tube changes???

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animusofabbas

animusofabbas

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My vh4 came with 6l6's the cleans were nice but I Wasn't happy with channel 3/4 i switched to el34's i like them better. More grit when i tune down i like wear it sits in the midrange. What does 6550's do for chan 3/4?? Can anyone explain? i use those channels 90% of the time so thats the most important for me.. Also Does anyone use tung sol 12ax7 across the board? ANy Diezel authorized tech centers in nyc?
Thanks.
 
This is a loaded question... And don't get me wrong, tone and sound are ultimately to the ears of the listener, so it's 100% subjective. I'll give you "my opinion" and "my experience" with the tubes in question...

The 6550's opened up a can of whoopass as far as horsepower went. The headroom expanded to the point where I didn't want to test it - extremely L O U D. I'd say about, no lies, in my particular instance, maybe 20% more jam than the EL34s...?? So ya, they really added to the efficiency of the amp (used both in VH4's and VH4S's).

What DID happen though is that I felt as though I lost some of the 'brown'...some of the thick, rich, heavy, hit me it the gut, almost-vintagey-but-not-quite, consistent punch of the EL34's. I love EL34's...they blossom, and get dirty like none other. The 6550's do this with a lot more volume, and they have their own appeal and tone, guaranteed, but it's not like the EL34's. I don't want to say they're sterile and flat, because that's just not true - they're sharper, louder, heavier, and more in-yer-face...

Crazy answer to a crazy question, hope this helps out.

V. :thumbsup:
 
PS - I've used Tung Sol 12AX7's across the board in most of my amp's preamp sections, Diezel included. Believe it or not, the JJ's or the Chinese break up almost smoother, but the dependability and consistency of the TS12AX7s has me always going to them as my go-to preamp tube.

You gotta buy and try really... It's entirely up to your ears!

V.
 
The $64,000,000 question!

The Herbert I can say is one of the most responsive amps to tube variations on the planet on both the preamp and power sections. I find that most high gain amps, it really doesn't matter much - but not on the Herbie.

You just got to find what works best for your ears, but you will definitely hear some tonal changes, especially in depth and width between say Chinese 12AX7's and a Tung Sol tube. I hear differences on the power end between SED and Ruby 34's. Love the 6550's in the Herbie, but hate them in the VH4.

If you have the money, buy several 12AX7 tubes to change out in V1, V2 and V3. The gain will be all over the map. Power tubes I can tell you now that the Ruby's thin the hell out of Herbie. From lost of time and money, SED's, 34's and 6550's are the best bang for your buck.

I spent a few hours one day changing tubes, play a minute, change again, rebias....etc. until I found what works for me.

Steve
 
steve_k":4x5r48mn said:
The $64,000,000 question!

The Herbert I can say is one of the most responsive amps to tube variations on the planet on both the preamp and power sections. I find that most high gain amps, it really doesn't matter much - but not on the Herbie.

You just got to find what works best for your ears, but you will definitely hear some tonal changes, especially in depth and width between say Chinese 12AX7's and a Tung Sol tube. I hear differences on the power end between SED and Ruby 34's. Love the 6550's in the Herbie, but hate them in the VH4.

If you have the money, buy several 12AX7 tubes to change out in V1, V2 and V3. The gain will be all over the map. Power tubes I can tell you now that the Ruby's thin the hell out of Herbie. From lost of time and money, SED's, 34's and 6550's are the best bang for your buck.

I spent a few hours one day changing tubes, play a minute, change again, rebias....etc. until I found what works for me.

Steve
Click to expand...

Have you run 6L6s in the Herbert? If so how do they compare to the 6550s? Just curious??? There are JJ 6L6GCs in it now and it sounds pretty good but I have nothing to compare to.
 
I ran 6L6s in mine @ one time. Didnt like it. Didnt seem as lively to my ears. Went back to mixing 34s & 6L6s. The 6550s are just better overall dynamically to me. Just make the Herbert come alive!
 
PaulyPanacea":3ext0l43 said:
I ran 6L6s in mine @ one time. Didnt like it. Didnt seem as lively to my ears. Went back to mixing 34s & 6L6s. The 6550s are just better overall dynamically to me. Just make the Herbert come alive!
Click to expand...


what tubes do you use in each different channel on the herbert?
 
To my knowledge...the tube pairs are not assigned to individual channels. They all work together...Unless i am totally wrong...but thats what i remember i was told a long time ago. I used to run EL34s on the outside pairs & 6L6s on the inside.
 
Regarding the VH4 and the 6550s..
Is there any clip around with a VH4 loaded with the new 6550? just to try to understand that tone change that make you "hate" the 6550s on that amp.. it's hard to believe that Peter took the decession of changing them without noticing that? :confused:
 
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