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Post subject: Recomended Valve Replacements: Deluxe Reverb II
Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 5:18 pm
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Hello,
This is my first post on this forum, so forgive me if I break etiquette.

I have a Deluxe Reverb II from either 82 or 83 and all the valves are original. From what I have read I believe that aprox. 30 years is a little too long for valve wear on an amp that is used for recording and gigging and that I should try to replace the valves. The only problem is that all the valves inside are fender branded valves from the early 80's and I don't believe that they are attainable in new condition.

I know I need 5 12AX7 (7025, ECC83) and a 12AT7 (ECC81) for the preamp/reverb and a pair of 6V6s for the power amp stage. I just don't know what types will give me the best tone and fender quality.

I also know that the amp will need rebaising if I replace the power amp valves with any other valves so how do I find valves of the same type that wont require rebiasing considering that the amp is a 22w non adjustable bias amp.

Also I live in Australia so Australian valve suppliers would be good but if it would save me money to order from elsewhere I am open to the suggestion.

Thanks in advance.


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Post subject: Re: Recomended Valve Replacements: Deluxe Reverb II
Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 6:34 pm
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A W...I know you are looking for a place in Australia...but here is a couple stateside places I used for NOS tubes. They ship international (check thier policies)...Dougs ships international using a flat rate and KCanostubes just requires a minimum of $100 order. Both are great, reliable places, pack well and are easy to deal with.

http://www.kcanostubes.com/

http://www.dougstubes.com/

HTH

T2

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Post subject: Re: Recomended Valve Replacements: Deluxe Reverb II
Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 6:42 pm
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Thanks for the stores I'll check them out.

But what I was after is what are the equivalents of fender valves from this period - there are many types of 12AX7s and I don't really know what ones to get. Could you, or anyone, recommend equivalent or better sounding valves?


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Post subject: Re: Recomended Valve Replacements: Deluxe Reverb II
Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 6:51 pm
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You should use premium-quality 12AX7A tubes in every socket that is specified for a 7025 to keep the amp quiet at idle. NOS 7025's would be the best but any decent brand of 12AX7A should work fine. You've lucked out with this "II" version since it employs a full-wave solid-state rectifier instead of the GZ34 or 5U4GB tube common to the original DR's......one less bottle to buy.

HTH

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Recomended Valve Replacements: Deluxe Reverb II
Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 7:01 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
You should use premium-quality 12AX7A tubes in every socket that is specified for a 7025 to keep the amp quiet at idle. NOS 7025's would be the best but any decent brand of 12AX7A should work fine. You've lucked out with this "II" version since it employs a full-wave solid-state rectifier instead of the GZ34 or 5U4GB tube common to the original DR's......one less bottle to buy.

HTH

Arjay



+1 and all 5 of your pre-amp tubes in your Deluxe II are 7025's except the single 12AT7. I got NOS 7025s from KCTubes for my '84 Concert II and the bad boy is dead quiet now!

T2

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Post subject: Re: Recomended Valve Replacements: Deluxe Reverb II
Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 9:11 pm
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I was looking at some "12AX7 EH and 12AT7 EH" by Electro-Harmonix - thoughts?

or maybe at a stretch - http://thetubestore.com/preferred7025.html


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Post subject: Re: Recomended Valve Replacements: Deluxe Reverb II
Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 9:23 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:
You should use premium-quality 12AX7A tubes in every socket that is specified for a 7025 to keep the amp quiet at idle. NOS 7025's would be the best but any decent brand of 12AX7A should work fine. You've lucked out with this "II" version since it employs a full-wave solid-state rectifier instead of the GZ34 or 5U4GB tube common to the original DR's......one less bottle to buy.

HTH

Arjay

By "quiet at idle" do you mean less 120hz hum? (or whatever the pwr supply ripple frequency would be in AU)

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Post subject: Re: Recomended Valve Replacements: Deluxe Reverb II
Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 9:48 pm
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For the 12AT7 (V3, reverb tank driver tube) , I recommend a tough, low noise tube. I've been using mil spec triple mica Sylvania or Philips 12AT7WA or 12AT7WC for some time now, with good success. They have a long, quiet life, under tough conditions.


http://tctubes.com/Sylvania-12AT7WA-triple-mica.aspx

http://www.webphix.com/schematic%20heav ... erb_II.pdf


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Post subject: Re: Recomended Valve Replacements: Deluxe Reverb II
Posted: Tue May 01, 2012 10:28 pm
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mhowell wrote:
By "quiet at idle" do you mean less 120hz hum?


No, I refer to the ambient hiss caused simply by the normal function of the various chassis components interacting with one another as they perform their tasks that's inherent in any piece of analog audio equipment.

