VH4 volume drops in and out

[sean106ESP]

So i noticed this before with both my VH4 and VH4S where when played at low volumes the volume dips in and out. But it never happened when played loud or semi-loud. So just now I had it going through a THD hotplate to lower sound as it is late etc. (but still with master volme at around 11 oclock. and it started doing it again. Like it really dipped low at one point so I just turned it off and will try it again tomorrow at higher volumes and see if it does it again. Any ideas? Bad tube or preamp tube maybe? Any ideas? Anyone have this happen to them? Thanks.

 

[Ailean]

Tubes would be my number one suspect. Pre-amp tubes don't tend to fail as often as power, but a single pre-amp to test with is a lot cheaper. Power tubes are the most likely though I think.

 

[Peter Diezel]

 

[sean106ESP]

yeah has been a long time. I got it about two 2-3 years ago and it was biased high with new old stock philips and is really hot. Like channel 2 even has oodles of gain. Also looking now in the bright sunlight the tops of em look pretty burnt or worn. Plus I kinda want to get my ol VH4S tones and have enjoined the hot rodded VH4 Mono enough. Back to my Rubies.

Guess gonna go with the Ruby BSTR's (Dougstubes.com FTW, lives right near me)I like in my VH4S. Any recommendations I tell the tech for a bias number or would they no already? Thx Guys!

 

[sickgoose]

Ruby EL34BHT......kick major ass!

 

[Peter Diezel]

Yes Sean, give them a try

 

[sean106ESP]

Yes Sean, give them a try

Well will they give me what I want? Which is......... that crisp signature Diezel Clean and some nice gainy rhythm and lead channels also? Clean for me is a biggy. The closer I can get to a built in JC-120 the happier I am. I actually found......yes sounds silly. But running two Boss super chorus in channel 1 really brightens up the cleans and gives you the JC-120 Mojo

 

[sean106ESP]

Now I played it semi-loud tonight and it was fine. Go figure. Still gonna change the tubes though. The look old and been a while.

 

[sickgoose]

yes!!! they do deliver......... that crisp signature Diezel Clean and gainy rhythm sound.......and they are very reliable tubes.

 

[MARK2C]

You said it seems like a common issue with both amps, but the only commonality is the Hot Plate.
NOS Philips 7581A or 6L6GC's are usually good for 8-10,000 hours. The 7581A is also a 35W tube,
so what you think may be a hot bias is normal. At 477 Plate volts and 75% Max Plate Dissipation the
bias point would be 55mA. I personally hate power soaks. If I want lower volume I use a G-Major or any
other effects unit in the serial loop that you can attenuate the input and output. It lowers the VH4's volume by a ton and
still feels like a VH4.

 

[sean106ESP]

You said it seems like a common issue with both amps, but the only commonality is the Hot Plate.
NOS Philips 7581A or 6L6GC's are usually good for 8-10,000 hours. The 7581A is also a 35W tube,
so what you think may be a hot bias is normal. At 477 Plate volts and 75% Max Plate Dissipation the
bias point would be 55mA. I personally hate power soaks. If I want lower volume I use a G-Major or any
other effects unit in the serial loop that you can attenuate the input and output. It lowers the VH4's volume by a ton and
still feels like a VH4.

Actually it was doing it before the THD. I just got that a few months ago. I have had the Vh4's for years. But yeah time for a tube change. Yeah I had G-Major and then G-Force. I dunno aside from your solution I really did not like the FX on them. Especially the chorus. i find the simple Boss Super chorus(es) do the trick for me Thanks for the input man!

 

[MARK2C]

I think I understand your issue. On VH4's the volume will cut in and out if the Master is not over 7:30-7:45.
It does it on all of the ones I have owned.

 

[sean106ESP]

I think I understand your issue. On VH4's the volume will cut in and out if the Master is not over 7:30-7:45.
It does it on all of the ones I have owned.

gotcha. Thanks man

 

[FourT6and2]

I think I understand your issue. On VH4's the volume will cut in and out if the Master is not over 7:30-7:45.
It does it on all of the ones I have owned.

Doesn't happen with mine...

However, for bedroom practice type levels, I raise the master until the amp goes from barely on to just when the power section kicks in... which is around 7:30-8:00 I think.

 

[petejt]

Yeah I had G-Major and then G-Force. I dunno aside from your solution I really did not like the FX on them. Especially the chorus. i find the simple Boss Super chorus(es) do the trick for me Thanks for the input man!

Good move!


Personally, I find the TC-style chorus way too slick-sounding and bright for my tastes, plus it thins the tone. It's not brittle like some chorus pedals, but just doesn't have that deep warmth and darkness, say like my Electro Harmonix Deluxe Electric Mistress. Also the old Boss style is much nicer. My H2O Liquid Chorus & Echo also has a lovely chorus sound.

Running the Electric Mistress into a Roland Jazz Chorus 120 combo amp =

Sean, have you tried using an Electric Mistress as a chorus? not the Stereo one, the Deluxe one or the rarer original Electric Mistress. It's a flanger but I guess has a slightly longer delay time, thus sounds more syrupy and juicy, rather than airy and thin like the jet-plane flangers. I remember you were using a purple Boss flanger with the feedback turned down, or almost all off- well a flanger without the feedback/regeneration IS a chorus

 

[Ventura]

Yeah I had G-Major and then G-Force. I dunno aside from your solution I really did not like the FX on them. Especially the chorus. i find the simple Boss Super chorus(es) do the trick for me Thanks for the input man!

Good move!

Running the Electric Mistress into a Roland Jazz Chorus 120 combo amp =

Sean, have you tried using an Electric Mistress as a chorus? not the Stereo one, the Deluxe one or the rarer original Electric Mistress. It's a flanger but I guess has a slightly longer delay time, thus sounds more syrupy and juicy, rather than airy and thin like the jet-plane flangers. I remember you were using a purple Boss flanger with the feedback turned down, or almost all off- well a flanger without the feedback/regeneration IS a chorus

I have become an IMMEDIATE fan of EHX pedals. I'm sooooooooooo stoked on my 2 simple stomps - the Cathedral Stereo Reverb and the Big Muff Pi (with Tone Wicker). Just LOVIN' THEM!! I'd say FULL BORE on the Electric Mistress, but I've reserved those areas of modulation for my soon-to-be arriving Eventide stomps.

Damn - going simple is ALWAYS the easier route. Funny too, I just picked up the latest Guitar rag with Slash and M. Shadows on the front, sat on the bog and flipped to the back page where they discussed Warren DiMartini's rig. For the last few issues - every one of the guitarists featured are simple simple simple in their FX and sound approach. Am I seeing a trend here?

V.