Posted by Damir [ 213.202.114.159 ] on March 04, 2006 at 07:53:55:
In Reply to: fender vibrolux tubes posted by dirtcellard on March 03, 2006 at 18:08:58:
I have "Sylverface" Vibrolux, and I tried some modifications and retubing. The sound you described I have, also :-). You must be carefull with retubing - IME, putting all new production tubes inside is a recept for drier, but "dead and boring" sound.
I suppose that you used "Vibrato" channell - then 2nd tube from the right is the "first" preamp tube for this ch, 12AX7. In principle - "Mullard" (or copies) has smooth, warm sound that goes into overdrive without "hard crossing". TFK ECC83 and copies (Ei) has cleaner, brighter sound. For lower gain, cleaner, and more linear sound, you can try (GE) 5751. 12AY7 gives you cleaner, but brighter sound, and even less gain. RCA and GE 12AX7 are the "standard" choices here.
Fourth tube (another preamp stage, and "reverb recovery" stage) is also 12AX7. You can try changing this tube, too. Fifth is the power tubes phase inverter/driver, 12AT7. Then output tubes - if they are good, and old production (GE, RCA...), IMO - leave them there.
I looked for cleaner sound, and my setup is 2nd-5751 GE, 3rd-E82CC Siemens (original 12AT7- reverb driver), 4th - ECC83 TFK, 5th - E180CC Philips (original 12AT7). Output tubes are 5881 Sovtek, not too bad.
In other words, you can little "tune" your sound by carefull "tube rolling", but IME - you can`t change "Vibrolux" in something else... 
Anyway - just my subjective experience...
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