Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

treyhaislip

treyhaislip

Well-known member
Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

Anyone replaced a 12AX7 with a 12AT7 in a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe? (or similar)

I am trying to tone down the volume on my HRD–I don't use the gain section of the amp due to my pedals.

Thoughts?
 
Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

Pick up a 12AY7 as well if you are playing with tube swaps. The EH is a very decent tube. Worth a try.
 
Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

Darg1911 said:
Pick up a 12AY7 as well if you are playing with tube swaps. The EH is a very decent tube. Worth a try.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I will look into that–just got the 12AT7 for right now.
 
Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

Depending on the amp and preamp position swapped, an AT7 can either do exactly what you're after or completely suck the life/personality/zest right out of your amp.
Only way to know, is to try.
 
Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

Van Noord said:
Depending on the amp and preamp position swapped, an AT7 can either do exactly what you're after or completely suck the life/personality/zest right out of your amp.
Only way to know, is to try.
Click to expand...

I watched this video and he only changed the first one (left to right when amp is face/speaker down) and it sure seemed to adjust the volume very well! I don't use the gain section (had it modded to more of a Mesa Boogie style drive) because of my pedals. Am interested in how this will sound!

 
Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

Update: So I got the 12AT7 in yesterday and really dig the tone and volume. I can go up to 4 in the Apartment at what the volume was between 2 and 3 with the 12AX7.

The only thing is I did notice a slight change in the tone with my Golden Cello...not quite sure if I like it better or worse. The Suhr Shiba Drive sounded much better with it...can't explain why though. I do like having a tad more clean headroom...will play it live this Sunday and will see (rather hear lol) how it responds there.
 
Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

The fun part is changing which position you put the tube in, and how it changes the amp response.
 
Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

jtougas said:
The fun part is changing which position you put the tube in, and how it changes the amp response.
Click to expand...

I should try that as well–but I was enjoying it so much I didn't want to turn off the amp and let the tubes cool down. lol

I may switch back just because of the change in response with the Golden Cello BUT I will wait until after I've played it live. It wasn't a drastic change just a noticeable difference.
 
Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

You can also put different gain values in different spots, for different end results... I've got a Crate V18 where I put a 12AY7 into the PI position, and a 12AT7 into the V1 (I think, I'd have to go back and look...), and gave the amp a lot more headroom (which it needed badly... very hot amp...)
 
Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

jtougas said:
You can also put different gain values in different spots, for different end results... I've got a Crate V18 where I put a 12AY7 into the PI position, and a 12AT7 into the V1 (I think, I'd have to go back and look...), and gave the amp a lot more headroom (which it needed badly... very hot amp...)
Click to expand...

Cool stuff man! I'm anxious to try my HRD live to see how much head room I have with the 12AT7...I was able to move up around 1.5 notches in the Apartment which means I should be able to pop up to 5 or 6 in my regular gig.

I nearly bought a Crate V18 off of Craigslist--looked like a cool amp and I've had great experiences with Crate products (all solid state though.)
 
Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

A note of caution: the amp has more bass than it knows what to do with (not always a bad thing... I intend to run it in stereo with my Egnater Tweaker, which is lacking in bass) when it's working correctly (which leads me to my main issue with the amp - the reverb circuit craps itself more often than I play it (the connections somehow short themselves and produce a feedback loop)).
 
Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

jtougas said:
A note of caution: the amp has more bass than it knows what to do with (not always a bad thing... I intend to run it in stereo with my Egnater Tweaker, which is lacking in bass) when it's working correctly (which leads me to my main issue with the amp - the reverb circuit craps itself more often than I play it (the connections somehow short themselves and produce a feedback loop)).
Click to expand...

Are you talking about the Crate V18 or the Hot Rod Deluxe? (apologies for my confusion!)

I decided against the Crate–the seller was very kind and after talking about what I was looking for he said the amp was not what I was going for (I was looking for a tube amp in the interim of my HRD being in the shop.)

I am still looking for a Fender Blues Jr., that would be the next amp I buy.
 
Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

The V18. A Fender Blues Jr. is probably in my future, as well. Either that or finally gulp the Mesa koolaid and get one of them. I like my flexibility, but I don't need buttloads of amps cramping up my space.
 
Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

jtougas said:
The V18. A Fender Blues Jr. is probably in my future, as well. Either that or finally gulp the Mesa koolaid and get one of them. I like my flexibility, but I don't need buttloads of amps cramping up my space.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that was one I thought would be a cheap alternative...ended up just using a Vox Valtronix that I gave my dad...it got me thru without losing any dough. lol

I had a Mesa Boogie DC-5 that was affordable and absolutely awesome! I miss that amp but honestly prefer the Clean tones of the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe (drive is a WHOLE 'nother story!)

I want a Blues Jr. because it is half the output of the Hot Rod Deluxe and a little smaller (the handle on mine has broken twice already...replaced with an OEM one and still broke again...)
 
Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

I played through a Blues Jr recently, and was quite happy with it... but I really want an amp that gives me a good cleans, and good distortions all the way up from mild crunch to full crush.
 
Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

jtougas said:
I played through a Blues Jr recently, and was quite happy with it... but I really want an amp that gives me a good cleans, and good distortions all the way up from mild crunch to full crush.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you may just need to go for the Mesa lol I really like the Dual Calibers–the idea behind them (if my research was right when I had mine) was that the Drive Channel was similar to a Rectifier while the Clean Channel was similar to a Mark Series. Great sounding amp, the DC-5 was just too much for me. lol

I got a local Amp Company, Acorn Amps, to mod the Drive section of my HRD to be similar to a Mesa. While they definitely beefed it up I still prefer my pedals through the clean section of the HRD so I think a Blues Jr. would be more than fine for me.
 
Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

Yeah, less than 20w would be a good thing...
 
Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

Re: Tube Question – Replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7

jtougas said:
Yeah, less than 20w would be a good thing...
Click to expand...

Ha! Yeah, I'm going for around the 20 watts..preferably less lol

Hopefully though this 12AT7 will suffice for the time being!
 
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