What tubes make a VH4 come to life?

[Flavatrocious]

OK, i am the new parent/proud owner of a Diezel VH4. This amp is cool What tubes really make it come alive in your opinions?

Thanks, and danke Peter (Okay, ass-kissing over!!)

 

[nbarts]

Why, what's wrong with current tubes?

 

[Flavatrocious]

Nuthin wrong with the (power) tubes except they may be a little old. I was just thinking that maybe there are some tubes out there that do really well in the VH4.
Looking to see what peoples experiences are. Also, some brands of tubes go better with some amps than others....etc.

Sooo, if anyone has anything let me, and the rest of us know!

 

[nbarts]

I don't know man. If you ask me the differences are subtle, especially with Diezels, at least in my experience. I've just installed a set of SED EL34s & though these are nice tubes I don't thing they are worth the extra money. People say SEDs are reliable, mine got blown within 2 weeks, go figure. JJs, Rudys are nice tubes. JJs treated me better than any other brand so far. I liked TADs in VH4 too. Subtle differences that you need to experiment yourself to know what to expect, I find it difficult to describe. IMO you should just stay with the set you have, unless they are really old or something or oyu want to go with something other than EL34s. The tone is in your fingers

 

[Flavatrocious]

Man, thats interesting. I appreciate your input. This is what makes these forums so valuable. Guys like you have experience and can offer those of us with less experience some insight and guidence.

I feel that power amp tubes can make little difference to your tone. On the other hand, they can be responsible for the way your amp sounds. Contradiction right?

The VH4 is an amesome amp and i just want it to sound the very best that i can get it to sound. Maybe i need to and will experiment with different tube types. I really love what KT88's did for the smashing pumpkins tone ala siamese dream. I also love that Adam Jones tone. I'm pretty sure he's got El34's in his amp. I'm a big fan of that El34 grind.

I'm just one of those "magic tone" seakers.

I'm gonna experiment with different tubes and speaker combinations and what not. The VH4 has the tone, i just need to coax the right combination out of it, if you know what i mean.

Once again, thanks.

Paul.

 

[steve_k]

Just re-tubed mine with JJE34L's. Preamp side got JJ EC83S High Gain and balanced in V1-V4, standard 5/6 and a balanced gold pin in 7.

Steve

 

[Sam L.]

keep it stock.
i dont notice the difference with different tubes.maybe i need to clean my ears
i do notice the difference with different picks.

 

[duesentrieb]

OK, i am the new parent/proud owner of a Diezel VH4. This amp is cool What tubes really make it come alive in your opinions?

Thanks, and danke Peter (Okay, ass-kissing over!!)

1) play louder
2) turn up the presence
3) use a (good) cab with V30s front- or rearloaded depending on your style
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101) then think about tubes assuming yours are not 5 years old of course.

 

[guitarobert]

I may be the lone voice on this one, but I've noticed different power tubes make a huge difference in the VH4. This is especially true when trying different types (6L6, EL34, etc.). I've gotten my hands on several different types of 6L6s and EL34s and just recently dropped in a set of JJ KT77s. I've liked certain things about each for different reasons.

My main focus has been on channel 3. It may be too early to say as I just put them in, but so far I like the JJ KT77s. They feel tighter and punchier than the SED EL34s I had in before. But the SED EL34s were good too. I've also enjoyed Ruby EL34s in the past, but their durability was poor. Others have had a similar experience, so I'd stay away from them. On the 6L6 side I found the TAD 6L6GC-STR to be very unique. It's a bit of a fizzier sound, but good or bad it was the most unique of all the tubes I've tried for channel 3.

For cleans, nothing has been as good as 6L6s. All 6L6s I've tried have been good. If I were only playing cleans I'd probably go with SED 6L6s (but they came off as muddy to me for channel 3). For a better balance the Ruby 6L6s were also good.

But.. overall for what I play now the JJ KT77s sound great. Set your power amp selector switch to EL34 when using them. Or try a set of those new Genelec reissue KT77s and report back!

On the preamp side I have not noticed a tremendous difference between tubes. They seem to effect the attack sound more than anything. I use a Tung Sol reissue in V1 and Shuguangs for all others. The Shuguangs are more trebly and brittle, which nicely complements the VH4s darker tone. The Tung Sol is a bit fuller and more round, and takes some of the edge off the attack.

