V1 Tube Swap in DSL40C:

Inspector #20

Inspector #20

Ambassador of Tone
Fallen Star
Country flag
Been running 7025-WA's in the DSL40C for a while now. A colleague gave me "T12AX7 - Gold Gen" and suggested I put it in V1 position along with the other 7025's.

Compatible with my existing tubes????

I know this tube would produce more gain, so it might be a fun experiment.

Thoughts???
 
syscokid said:
7025's, 12AX7's, or ECC83's... they're all the same to me. They should all be compatible. As long as any of them are not microphonic or just plain noisy, it's all good. It's up to you what matters if the tone nuances of each individual tube has, that makes you go: "Yeah"... :dood:
Click to expand...

Ok, thanks fellas...!!!

I have never mixed preamp tube brands. I mean, I know it woukd fit physically, but I was reading where certain tube types are not good in certain positions because of something like a 'cathode follwer' or something to that effect.

He was telling me that this particular variant of T12AX7 produces much higher gain when used in position V1.

Figured its worth a try!
 
Goldmember turned me on to using a JJ ECC823 in the V1 position of my DSL15.
It kills some of the fizzyness in the red channel and makes the tone a lot more useable without affecting the green channel.
Everything I have read of this simple change works on the DSL40 as well as the DSL15.

It's a cheap and easily reversible mod to try.
 
Hackmaster said:
Goldmember turned me on to using a JJ ECC823 in the V1 position of my DSL15.
It kills some of the fizzyness in the red channel and makes the tone a lot more useable without affecting the green channel.
Everything I have read of this simple change works on the DSL40 as well as the DSL15.

It's a cheap and easily reversible mod to try.
Click to expand...

Good to know! I will be trying that right after the New Year!
 
Hackmaster said:
Goldmember turned me on to using a JJ ECC823 in the V1 position of my DSL15.
It kills some of the fizzyness in the red channel and makes the tone a lot more useable without affecting the green channel.
Everything I have read of this simple change works on the DSL40 as well as the DSL15.

It's a cheap and easily reversible mod to try.
Click to expand...


Half of the tube is low gain and the other half is high gain which is why it only affects on channel.
I like reading tube manuals and finding tidbits like this.
Yeah reading tube manuals for entertainment, what a life I lead.
 
Goldmember said:
Robert, please also consider trying a 5751 JJ valve, too. I use it in V2 for my DSL and Orange Dark Terror amps.
It's also available in gold, if you dig.
Click to expand...

Cool...I can dig it... I chose this B759 because it is the highest gain tube available.

See, on the Double Neck, the bridge is shifted back to maintain scale length, with the short 20 fret neck, and this "moves" the bridge pickup closer to the neck, so the bridge pickup tone is closer to the middle pickup on a Les Paul.

IMG_6094_zpssuvxkchg.jpg

IMG_20171227_53271.jpg

And that shift forward dramatically affects the amount of gain available....
 
Last edited:
Robert Herndon said:
Cool...I can dig it... I chose this B759 because it is the highest gain tube available.

See, on the Double Neck, the bridge is shifted back to maintain scale length, with the short 20 fret neck, and this "moves" the bridge pickup closer to the neck, so the bridge pickup tone is closer to the middle pickup on a Les Paul.

View attachment 10343

View attachment 10344

And that shift forward dramatically affects the amount of gain available....
Click to expand...

Yeah, it looks like you could squeeze a dog ear P90 between the bridges, and the current bridge pickups. The gap in yours looks a little more spaced out than the Gibson, Epiphone, Agile offerings.(to my eyes)
 
Dayumm, that's one sexy beast.
img_6094_zpssuvxkchg-jpg.10343
 
Goldmember said:
Robert, please also consider trying a 5751 JJ valve, too. I use it in V2 for my DSL and Orange Dark Terror amps.
It's also available in gold, if you dig.
Click to expand...

5751 is a good move in a high-gain amp. I've found that adding a higher output V1 tube to a high-gain amp adds a lot of noise and is the fizz equivalent of dropping some Alka-Seltzer into a glass of Pelligrino.
 
gball said:
5751 is a good move in a high-gain amp. I've found that adding a higher output V1 tube to a high-gain amp adds a lot of noise and is the fizz equivalent of dropping some Alka-Seltzer into a glass of Pelligrino.
Click to expand...

Good point, I don't think the DSL40C is a "high gain" amp per-se, but I want more gain than I currently have, so a Gold Lion B759 in the V1 seemed like an easy swap....
 
Robert Herndon said:
Good point, I don't think the DSL40C is a "high gain" amp per-se, but I want more gain than I currently have, so a Gold Lion B759 in the V1 seemed like an easy swap....
Click to expand...

It's 3 or 4 gain stages depending on what mode you're in, so that's a lot of gain potential on tap. Great thing about tubes though is it's so easy to try one out and see if you like it. Maybe V1 isn't the spot either - roll the tube in all the preamp spots and see what you like the best. I've had amps that had the biggest effect in other spots, and don't overlook the PI, sometimes it can have a huge effect on the tone.
 
gball said:
It's 3 or 4 gain stages depending on what mode you're in, so that's a lot of gain potential on tap. Great thing about tubes though is it's so easy to try one out and see if you like it. Maybe V1 isn't the spot either - roll the tube in all the preamp spots and see what you like the best. I've had amps that had the biggest effect in other spots, and don't overlook the PI, sometimes it can have a huge effect on the tone.
Click to expand...

Hmmmmm...Interesting!!!! I always heard V1 has the greatest tonal influence...I really cannot say. I must admit my amp knowledge is very minimal. I used a JJ EC833 MG in my VS265 and it made a HUGE difference in gain...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top