#38496 by Shredd6
Sat Aug 09, 2008 9:30 pm
Sat Aug 09, 2008 9:30 pm
Nathanial Hughes wrote:
Hey Shredd, thanks for the compliment! I went to school for Audio Engineering and Producing so that's the reason it sounds like it does. Plus I have a little obsession with layering things (Beatles fan). Very cool, thank you for helping me out. It means a lot! I'd say the ideal tone/sound I'm going for is that vintage "Invasion" sound but with a little more beef to it. I'd be interested to know what I would need to get for it to sound like it was originally stocked as well, because I might want to compare the differences and choose which one I like best.
Well Nathanial, that certainly is a good question.. I can't find anyone who knows what originally came stock in the vintage Vox amps.. So what I'm really forced to do is give my best guess. And that would be that they came stock with Mullards or Brimars.
The fact that Vox originated in England, it would only make sense. Mullards have been extremely revered since the 12ax7 was first introduced, and still are today. I don't see any reason to think that an amp company would want to import what they have right in their backyard. the early 60's mullards have a huge worldwide following for being the best 12ax7's ever made. Although that may be subjective, the Blackburn plant in Gt Britain produced great tubes.
As far as el84's go, Mullards and Brimars were also considered some of the best in the world along with the Sylvania 6BQ5/El84. And once again, I would think it would be highly unlikely that an amp company based in England would import Sylvanias for their productions.
From what I read, in 1960, Vox first introduced in production the AC30 tube amp that used 12ax7's. Considering that time period, and the popularity of Mullards, why would it be anything else?
I would have to think by deductive reasoning, that the original Vox amps came with Mullards. Especially the ones used by The Beatles. I just can't for the life of me imagine why they wouldn't. Unless in that time period, it was more feasible to use Brimars which were also made at the same Blackburn plant. I really have no way of knowing. That could very well be too. Either way, they both have the same sonic characteristics, date codes, and eia codes.
Now, if you really want to have that kind of vintage tone in your AC15cc, at least there aren't a ton of tubes to buy to accomplish it. (My Mesa has 11-tubes in it).
The first thing to seek out would be a matched pair of NOS Mullard or Brimar el84's. But there's a catch..(there's always a freaking catch). You would need to take the amp to an amp tech, and make sure your amp is biased right for your new tubes. And just to be safe, I would seek out a Vox tech (or possibly ask someone in the Vox forum) who can answer whether it's ok to use NOS Mullards in your amp.
Although my amp uses 6l6's, if I went and bought NOS 6l6wbg's as opposed to 6l6gc's, I would fry the 6l6wbg's pretty fast. They weren't made to handle the modern circuitry of my modern amp.
It may not be the same for el84's, but I'm not an amp tech, and I have no experience with el84's. So I personally would want to know that before shelling out the cash for NOS Mullard el84's. They do cost some coin.
Mullard ecc83's are no problem. You just plug them in and go. They'll work in anything that takes 12ax7s, and preamp tubes don't need to be biased or matched.
So do a little homework on your power tubes as far as what is safe to use. And before we get into what will give you a beefier sound in your preamp, I need to know how many are in there, I believe there are two. That would mean that one would be a phase inverter, and the other one your V1. But if there's 3- that's a whole different ballgame.