need pointed in right direction on tubes

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tpruitt

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So I found a used vh4s.I love channel 4 but was a little let down on channel 3 that everyone else likes.I'm assuming 004066 serial makes it a 2000...@ going off the writing on the amp it looks like the tubes are all original.12ax7wb's with winged c 6l6's ...bias checks out at around 35 ma per tube....
Like I was saying channel 3 to me lacks a little gain.
1) would the ruby 12ax7ac5 hg+ bump up the gain? Remember the tubes in it now may be from 2000 lol
2)what would I lose on channel 4 if I switched to el34's to get a gain boost on channel 3?
 
Just re-tube the whole thing. EL34s would be preferred in my opinion, but I can't say anything without knowing the amp's history.

Start from scratch - re-glass the whole head, re-bias it, test it, let it drift, re-bias again, and then start to critique it.

What cab(s) are you running it through?

Uncle Mo
 
EL34 or KT77 should do the trick. Maybe freshen up the pres too. Also Tung Sol always sounded very sterile to my ears in Diezels. May want to try something else. Just my $.02
 
Indeed - preamp glass too as per Pauly above.

The Tung Sols may be alright, inevitably, =C= will kick ass, 6550s will kick ass, GL-KT77 will kick ass.

Just get new bottles in there and include the preamp glass too :yes:
 
ok so i did some tests with valve art el34's and a few jj pres i had.all new.el34 added a little gain to channel 3 but i'm not sure i like how it changed the eq of the amp...the biggest change was the pres.now i only have 3 jj pres so i put them in v1-v3-v4..because i was checking channel 3.these added more gain than the 34's did i think.
but,at the end of the day i still don't like channel 3.i did some reading and i guess in 2007 that channel was redone.so....
if anyone is interested in a 2000 vh4s with the older channel 3( it seems alot of guys like them) and you have a 2007 and newer rework channel 3 maybe we can work a trade.
 
I don't think it's correct to say that the channel was redone, more like tweaked a bit. I have a 2008 and all the clips I've heard of the earlier ones sound pretty similar - not to say there isn't a difference, it's just not a huge difference. I've tried JJ preamp tubes too and they are gainy, but they really didn't sound good I thought - too dark. I'd switch to a set of Ruby 12AX7AC5s before making any conclusions. If you're still not a fan at that point, you probably wouldn't be happy with a 2007+ either.
 
2007 plus has more gain on Channel 3 than my 98.
If your into heavy drop tuning a newer Vh4 will be more to your likings.
 
Also Channel 3 on all 4 VH4 heads I have tried were all outstanding sounding just voiced differently.
I suggest trying another VH4 before doing a trade just to make sure it's not your ears.
What I mean is, channel 3 on all vh4 amps may not be your taste
 
borninwinter":1dtwtpoo said:
I don't think it's correct to say that the channel was redone, more like tweaked a bit. I have a 2008 and all the clips I've heard of the earlier ones sound pretty similar - not to say there isn't a difference, it's just not a huge difference. I've tried JJ preamp tubes too and they are gainy, but they really didn't sound good I thought - too dark. I'd switch to a set of Ruby 12AX7AC5s before making any conclusions. If you're still not a fan at that point, you probably wouldn't be happy with a 2007+ either.

+1 on the Ruby 12AX7AC5s!

Try that before any conclusions
 
Ok...if anyone is interested I would like to trade this head for a newer reworked third channel vh4.or? I have references and am on other forums I just can't post here yet sorry.email please.
 
Looks like a older VH4 with me, red power switch and VH4S logo look like the older style.
Are the resistors blue?
 
Yes I believe they are. I'm pretty sure it's a 2000.it's wrote on the amp 2000.channels 1, 2, 4 kill I wish 3 had a little more gain...but I don't use 2@4 enough so I'm looking to trade it or sell it.
 
All the ones I've seen are between 25 @ 27 hundred so in that ballpark cash wish.
 
What are your settings for Channel 3? My VH4 (2005) has tons of crazy gain. I'm running Winged =C= EL34s and Ruby 12AX7AC5's across the board.

 
Yeah mines not as distorted.close.

Located in central ohio
 
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