[allthumbs]

Solidwalnut just posted, in his lessons forum, about the importance of good quality tubes in a tube amp. I would like to add to that. Not only can good tubes make a huge difference to your sound but, there are variations in tubes to help shape the sound you want. Tubes that will give you more headroom or cleans before breaking up. Ones that give a balance between headroom and bottom end. Tubes that focus on a heavy bottom end that breaks up early.
Jazz players and others would want the cleans. Guys like me who play different styles of music want something in the middle. Rocker, grunge etc, want tubes that break into distortion early. Euro-e is worth a look for tube replacements. They tend to sell each kind of tube.
euro-e

[coldethyl]

AT, as you may or may not know, I recently purchased a VOX AC30CC2 amp. It's a great amp and I'm very happy with it.

I've been looking through some reviews of the amp though and found that quite a few who have bought the amp have changed the speakers to Celestion Blue's from the stock Wharfedale's and some have changed the stock tubes as well.

These tubes (3x ECC83 4x EL84 and 1 GZ 34) came stock in the amp and I haven't noticed any problems with them. Do you know if they are any good?

[allthumbs]

Read the reviews here. They seem to get good reviews. Remember tubes only last 3 to 5 years depending on how hard you use them.
euro-e

[coldethyl]

Thanks AT. I had a look at that link you added in your post and from what I've read, the tubes should be fine for this particular amp.

I'm puzzled though as to why some people who bought this amp decided to change the tubes. I can understand them wanting the Celestion Blue speakers instead of the Wharfedales, but VOX seem to have got it right with the tubes for this amp according to that euro-e site you linked.

Anyway, thanks again!

[solidwalnut]

Originally Posted by coldethyl

...These tubes (3x ECC83 4x EL84 and 1 GZ 34) came stock in the amp and I haven't noticed any problems with them. Do you know if they are any good?

It's all a matter of sound preference. Thee ECC83's you have could be made by x manufacturer and they may sound better from y manufacturer. This is basically what I found out. ECC83's are an equivalent tube to the 12AX7's. I had Russian brand 12AX7's in my amp and replaced them with JJ brand ECC83S's. A huge difference to my ears. Tighter bass and more punchy. The distortion on the Russian brand tend to break up quicker and give more of a fuzz sound.

It's really not a matter of bad tubes, they're just all different.

Steve

[coldethyl]

Originally Posted by solidwalnut

It's all a matter of sound preference. Thee ECC83's you have could be made by x manufacturer and they may sound better from y manufacturer. This is basically what I found out. ECC83's are an equivalent tube to the 12AX7's. I had Russian brand 12AX7's in my amp and replaced them with JJ brand ECC83S's. A huge difference to my ears. Tighter bass and more punchy. The distortion on the Russian brand tend to break up quicker and give more of a fuzz sound.

It's really not a matter of bad tubes, they're just all different.

Steve

Thanks for that Steve. I don't know if it's the tubes but in comparison to my Marshall amp, this AC30 doesn't distort as easily and when it does, it does have a more fuzzier sound than the Marshall. Mind you the Marshall is Solid State so maybe that's why and it's tone is nowhere near as warm sounding as the VOX. Nonetheless, I'm still more than happy with the great sound of the AC30. I may look at upgrading the the tubes later down the track. What I may do is put Celestion Blue's in there before I get around to changing the tubes though.

[P-90]

I've run into a number of different ideas for modifying Voxes, including various opinions on the speakers. Most are trying to get a more authentic '60s sort of sound out of them, and Celestions are popular for that, although some modders feel they're a bit overpriced. Webers are supposed to be as good, but a bit cheaper. Jensen has some which sound great for the $, but might not be an obvious improvement over the stock ones. Eminence has made some V30 clones that are reputed to be very nearly as good as the Celestions or Webers, but are quite a bit less expensive. A guy picked up a great deal on a pile of 'em and is selling them for $20 each, if you act quickly: Warehouse Guitar Speakers

New speakers often sound bad until they've had a few hours of breaking in (LOUD and BASSY is what works), so if you do go ahead with it, bear that in mind.

[coldethyl]

Originally Posted by P-90

A guy picked up a great deal on a pile of 'em and is selling them for $20 each, if you act quickly: Warehouse Guitar Speakers

Thanks for the thought and tips P-90, but I'm a tad too far away from the place you suggested. I live in Australia!

[P-90]

Originally Posted by coldethyl

Thanks for the thought and tips P-90, but I'm a tad too far away from the place you suggested. I live in Australia!

Oh! In that case email nigel at kirkby dot com dot au and ask him about some Sammi speakers. They are the equivalent deal to the $20 Eminences, but in Australia.

Lorantz speakers are supposed to be quite nice also, although a bit pricier: Speakers Loose - <<---- MELMUSIC ---->>(: - Specialising in Affordable Quality Musical Instruments

[coldethyl]

Originally Posted by P-90

Oh! In that case email nigel at kirkby dot com dot au and ask him about some Sammi speakers. They are the equivalent deal to the $20 Eminences, but in Australia.

Thanks P-90. I'll check that out!