VH4 Tubes - Advice please

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Vigier Arpege

Vigier Arpege

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I've had my VH4 for about a week now (2002 model) and I've fallen in love with the CH 3.
But I think its about time to start experimenting with different preamp-tubes and power-tubes, to see if it could be even better sounding :)

Present setup:

"Mesa/Boogie 6L6 STR 440 Duet amplifier tube matched pair" power tubes,
and the following pre amp tubes:
V1: Sovtek 12AX7LPS
V2-V7: Sovtek 12AX7WB

I'm curious about the "SED Winged C 6550", the "JJ KT77" and the "SED Winged C KT88", anyone tried all these? What is your experience and advice? I don't care about how many $ I have to spend I just want the best sound in my VH4.

Are there any pre-amp tubes that matches better than others for certain power-tubes, those mentioned above?

What about 12AX7AC5 HG+ or Tung-Sol 12AX7, or maybe a combination of those?

I really appreciate your advice, experience and thoughts about this. It's a tubejungle out there! :confused:
 
Tubes recommended by Peter at the moment:

All tubes from Ruby Tubes/Magic Parts:
V1/V2: 12AX7AC5 HG+ Diezel selection
V3-V6: 12AX7AC5 HG
Power tubes: EL34BHT

This is the combination i've got right now on my VH4, and it sounds awesome. But it's true that it's the only combination i've tried on it ;)
 
I had the kt77 in a peavey JSX and it was great, more low end than the EL34, but then I couldnt fit kt88/6550 that's why I put 'em there. Never tried 'em in a diezel tho.

Winged C EL34 and 6550 are good, the best is to match 'em, 6550 for the percusive side, and el34 for the midrange.
I'm thinking about getting some KT88 to add different flavour, like Spicedmuffin does.

You can try some tungsol 12ax7 or NOS RFT in v1 if you want too.

Peter's recommendations for tubes are always great.
 
6550s are nice for definition and attack. I'm running Svetlana 6550s and I like them. Others here have gone for the SEDs.

For pre-amp tubes I'm running Shuguangs, and I think the Ruby 12AX7s are a higher grade version of these. I'd recommend going with the Rubys. I tried Tung Sol re-issue and didn't like them. Not much definition.

On the power amp side whether you choose 6L6/EL34/6550 family depends on what you are after. You have 6L6s now. I personally like them a lot. My favorites are Rubys and TAD 6L6GCSTRs. And nothing beats 6L6s on ch1!

For definition, I'm shocked at how percussive 6550s are. I put them in recently and I've never heard so much definition out of an amp.

Most people seem to gravitate towards EL34s. For me they come off as being a bit too undefined. They sound nice ringing out, but not so percussive as the other tubes.
 
6550 all the way with the suggested Ruby pre tubes. I have them available if you need some. :thumbsup:
 
I've ordered the ruby preamp tubes and I'll try out the 6550's and the EL34BHT's.

What's the main differences between these tubes?

(Biasing: 90 mA for the 6550's, right?)
 
Vigier Arpege":34jtm4o6 said:
I've ordered the ruby preamp tubes and I'll try out the 6550's and the EL34BHT's.

What's the main differences between these tubes? Head room, break up, they are both very nice in our amps. EL34 is 65mA

(Biasing: 90 mA for the 6550's, right?)
Click to expand...
Yes
 
I prefer the 6550's also. Just hit ya right in the sack. and i go back & forth from the Ruby pre's & the TADs. like both very much. :D
 
The only 6550 tubes Diezel ever used from the factor were in fact SED Winged "C" 6550 tubes. So these are the ones everyone is talking about.

Personally, I recently switched back to EL34s in my Herbert because two 6550 died and the sound was lacking some of that EL34 mid-frequencies and punch. The amp sounded too smooth or soft for my taste. However, I still like the 6550, especially for clean sounds. Now with SED EL34 the mids are back were I like them to be.

... and my VH4 with SED EL34s totally kills. I can't imagine it sounding any better than this. Perfect high- and low-mids. It is such a fucking killer amp :rock:

Still, I can see the benefits of the 6550 tubes ;)
 
So the 6550 is better for cleans? I mainly use the CH3 for heavy riffing and CH2 for "clean", so is EL34 better for high gain settings? I'm NOT after that "razorblade distortion" but i want it to be massive, punchy, defined and warm with a tight bottom and nice highs. I'm also a fan of turning up the mids...so which of the 6550 or EL34 would be the best choice?

My guitar has a pretty high output with two 9V-batteries in it and is very versatile, almost like a Diezel VH4 :D
 
The 6550's describe what you are looking for. Its a cleaner overall tube with tons of headroom, great frequnecy repsonse & great overall tone.

The 6550s that most of us use here are the SED Winged "C" tubes. Have had tons of luck with them. But if you do fancy the EL34, i have heard great things about the EL34BHT from Ruby Tubes.
 
Vigier Arpege":12li7vmm said:
So the 6550 is better for cleans? I mainly use the CH3 for heavy riffing and CH2 for "clean", so is EL34 better for high gain settings? I'm NOT after that "razorblade distortion" but i want it to be massive, punchy, defined and warm with a tight bottom and nice highs. I'm also a fan of turning up the mids...so which of the 6550 or EL34 would be the best choice?

My guitar has a pretty high output with two 9V-batteries in it and is very versatile, almost like a Diezel VH4 :D
Click to expand...

The 6550's will give you this.
 
Am I the only crazy alien around here? You like the tone, your rig works fine, I say keep playing it. What's up with all this tube changing business?
 
nbarts":7r0my2iy said:
Am I the only crazy alien around here? You like the tone, your rig works fine, I say keep playing it. What's up with all this tube changing business?
Click to expand...

No I agree with you 100%. The idea around the tube options and external bias was to provide users with alternatives once their tubes needed replacing. Now people switch tubes without ever knowing what the amp can do often times. Why this happens I don't know. I am all about good tone and being happy but the amp bone stock is an amazing amp and does so much, why even bother with various tubes..? Just play it until it needs a tube replacement then go over options then. We have tested and tried everything and went with what we feel is the best overall for our amp. 99.9% of the time the end user is simply going around the block we already did before release. My best advice is learn the amp, twist knobs and play the thing. That is what it was purchased for. Enjoy it and have fun and make music. That is what we got into this stuff for in the first place right? Anything worth doing is worth doing in excess. Make that statement true with playing, not tube changes :thumbsup:
 
I 100% agree with nbarts and Doulos. The only reason I am constantly changing tubes is because they always die on me : 3 sets of JJ powertubes, 1 set of SED 6550s and another set of Ruby EL34BSTRs didn't last very long :/ So, I have no chance but changing tubes :(
 
agreed!!! :thumbsup: the only reason i change tubes is b/c my amps get played a whole lot. At least 4-5 shows a week plus rehearsals...so they get mileage. Enjoy your amp!!! ;)
 
I mean don't get me wrong, I've just swapped a perfectly fine set of 6550s to E34Ls, but I knew what I was doing. I definitely wouldn't bother doing it if there was a different set of 34s in it.
 
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