Vox Lil Night Train on Backorder
- Thread starter Jeffblue
- Start date
Drunken Bowling
New member
Re: Vox Lil Night Train on Backorder
What kind of cab/speaker will you be playing it through?
What kind of cab/speaker will you be playing it through?
Jeffblue
Well-known member
Re: Vox Lil Night Train on Backorder
Still deciding. I have a Fender Super Champ X2 that I have connected to a White Sands cab originally a 15 inch speaker converted for a 12 inch 8 ohm Black Widow by creating a brass tone/15 to 12 inch adapter ring. Damn thing sounds incredibly huge. i was thinking a 2X10 cab and using a pair of 10 inch Celestions that I have on hand. I might be building a Isolation cab and I am still wondering what my next move will be.
Lewguitar
New member
Re: Vox Lil Night Train on Backorder
I think that's a great idea. I put a 2 x 10 cab together for a friend's Night Train and it sounded bigger and more dynamic than the single Celestion 12 in my Matchless speaker cab. I don't know the Little Night Train, but my friends Night Train has a 16 ohm speaker out and an 8 ohm speaker out. I wired his speaker cab so both 8 ohm Jensen C10Q speakers are in series for a combined impedance of 16 ohms and used the 16 ohm speaker out of the Night Train. Bruce at Mission Amps explained to me that using the 16 ohm out on the output transformer uses every inch of the output tranny's winding, and that might be why it sounded so much better than the 8 ohm out with the single 8 ohm 12" Celestion G1265 speaker in my Matchless cab.
I think that's a great idea. I put a 2 x 10 cab together for a friend's Night Train and it sounded bigger and more dynamic than the single Celestion 12 in my Matchless speaker cab. I don't know the Little Night Train, but my friends Night Train has a 16 ohm speaker out and an 8 ohm speaker out. I wired his speaker cab so both 8 ohm Jensen C10Q speakers are in series for a combined impedance of 16 ohms and used the 16 ohm speaker out of the Night Train. Bruce at Mission Amps explained to me that using the 16 ohm out on the output transformer uses every inch of the output tranny's winding, and that might be why it sounded so much better than the 8 ohm out with the single 8 ohm 12" Celestion G1265 speaker in my Matchless cab.
Jeffblue
Well-known member
Re: Vox Lil Night Train on Backorder
Thanks for the info, that is most helpful. I have some ideas rolling around in my head about what I want to do. I have a pair of Celestion 10 inch 16 ohm speakers, which is, as you explained, would not be optimum impedance. May have to try something else. I am probably at the limits of my spending for now since I have already bought a brand new 2012 Gibson Les Paul Supreme, a Fender Super Champ X2 and now my Vox. My wife will have issues with me if I spend any more for now.
Thanks for the info, that is most helpful. I have some ideas rolling around in my head about what I want to do. I have a pair of Celestion 10 inch 16 ohm speakers, which is, as you explained, would not be optimum impedance. May have to try something else. I am probably at the limits of my spending for now since I have already bought a brand new 2012 Gibson Les Paul Supreme, a Fender Super Champ X2 and now my Vox. My wife will have issues with me if I spend any more for now.
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Vox Lil Night Train on Backorder
The LNT is pretty cool. I use it for DI demo'ing tracks.
This is a prog piece I've been writing over the past few/several months; all of the guitar and bass tracks are DI'd thru the LNT.
The LNT is pretty cool. I use it for DI demo'ing tracks.
This is a prog piece I've been writing over the past few/several months; all of the guitar and bass tracks are DI'd thru the LNT.
bancika
New member
Re: Vox Lil Night Train on Backorder
Using 12au7 and similar small tubes for output is not really new idea and it's been done in DIY community for years. It's nothing different than big tubes, the same principles apply, just with smaller currents.
Big brands finally started realizing that not everyone needs face melting, wall peeling 100's of watts of power and they started doing it too. I made two amps with signal triodes used as output tubes (12au7 and 6sn7) and they do sound good. However, pentodes do sound "better", fuller, more like scaled down versions of big amps. Anyone that has biger amps that have triode/pentode switch can test, other than reduced volume, the tone changes too when switching to triode mode.
I've also built amps with 6AK6 and EL91 tubes which are meant to be used as low power pentodes (3-5W in push pull) and they are both awesome. The problem is that they are not made anymore, so manufacturers cannot rely on NOS supplies for mass-production. Another alternative is EF86 which can be used as power pentode, but I haven't seen a commercial amp that does it...yet
The bottom line is, in this category DIY can be the best way to get great sound at low volumes...but it requires some experimenting.
