Which tube in a Mod50 is the V1, or input 12AX7?

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RockStarNick

RockStarNick

Active member
Hey guys, quick question:

From what I know, the first Preamp tube in an amp is the one that has a pretty dramatic effect on tone shaping. I think it's commonly referred to as the V1 tube... (?)

My question is, in a Mod50, which is the V1 tube? The one closest to the input jack in the actual chassis, or is it one of the two tubes in each module? And if it's in the module, is it the L or the R one?

Sorry if this has been discussed already before... newb here.

(I'm asking this, assuming that the 12AX7 closest to the Power tubes is the phase inverter, and the one closest to the FX loop is the tube buffer...)
 
The tube closest to the input jack is for signal boost only. Your true V1 is, if looking at the module knobs facing you, is the left one.
 
Nick, as Jeff said, looking at te module it is to the left and I believe the other tube is the gain stage (boost?), not sure. I am not sure which is the gain stage tube or if that is in the head.

My favorite and fattest sounding tube has been the JJ ECC803s. :thumbsup:
 
Awesome. Thanks for the quick replies guys.

So, if that 12AX7 is only for signal boost, does tube type matter that much, or impact the overall tone alot, in that slot?
 
Hi!

Newbie with a recently aquired M4 (bought used) here.

I can't help myself from tinkering with preamp tubes whenever I get a new piece of gear. I have found that, along with what Myles S Rose writes about on http://www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/, that by changing preamp tubes you can really fine tune an amp.

One of my favourite quotes from this forum:
3 Mile Stone":1pg4n39w said:
Don't know why and I am not attempting to speak for Egnater. But the whole idea of the Egnater system is versatilty, different types of amps are presented in each module format, the power section is designed to be user freindly so you can customize it to your taste. Knowing this why bother trying to predict what everyone wants because it is designed to be customized by the user anyway. Everything will be changed out so I guess by the nature of the flexable design there is no standard when it comes to what tubes. Your supposed to mess with it.
Click to expand...

Anyway, my swapping of the signal boost tube (chassies 12ax7 on M4) did lead to clearly noticable differences in tone. Right now I have an JJ ECC803S in that slot instead of the EH one supplied. To my ears that reduced some treble/high mid frequency that was a little bit too much in all modules before the swap. Of course the gain levels also changed and with that tone. I could almost use a little more definition now, if I could only find a tube in between the ECC803S and the EH...

Granted, I have an almost hifi setup going on in my rack now so it's pretty clear sounding. Solid state PA, celestion G12H100's, all because I wanted the option to slave a head in there and not have so much additional coloring.

Point is, just experiment and see what you find.
But maybe ask nicely before you swap tubes on your band mate's Mod50 ;)

Greetings from Sweden!
Pelle
 
Thanks Russ!

Yeah, I've read that thread several times. Good read!

I think I need to try and get hold of some good working tung sol 's.
I'm pretty familiar with the regular JJ ECC83 and in the amps I've tried them in so far, and to my ears, they are somewhat dark. Don't get me wrong, I generally love them in distortion paths and have two in my SL2 right now. To me they sound smooth and that's what I like for leads. There are highs but to me the right balance of high frequencies for lead distortion. For rythm, I might like something more high-middish.
But that chassies tube sets the basic voice and I could generally get a tiny little bit more clear high end in the absolute first stage to sculpt further down. So off to order some tung sol's and maybe some NOS stuff to play with :)

R.Milbeck":18bpkz1r said:
-EH's are crunchy, high-mids heavy, but rather lifeless, especially in V1.
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+1000

Btw, if anyone has an SL or VX mod for sale and is willing to ship to Sweden, PM me. I'm the one who bought cyndicate's (Will) M4 and he can vouch for me.

/Pelle
 
3miles quote is right on...we designed this amp neutral and when you get it you are allowed to make it your amp. Not what we think it should be but what you want it to be! Tinker away!
 
