Hello, after some more advice again please (I'll try and offer some one day)
After much messing with pedals/speakers, still not happy with the sound coming out of the 'Bassman' - so I thought I'd check the valves.
I ran a hot bath, took the back off the amp and turned it up to ten.
Tappity tap tap with a biro- tap, tap- TING. OK, replaced the offending JJ ECC83S with another I had knocking around.
tap, tap- ting. Still a bit of 'ting' so I pulled one from the Nolan. This was a Mullard, which I guess may have been in there for a while.
No 'ting', so I plugged in and - such a difference, even at bedroom level, things are starting to sound back in the zone.
Question is- is it likely that I had one or maybe a couple of microphonic valves or is that tapping thing urban legend? And even if this is the case, could the Mullard make such a significant difference over the JJ? And, following on from that, is it worth replacing the other ECC33s and if so, what with?
Thanks again for the advice.
PS I made the bath thing up. Showing off and nothing to be proud of.
Edit: PPS the valve was 2nd position away from the power tubes. Just in case...
Comments
In that amp the second preamp valve from the power valves is the gain stages for the Normal channel, by the way - probably the most important valve in the amp for tone. Most valves are microphonic to some degree, it's a question of how much.
Personally, I really dislike JJ preamp valves so what you found doesn't surprise me at all - it's very clear which one is the JJ in that demo video too.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
And that makes perfect sense that it is the gain stage.
I'll watch the vid now.
Any recommendations aside from leaving the Mullard in (I feel guilty for depriving the Nolan!)
Cheers
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
The trick to buying them is an ebay seller with a returns policy. I've bought two dozen over the years and had one dud.
I’ve got a pair of the most desirable 83s (yellow print Mullards) that despite testing ‘as new’ sound hilariously bad. If I was an arsehole, I’d list them on eBay for a few hundred £ and take advantage of people getting caught up in NOS-fever.
Buy new production, with warranty, from a reputable dealer.
Rift Amplification
Brackley, Northamptonshire
www.riftamps.co.uk
I do find old RFTs have a distinctive sound, which works especially well in Marshall-type amps, but they’re the only real exception.
The reason I don’t like things like JJs is because they don’t seem to have the full frequency response - it’s that they’re bad, rather than the good ones are good... if that makes sense!
Yes.
The other two sound very similar.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I already owned a few though and am glad I ignored him because the improvement was obvious to me. Maybe I have just got lucky with those I have bought.
I’d say unless you are a dedicated tone chaser, it’s safe to go with good modern production. My hit rate with modern valves are much higher, in the 80+%, and they don’t sound too bad if you know which ones to avoid.
That Mullard did sound mighty good though, honestly...just rehearsed 5 hours with the thing. I'll take it out again and see what it is exactly, might be Pat Nolan's family heirloom.
Different valves do make a difference. It does depend on the amp as well. What sounds good in some amps doesn't sound good in others.
Unlike @ICBM I actually quite like JJs in some amps. The amps in question might well have been fizzy sounding amps where taming the top end was a good thing, but they definitely sounded better than the EHX in a couple of the amps I tried them in. I haven't really had an option since I bought my Lazy J. Until very recently EHX were the only manufacturer of a new production 12AY7.
The difference is quite noticeable normally, and I'm far from the only one who can hear it.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I'd be interested to hear results of any NOS experiment you carry out.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein