check it out

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: The reason valvekings are so affordable.....(bull**** filter applied)

1. They're assembled in china.

When it's possible, I avoid MIC. Here is an instance where it is.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: The reason valvekings are so affordable.....(bull**** filter applied)

When it's possible, I avoid MIC. Here is an instance where it is.

For new purchases, i try to avoid china out of principal... As far as used purchases are concerned, i don't really care.