Cheers
Using 12au7 and similar small tubes for output is not really new idea and it's been done in DIY community for years. It's nothing different than big tubes, the same principles apply, just with smaller currents.
Big brands finally started realizing that not everyone needs face melting, wall peeling 100's of watts of power and they started doing it too. I made two amps with signal triodes used as output tubes (12au7 and 6sn7) and they do sound good. However, pentodes do sound "better", fuller, more like scaled down versions of big amps. Anyone that has biger amps that have triode/pentode switch can test, other than reduced volume, the tone changes too when switching to triode mode.
I've also built amps with 6AK6 and EL91 tubes which are meant to be used as low power pentodes (3-5W in push pull) and they are both awesome. The problem is that they are not made anymore, so manufacturers cannot rely on NOS supplies for mass-production. Another alternative is EF86 which can be used as power pentode, but I haven't seen a commercial amp that does it...yet
The bottom line is, in this category DIY can be the best way to get great sound at low volumes...but it requires some experimenting.
Cheers
Jeffblue
Well-known member
Re: Vox Lil Night Train on Backorder
Thanks bancika. I had started a project using a 6SL7 preamp into a 6K6 output for a single ended low power amp for great tone. I have put this project on the back-burner for now because I am working on a brass top tele. I am a novice when it comes to amp building. I am hoping to become somewhat accomplished at it. I have much to learn.
Thanks bancika. I had started a project using a 6SL7 preamp into a 6K6 output for a single ended low power amp for great tone. I have put this project on the back-burner for now because I am working on a brass top tele. I am a novice when it comes to amp building. I am hoping to become somewhat accomplished at it. I have much to learn.
Jeffblue
Well-known member
Re: Vox Lil Night Train on Backorder
I just received my Lil' Night Train yesterday. I didn't waste my time with the Chinese tubes that were included. After reading many threads about tubes and types and variants, I went into my stash of NOS tubes and here is what I had decided. V1 6072 (12AY7), V2 12AX7 and V3 12BH7. Then after the change up, I plugged into a cab that has a Carvin Vintage 12 inch speaker and I lit up the filaments. Sounded great but could still be improved. Considering the C19 mod or even replacing the cap with an Orange Drop cap of a different value. Has anyone already done this?
I just received my Lil' Night Train yesterday. I didn't waste my time with the Chinese tubes that were included. After reading many threads about tubes and types and variants, I went into my stash of NOS tubes and here is what I had decided. V1 6072 (12AY7), V2 12AX7 and V3 12BH7. Then after the change up, I plugged into a cab that has a Carvin Vintage 12 inch speaker and I lit up the filaments. Sounded great but could still be improved. Considering the C19 mod or even replacing the cap with an Orange Drop cap of a different value. Has anyone already done this?
Jeffblue
Well-known member
Re: Vox Lil Night Train on Backorder
Improve distortion, improve mids, lessen treble harshness and alleviate fizziness.
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Vox Lil Night Train on Backorder
I am intrigued. Can you link me to this mod? I really need to get the brittleness down on mine!
Jeffblue
Well-known member
Re: Vox Lil Night Train on Backorder
I saw this info on several threads so to link you.....what the hell, I don't know how. Anyway, everyone who has done this has mentioned no regrets after the mod. I figured out where C19 was located and then clipped one of the legs for disconnect. After removing the bottom of the amp, locate C19 next to the Bright Switch and clip one of the legs and you are done. No regrets here.
I saw this info on several threads so to link you.....what the hell, I don't know how. Anyway, everyone who has done this has mentioned no regrets after the mod. I figured out where C19 was located and then clipped one of the legs for disconnect. After removing the bottom of the amp, locate C19 next to the Bright Switch and clip one of the legs and you are done. No regrets here.
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Vox Lil Night Train on Backorder
Thanks, will do that today!
I added another riff to my prog song using the LNT today, but in order to get even a somewhat natural tone, I had to run it with the treble all the way down, the bass, almost maxed, and the BB Preamp adding the gain.
Doesn't sound BAD ... but I would like a more useable tone.
Thanks, will do that today!
I added another riff to my prog song using the LNT today, but in order to get even a somewhat natural tone, I had to run it with the treble all the way down, the bass, almost maxed, and the BB Preamp adding the gain.
Doesn't sound BAD ... but I would like a more useable tone.
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Vox Lil Night Train on Backorder
Just did the mod -- wow, night and day! Sounds like an actual amp now!! Range of the EQ is greatly diminished, however. Worth the tradeoff, imo, tho.
Just did the mod -- wow, night and day! Sounds like an actual amp now!! Range of the EQ is greatly diminished, however. Worth the tradeoff, imo, tho.
