Have any of you VH-4 guys tried lower-gain preamp tubes?

[Sixtonoize]

I like my VH-4 a lot, but I'd like to take down the compression a notch, and it has SO MUCH GAIN on channel 4 that I run the gain pot right around 8:30-9:00

Are there any specific types of 12**7 variants that you'd recommend?
How much will it change the voicing?
Is there a way to keep the same level of distortion/saturation and decrease the amount of compression?

 

[smdb]

a 5751 in v3 will help.

 

[insignificant11]

I like my VH-4 a lot, but I'd like to take down the compression a notch, and it has SO MUCH GAIN on channel 4 that I run the gain pot right around 8:30-9:00

Are there any specific types of 12**7 variants that you'd recommend?
How much will it change the voicing?
Is there a way to keep the same level of distortion/saturation and decrease the amount of compression?

I had a 12AT7 in V1 and V2. They made channel 4 sound a lot more like channel 3. To balance out the gain levels I put a 12BZ7 in V3.

If you think of a 12AX7 as having a 100% gain level, the AT7 is 60% and the BZ7 is 120%. I'm about to try a 5751 (70% gain) to see what that does.

VH4 tube layout from the Diezel site
http://diezel.typo3.inpublica.de/tech-corner.3.0.html
V1 Used by all channels
V2 Used by channel 4
V3 Used by channel 2/3/4
V4 Used by all channels
V5 Mixer and Send buffer
V6 Return driver (x2 for VH4S)
V7 Phase Inverter (x2 for VH4S)

I hope this helps!

 

[Ventura]

Not at ALL being disrespectful, but upon reading the title heading to this thread, the first thing that came to mind was....





....WHY?!?!?!?

To each their own, and NO dis' to you my friend... Just FYI, I use the stock set up from Diezel - it's awesome. I've also used all Tung Sol 12AX7's in the past as well, it tidied it up a bit...

Peace,
V.

 

[Sixtonoize]

Why?

Because I'm looking for less compression and don't need anywhere near the amount of gain that Channel 4 has.
I like the voicing, I just want a little bit less all around.

 

[rockridge98]

Why?

Because I'm looking for less compression and don't need anywhere near the amount of gain that Channel 4 has.
I like the voicing, I just want a little bit less all around.

I put a 5751 in the channel 4 slot (V2) of the VH4S and it makes the ch 4 gain control a lot more usable -
instead of being completely over the top at 9 o'clock, I can dial in shades of gain between
8 and 12 o'clock.

 

[guitarobert]

I like my VH-4 a lot, but I'd like to take down the compression a notch, and it has SO MUCH GAIN on channel 4 that I run the gain pot right around 8:30-9:00

Are there any specific types of 12**7 variants that you'd recommend?
How much will it change the voicing?
Is there a way to keep the same level of distortion/saturation and decrease the amount of compression?

I run a 12AT7 in V1 and 12AX7s otherwise. Ch4 has a more usable gain range and I still get what I need out of Ch3. The gain is just set a bit higher there than before.

 

[MARK2C]

You know what you need to do....

You can also try a 12AT7 in V2 for Ch. 4 and a 12AT7 in the PI.

I'm running all 12AX7 Chinese HG+'s for all 7 spots and it's perfect.