Wow a coherent thought from myself? I must have been having a good day!
YMMV :lol: :LOL:
 
R.Milbeck":jvuspr3a said:
Gripp":jvuspr3a said:
-ECC803s are JJ's hi gain tube. Perhaps their standard ECC83s would offer a better balance of tone and clarity?
-Most musical of the 12AX7's I've found were Tung-Sol's. Unfortunately their quality control was lacking for a while. (Anyone know if this has changed?)
-Sovteks are also a good overall tube of choice. Rather neutral with a touch of grit.
-EH's are crunchy, high-mids heavy, but rather lifeless, especially in V1.

These are just some of my findings.
Everyone's ears are different. YMMV :D
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Click to expand...

That's pretty much my findings as well, with my gear.

• JJ's - I've found them to bring life to a non-master volume type fender, but they were pure fizz in a master volume high gain amp.
• EH's were VERY crunchy, but yeah, kinda flat sounding. Not great for clean, but sounded really good in my bud's E-Rect module.
• Tung Sol's had a great tone in my Fender amp. Have yet to try them in a high gain amp.

Well, I'm gonna definitely do some tube-swapping once I get my Mod50 and just tweak away and make it my own. Besides, what's the fun in gear if you leave it STOCK? ;)
 
I ended up putting either a 5751 or a 12at7 in the driver slot of my second M4...I like it. My original one had an EH 12at7 too.
 
This is what I found in my SL2 and EG5.

EH12AX7EH - Too flat sounding and nothing inspiring, just okay....but were clear and crisp. I have a bunch of these and they don't seem consistent. Sounded kind of fuzzy too.
Sovtek12AX7WA - Souned awesome at low volumes and I loved them till I had a chance to crank the amp and they sounded flat and dull.
Tung Sol12AX7 - Sounded decent but not that intense if that makes sense? Not a lot of life I guess and again I have some that are good and some pretty bad so they are inconsistent even from recent batches.
JJECC83 - well rounded but less top end sparkle, greta for anything rock and I like that they are thick and smooth and seem thicker the harder you hit em.
JJECC803 - like a sparklier version of the 83, but a little less gain. Really full and thick which is why I like these so much and they seem consistent from the ones I have bought. I have these all through the Mod 50 chassis and most of my modules! The 803s kill in the Bassman!
 
My ears seem to hear things in a similar way Richedie!

Exactly the thick/smooth thing is what I like with the JJ ECC83 too.
And the fuzzy flat thing is exactly why I swapped the EH from the chassies. I could just use something a tiny bit sparklier than the JJECC803 for that 1st chassies position.
 
Matt, how consistent are the Chinese tubes? I may try them in my SL2.
 
richedie":2ne7i3ua said:
Matt, how consistent are the Chinese tubes? I may try them in my SL2.
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Rich,I have an 8th gen in my SL2 and it's been there for as long as I've had it and it's the shit in that module!!!!!
 
jmgman69":1j698i1t said:
richedie":1j698i1t said:
Matt, how consistent are the Chinese tubes? I may try them in my SL2.
Click to expand...
Rich,I have an 8th gen in my SL2 and it's been there for as long as I've had it and it's the shit in that module!!!!!
Click to expand...

Agreed. I have no had any problems with them in my SL2. Now, I havent bought a ton of them so I dont know how consistent they are, but so far no problems with the ones I got.
 
R.Milbeck":3mwf407l said:
Matt, Jason, can you be a little more descriptive about how the Silver Dragon's sound? Compared to a stock Sovtek, are they, warm? Crunchy? Smooth? Dark? Brite?
"The Bomb" and "The shit" tell us nothing.

Thanks guys,
Russ
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Not to good on tonal descriptions :D but they did give me more gain and or an edge,brighter in a good way and very rich but still staying pretty tite and focused.I just run 1 in the SL2 in the V1 and an EH in V2.It's the best combo that I personally have come up with for that module..
 
9th gen chinese tubes have good bite and scream for leads, but produce a browner, more chewy tone for rhythm. Gives SL2 a little of a Bogner type flavor. A little more gain too than Sovteks. Sovteks are very sterile to me, very even. These have more attitude for sure.
 
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