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Post subject: DRRI - What Tube for V4?
Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2016 6:19 am
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Researching on-line, there is no shortage of information and advice about tubes for V1 and V2 as these are the critical positions for shaping the tone on the Normal and Vibrato channels of the DRRI. The same can be said for the power section where the choice of tube can have a major influence on the tone of the amp. There is also advice about the phase inverter even though there are differing opinions about whether or not this tube actually has any impact on tone at all.

But one tube that seldom gets a mention is V4 which I understand serves as both the reverb recovery and the second gain stage for the Vibrato channel. So my question is, if the tone of the amp is largely set by V2 and the power tubes, what contribution is made by V4 and what properties should the tube in this position have? Should it be balanced across the tonal spectrum so as to keep the output from V2 the same "profile"? I believe the second gain stage is relatively low compared to the first gain stage so does it matter if V4 is high/medium/low gain? Should V4 mimic V2 such that if V2 has strong mids should V4 be the same and also have strong mids or should it compliment V2 by having stronger highs and lows?

I ask these questions purely out of curiosity as I have had good results from Tung-Sol and TAD tubes in V4 with either Tung-Sol or TAD tubes in V2. But it is always interesting to know if there are any options I've not explored.

I know that any old tube will work in V5 (as long as it lights up!) but I am guessing the same is not true of V4.


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Post subject: Re: DRRI - What Tube for V4?
Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2016 7:02 am
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V4, in addition to providing recovery for the reverb circuit, is actually the third gain stage for the vibrato channel. A "hotter" bottle in this position will drive the signal level higher, providing earlier onset of compression and overdrive. Transconductance between its halves is not as important as a respectable S/N ratio; thus a long-plate tube in this socket is contra-indicated and should be avoided. Any 12AX7 with a spiral-wound heater should work fine.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: DRRI - What Tube for V4?
Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2016 2:29 pm
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Thanks Arjay.

I've just discovered that the TAD 7025/ECC83 Highgrade Premium Selected (RT030) I've had in V4 for some time now is in fact a re-badged JJ ECC83S.


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Post subject: Re: DRRI - What Tube for V4?
Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2016 6:41 pm
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TAD pulls that crap all the time so they can add a 20% or 30% mark-up to somebody else's tubes. It's pure marketing hype.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: DRRI - What Tube for V4?
Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2016 6:22 pm
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For clean Fender-ish tones, the Gold Lion 12AX7 has gotten good reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/Genalex-Gold-Lio ... B00CEOPL36


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Post subject: Re: DRRI - What Tube for V4?
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2016 2:22 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
For clean Fender-ish tones, the Gold Lion 12AX7 has gotten good reviews.

https://www.amazon.com/Genalex-Gold-Lio ... B00CEOPL36


Thanks for the suggestion. Being Russian with what looks like a long plate I am guessing it is a selected version or variation of the Sovtek 12AX7LPS which looks remarkably similar to the Sovtek 5751 and Tung Sol 5751. I believe the new Mullard 12AX7 is also a version of the same tube.

For quite some time I have been using TAD 7025 WA Highgrade Premium Selected (RT080) in V1 and V2 and a TAD 7025/E83CC Highgrade Premium Selected (RT030) in V4. I've really liked this combination of tubes but I had a bit of time on my hands over the last few days so tried some other combinations.

I ended up with Tung Sol 12AX7 in V1 and V2 (again!) and a TAD 12AX7A-C Selected (RT001) in V4 which also sounds good. I've been running TAD 6V6GT-STR in the power section for past 6 months or so and I like them a lot. Previously I had Tung Sol 6V6GT in the power section (which were a marked improvement over the stock Groove Tube branded JJ 6V6S) but I prefer the TADs.

To be honest, I am only tinkering at the edges with these changes because both the TAD and TAD/Tung-Sol tube combinations in the pre-amp sound very good and very similar to my ear.


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Post subject: Re: DRRI - What Tube for V4?
Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2017 7:20 am
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I've had the same question about V4. I know trying different tube V1 and V2 change tone. Someone recommended using your second best sounding tube in V4. BUT, how much does it affect TONE, AND can tone be sculpted by putting complimentary tubes in each slot? There's a shoot-out on YouTube and they use the same tube in V2 and V4. Are pairing tubes necessary to squeeze the best tone from this machine or will any good quality tube due in V4?

I haven't tried it yet because I don't want ton waste money on a matching tube for no perceivable change.


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Post subject: Re: DRRI - What Tube for V4?
Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2017 2:10 pm
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This is always worth a browse if you haven't seen it before:

http://www.kcanostubes.com/content/fend ... mendations


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Post subject: Re: DRRI - What Tube for V4?
Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2017 2:52 pm
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+1 and a solid place to purchase real quality tubes


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