To demonstrate, switch your amp on sans any instrument or instrument cable plugged into the input then dime the volume control and listen. The hiss that you hear is perfectly normal. However, better-grade components (including tubes) purpose-designed for low-noise applications produce a better S/N ratio than cut-rate parts. Leo discovered this early on and by the time that the brownfaces were introduced, most of his pre-amp sections had been re-designed around the 7025 dual-triode (a quieter version of the standard 12AX7 which was developed for use in military gear and commercial broadcast equipment).

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Recomended Valve Replacements: Deluxe Reverb II
Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 1:51 am
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Keep an eye for these Baldwin Organ labeled & pulled Raytheon made 12AX7A. Pretty good deal. These are very nice tubes. Esp the black plate ones.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-RAYTHEON-12AX ... 3a730fba45


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Post subject: Re: Recomended Valve Replacements: Deluxe Reverb II
Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 9:01 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
mhowell wrote:
By "quiet at idle" do you mean less 120hz hum?


No, I refer to the ambient hiss caused simply by the normal function of the various chassis components interacting with one another as they perform their tasks that's inherent in any piece of analog audio equipment.

To demonstrate, switch your amp on sans any instrument or instrument cable plugged into the input then dime the volume control and listen. The hiss that you hear is perfectly normal. However, better-grade components (including tubes) purpose-designed for low-noise applications produce a better S/N ratio than cut-rate parts. Leo discovered this early on and by the time that the brownfaces were introduced, most of his pre-amp sections had been re-designed around the 7025 dual-triode (a quieter version of the standard 12AX7 which was developed for use in military gear and commercial broadcast equipment).

Arjay


Got it. Thanks.

Any opinion on what circuit components are best for reducing ambient noise? i.e. which caps, resistors, etc..

I'd also be curious as to which pots you prefer.

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Post subject: Re: Recomended Valve Replacements: Deluxe Reverb II
Posted: Wed May 02, 2012 4:34 pm
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Thanks for the input so far guys.

I have been doing a lot of reading of reviews on the internet and I have a few questions..

1) A lot of people like to mix valves in the preamp - a tung sol in V1 a JJ in V2 etc - Why? Is this really a good idea?

2) Are groovetubes (I wouldn't buy them branded but before they are branded they are some very reasonably priced valves) any good for my purposes?

3) how likely is it that my valves are just dead? After 30yrs I assume that the tone is probably gone and replacing them with just about anything will be a huge boost - is that a fair assumption? (BTW I still think that the amp sounds great)

4) I was looking at the Preferred Series 7025 valves from the tube store, http://thetubestore.com/preferred7025.html or the groove tube before rebranding the electroharmonix 12AX7-EH, does any one have any opinions on these valves? I just can afford to replace all my valves at once with valves that are going to cost more than about $20 each. I'm a working musician - you know poor :-p


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Post subject: Re: Recomended Valve Replacements: Deluxe Reverb II
Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 1:17 am
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Good chance that your tubes are tired. Try subbing the INPUT first. This tube makes the biggest difference in tone (as this stage has the highest gain in most Fenders). Ppl use the TungSol reissued 12AX7 because it has high gain and a bright Fender-ish tone.

JJ are a bit more midrange centered. Of course, each tube reacts slightly differently to each specific amp.

Groove Tube just relabels other mfg's tubes. Usually, Russian or Chinese made. You can sometimes get the very same tube with original manufacturer's stamping (like Reflector or Kaluga) for less $$$. GT does test and select their tubes.

As far as I know there is no one making true 7025's built to original mil specs. The onyl true 7025's you can find are NOS 7025. Both 12AX7A and 7025 have the spiral wound heater lines to help reduce AC noise. The 5751 made today ( by Sovtek) are supposedly built to the 5751 mil spec standard. They are quieter. But, tone-wise, don't match the Philips ECG 5751, IMHO.


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Post subject: Re: Recomended Valve Replacements: Deluxe Reverb II
Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 5:35 am
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I have been sorting through a few old valves that I have (only used a little) and was wondering if anyone could shed some light on if they are any good -

I have 3 "MiniWatt" 12AX7s (made in Australia ((back when they did) and about 5 6V6s either from MiniWatt or Radiotron I cant remember where they were made (potentially Australia or Holland)

Are these good tubes? What would be the best places to put them in V1, V2,...etc?

Is there an easy way to match the power tubes? If they are any good that is.

And even if I could match them, I would have to re-bias my amp if I changed my power tubes, wouldn't I?


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Post subject: Re: Recomended Valve Replacements: Deluxe Reverb II
Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 5:03 am
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a_whichello, AWV tubes (Aussie made Mullard or Radiotron labeled) are very good tubes. They are based on Philips or RCA tooling. BTW... the Mullard or Super Radiotron labeled AWV 5AS4 is a GREAT substitution for the US made 5U4GB.

A little history of AWV and mostly transistors:

http://sites.google.com/site/transistor ... ory-of-awv


5AS4:

http://museumvictoria.com.au/collection ... 5as4-1960s


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