Vox Valvetronix Valve suggestions

[daemon barbeque]

Yeah my AD50 is 2 years old now and it began to sound really loose ,the bite is not present anymore and it makes too much noise.Since it has just 1 tube in it ,it's not hard to find the problem:smokin:
So Tube Nerds ,show me the way of the Dark side of 12ax7's.Wich should i choose!?!:chairfall

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Valve suggestions

What?
Noone has an idea?
BUMP!

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Valve suggestions

I hear good things about Mullards.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Valve suggestions

Mine came stock with an Electro Harmonix 12AX7. Since yours is two years old, I imagine it probably came with a Chinese 12AX7. Try the Electro Harmonix.

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Valve suggestions

Mine came stock with an Electro Harmonix 12AX7. Since yours is two years old, I imagine it probably came with a Chinese 12AX7. Try the Electro Harmonix.

Thanx Erik but wich one?And yeah it is a Chinese one.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Valve suggestions

Thanx Erik but wich one?And yeah it is a Chinese one.

This one: http://www.thetubestore.com/ehx12ax7.html

You can get it here too: http://www.tubesandmore.com/

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Valve suggestions

Man you're great!i will get it from rockinger or musik-produktiv in europe.And if i try something else ,i will write some review.Thanx Erik.Much appreciated!

 

[ErikH]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Valve suggestions

No problem, mang. I think you'll really like how it sounds after the swap.

I was all ready to swap the tube in mine with an EH until I found out it had one in it already. Mine also has the cooling fan in it which took care of some heat issues. They did a little adjusting to the design and added the fan to help blow any heat out of the chasis.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Valve suggestions

I bought a new pre-amp tube (GT 12ax7c) when I got my 15.

Unfortunately the 15 is so "tight" I couldn't get the frigging thing in...I think I'm gonna have to pull the circuit board out of the chassis to change it...and I NEED to change it, cos the stock tube is starting to crap out..it's getting microphonic and ratty.

The 50Ws tube is easy to get to...IDK about the 30...

sorry for the tangent..

IMO stock EH tube isn't bad, but when I switched out the EH in my tonelab with one of the tubes from my Rivera (russian IIRC), there was definitely some improvement...fuller...more lively, less ratty.

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Valve suggestions

I bought a new pre-amp tube (GT 12ax7c) when I got my 15.

Unfortunately the 15 is so "tight" I couldn't get the frigging thing in...I think I'm gonna have to pull the circuit board out of the chassis to change it...and I NEED to change it, cos the stock tube is starting to crap out..it's getting microphonic and ratty.

The 50Ws tube is easy to get to...IDK about the 30...

sorry for the tangent..

IMO stock EH tube isn't bad, but when I switched out the EH in my tonelab with one of the tubes from my Rivera (russian IIRC), there was definitely some improvement...fuller...more lively, less ratty.

With wich tube you changed your EH?

 

[JeffB]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Valve suggestions

With wich tube you changed your EH?

I haven't changed the tube in the 15. I changed out the EH tube in my tonelab with one of the russian 12Ax7s from my Rivera Chubster 40. However they were Rivera branded on the glass and said "russia" IIRC....prolly a Sovtek? IDK for sure DB, sorry I do know it was better than the EH

 

[ErikH]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Valve suggestions

EH's are made in Russia.

I'd like to try a Sovtek as well. Those are some good 12AX7's too. Ironically, they are both made by New Sensor Corp.

The tube in the 50 is easy to get at, just pop the back off, but it sits recessed in to the chasis a little bit so it can be a *little* tricky lining up the pins. You just have to take your time getting it lined up.

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Valve suggestions

I haven't changed the tube in the 15. I changed out the EH tube in my tonelab with one of the russian 12Ax7s from my Rivera Chubster 40. However they were Rivera branded on the glass and said "russia" IIRC....prolly a Sovtek? IDK for sure DB, sorry I do know it was better than the EH

heheh :laugh2:
Cool thanx Jeff.i think i have to digg deeper to find the best one ,or just buy 3 differnet and try them out.A sovtek ,am EH and a GT maybe.
Thanx guys!

 

[JeffB]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Valve suggestions

EH's are made in Russia.

I'd like to try a Sovtek as well. Those are some good 12AX7's too. Ironically, they are both made by New Sensor Corp. .

Yeah..I knew the EHs are russian too..just saying the Rivera branded one sounded significantly better

I had sovteks in my 1987X and I didn't care for them at all. I put some GT 12ax7s in it not long after I got it (Chinese), and it warmed up and filled out..not nearly as brittle.

I think it really just depends on the amp ..just like one pup may sound like $hit on guitar, and sound great in the next...but I'm no tube guru by any means.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Valve suggestions

This may save you some time and trouble.

I have the 30 watt version of your amp, and noticed a similar loss in tone after about a year and a half. I tried almost every new brand of tube being manufactured. I even tried a 12at7 to see how less gain would effect it. In my other amps I have always found a tube combination that sounds better than the stock tubes, but....

My conclusion; it sounds best with the exact same tube it came with!!!!!!

Electro-Harmonix 12ax7. Every other tube lost SOMETHING either in the clean models or the distortion models. I think Vox voiced this thing to work with that specific tube.

Just my experience, may not be universal.

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Valve suggestions

Thanx Mr.B

Mine is one of the first 50s and it do not have the EH!So i will go with one EH ,but maybe some others too.25 euros for 3 different Valves are a great deal.We will see what happens.
Thanx again for your time!

 

[Pepi]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Valve suggestions

Question. Have you ever changed out the stock speaker that came with your AD50? I wonder if your speaker is getting tired. The stock speaker in these amps are not too great. I've got a schematic for these Vox amps and looking at the way they use the 1 tube I would think they should last for years. JMO

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Valve suggestions

Question. Have you ever changed out the stock speaker that came with your AD50? I wonder if your speaker is getting tired. The stock speaker in these amps are not too great. I've got a schematic for these Vox amps and looking at the way they use the 1 tube I would think they should last for years. JMO

Yeah ,i thought of this too ,but feedback ,microphonics ,loose sounding on gain ...all together is pointing to the tube i think!and it's easy to find out.i just change the tube ,and if it's still like that ,i can change the speaker!
Thanx man!

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Vox Valvetronix Valve suggestions

Also tried replacing the speaker with a G12h Celestion, and it didn't make enough difference to leave it in that particular amp. The regular speaker sounds fine. And its NOT your speaker getting "tired", its the tube getting old. I replace mine at least once every year, I'm always surprised how alive the amp seems after the switch.