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Lets Talk About Valves

Posted by BUGGY (C) on June 15, 2013 at 5:13pm in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts

I recently experienced using a Bugera RAT amp for the first time, which is a 0.1,1or 5watt valve amp with various modifications as link below.

http://www.ratvalveamps.com/bugera-v5-combo

I was blown away by the sound (not by the 350v inside!)

I now know 3 people who were also impressed they bought one too.

(mind you it's not cheap!)

As the valves can be changed inside them to vary the sound, there is now a debate to what is the best sound available and what valve is best.

The information keeps pointing back to NOS Mullards, has anyone any experience in valve speak?

The rectifier valve is being changed soon to a Mullard EZ80

and have a vintage Mazda Ecc 83 to try

Here is a link I found:http://www.watfordvalves.com/cgi-bin/documents/testreport_2.pdf

Any info is welcome on the topic of best valves and circuits etc.

as this facinates me how it all works.

Thanks for your help...

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Replies

ron carlson June 18, 2013 at 7:41am

Heck yeah, I like some solid state gear but for me, tube based stuff usually sounds the best. I have a couple amps around that run the same tube compliment (12AX7, 6BQ5) as your Bugera. They are neat amps and their are a ton of tube options out there for both tubes. The thing that your Bugera has that these do not is Tone and Reverb. The RAT looks to be much more versatile because of that and I bet it sounds cool as hell.

Let me know what NOS you picked up. I may be able to dig into my stash and find you some Amperex, Telefunken or something to try along with what you have there
BUGGY (C) June 18, 2013 at 2:23am

Thanks Ron, I nearly bought a wind organ a few years ago....looked kinda cool but too noisey for recording

I have to say the nos valves sound kind a cool...forget tranny amps this takes your sound to a new level..
ron carlson June 17, 2013 at 8:31pm

I'd venture to guess that most anything would be a big improvement over the inexpensive stock Chinese tubes that are supplied with most relatively inexpensive tube amps. I say this as a audio/music enthusiast who has been running predominately tube electronics for many years.You can drop a ton of money on NOS Mullard, Amperex or Telefunken's but don't rule out the GE's, RCA's and many others out there that can provide really nice results also. Rolling boutique brands from the past can be outstanding and an eye opening experience from a audio playback standpoint but unsure how that plays out where guitar amplifiers are concerned.

That said, I dumped the stock chinese junk and retubed my Fender Excelsior with GE 12AX7's and a pair of nice testing black glass 6V6's pulls and it changed the tone (for the significant better) of the stock amp completely. So much so, that I have put the planned driver upgrade for the amp on the back burner.

See if you can find yourself a old tube organ at you local thrift store or at a garage sale. You have to know what you are buying but you can usually find them cheap and many times contain enough 12AU7's and AX7's etc. to last you 2 lifetimes. They many times test very well. Most of these old tube organs for the home really weren't used that much and you might get up to 30 or more usefull preamp /driver tubes that test dang near like new.
BUGGY (C) June 16, 2013 at 5:41pm
- BUGGY (C) > BUGGY (C) June 16, 2013 at 5:43pm
  
  A leather brief case sound fine!
BUGGY (C) June 16, 2013 at 5:35pm

and yes I found something hang on a tick...
James June 16, 2013 at 5:32pm
- James > James June 16, 2013 at 5:33pm
  
  he must have been off in the neighbors garbage hord looking for inspiration or something ???
BUGGY (C) June 16, 2013 at 5:15pm

Well I just slotted in a vintage mazda ecc 83 and an ez 80 mullardin
so see how the next video sounds in uploading in a bit
thanks for the tips so far

Also got a vintage Mullard on the way to try too

ever tried Harmas? they are only £12 any good?
Slowpaw Steve T June 16, 2013 at 2:46am

Valves, or tubes, are fussy beasts - the holy grail are supposed to be the British made Mullards used on the early Rock star amps, used ones can be bought for around £100 + each, new old stock (NOS) are like gold dust...don't buy the modern made ones they're not as good.

Marshall used Sovtek valves before they went solid state, not sure if they're still using them, Brimar are pretty good valves.

The bigger EL34 type power amp valves have to be matched and biased by a qualified audio techy, the pre-amp smaller ones (12AX7) sometimes come matched but don't need biasing, some low wattage power amps (Orange TT) don't need biasing.

Good place to look is Watford valves...

http://www.watfordvalves.com/aboutus.asp