 

[rickenbacker198]

For me as well, tubes make a HUGE difference in the VH4

Ive tried just about everything out there; For the ultimate marshall sound I prefer JJ EL34L but the clean channel suffers a bit. (as with any EL34)

I really prefer 6L6's for overall versitility, of these (for me)the JJ's are the best.
I find that they sound amazing clean but still have a bit of fattness in the mids on ch2-4. Other 6L6's tend to sound a bit too harsh or scopped.

For preamp tubes the chinese 12ax7c rocks but I also put a sovtech 12ax7LPS in the PI slot, it makes the amp sound a bit clearer!

 

[Ampaddict]

make sure you Bias them up though whatever you do. Big diff in tone!!!

 

[steve_k]

I pulled the chassis in the VH4 this weekend and went on a tube quest. Rebiased for some JJ6L6CG's. Didn't like them as much as the EL34's as some of the bottom went away. Playing mainly on Ch. 3 and some on 2. Raised the bias up to 36 on each tube and went back with the JJEL34's and got them really putting out now.

My biggest tone challenge was receiving the new Diezel 4x12 front loaded cab the other day. Dammit, they certainly threw everything off (in a good way).

Tried to get more of the SED's, but the only online vendor is Dougs Tubes that I could find, and he was out of stock. Not sure what preamp tubes came in the VH4. I know they are 12AX7', but there are no markings on them. Went with all JJ's.

Steve

 

[duesentrieb]

My biggest tone challenge was receiving the new Diezel 4x12 front loaded cab the other day. Dammit, they certainly threw everything off (in a good way).


Steve

 

[Flavatrocious]

I pulled the TAD 12Ax7's out and replaced them with all Ruby 12Ax7 7025's. I found it did make a better overall tonal improvement. The clean was cleaner and a little more detailed and organic sounding. Channel 3 & 4 sound alot wetter and bassier but still tight and articulate. Still has that power and projection. For me the ruby's have gotten me closer to the tone i'm looking for and how i think the VH4 should sound. The TAD's are o.k, and the amp was only made in 2007 so they could'nt be that old.

Yes, it is all personal preference i guess but i had specific sound in my head and i was pretty sure the VH4 would get me close to it. The Ruby's have gotten me closer.

As for the power amp section they're all TAD EL34's. I'm not sure if i'm gonna go with JJ EL34L's or Ruby EL34's. Maybe even SED winged =C='s. I have some Ruby 6L6's sitting around so i might throw them in and see how that goes. I'm pretty sure i'll stick with EL34's as i'm liking the way thats sounding. One day i'm gonna pop in some KT88's and see what happens there too.

Any suggestions about which KT88's i could aim for?

 

[Flavatrocious]

I pulled the chassis in the VH4 this weekend and went on a tube quest. Rebiased for some JJ6L6CG's. Didn't like them as much as the EL34's as some of the bottom went away. Playing mainly on Ch. 3 and some on 2. Raised the bias up to 36 on each tube and went back with the JJEL34's and got them really putting out now.

My biggest tone challenge was receiving the new Diezel 4x12 front loaded cab the other day. Dammit, they certainly threw everything off (in a good way).

Tried to get more of the SED's, but the only online vendor is Dougs Tubes that I could find, and he was out of stock. Not sure what preamp tubes came in the VH4. I know they are 12AX7', but there are no markings on them. Went with all JJ's.

Steve

How does it sound dude?

 

[Hey_bert_whtcha_doin_bert]

Dude, ditch those JJ's too many of them is a bad thing in a Diezel, they are some tubby bastards. Chinese pre's the way to go with a max 1 JJ in v-1 if you want more low. I like all chinese myself, but, do what ya gotta do.

 

[Flavatrocious]

Dude, ditch those JJ's too many of them is a bad thing in a Diezel, they are some tubby bastards. Chinese pre's the way to go with a max 1 JJ in v-1 if you want more low. I like all chinese myself, but, do what ya gotta do.

Dude, mine is low enough with all chinese...

 

[jcj]

Dude, ditch those JJ's too many of them is a bad thing in a Diezel, they are some tubby bastards. Chinese pre's the way to go with a max 1 JJ in v-1 if you want more low. I like all chinese myself, but, do what ya gotta do.

Dude, mine is low enough with all chinese...

Hey Paul,

Try some winged c's in there, or the ruby 34 bstr. I'd stay away from the 6l6's....Might be a little too bassy.