Finally got my Ultra-Lead: NAD

[maddnotez]

To my suprise my amp was delivered today. Wasn't expecting it until later this week.

First whammy: The box was standin on it's side.

Second whammy: Shipped with tubes installed. I don't like that. Just personal preference and can be dangerous for the glass.

Final whammy: No f Ing Footswitch. I will be making a call tomorrow morning.

Anyhow it's late here and kids asleep so sadly I can't open her up until tomorrow but I immediately notice it's got the same vibe as the 100CL but so much beefier and grittier. Again this is at whisper volumes so I'm pretty excited to blast it first chance I get.

It's got JJ 6l6g installed and what appears to be factory VHT branded chinese 12AX7. I have no way to tell if they've been replaced but I think they're stock from 1994.

I've got some JJ KT88 that will probably go in after a while and will do some preamp tube rolling for fun. I know it's not recommended by Fryette to do that but oh well I like to play around.

I should have it sounding pretty mean eventually.

I can't post any clips, my apologies but hopefully soon.

It's also in way better shape than I anticipated which is great. A little dusty inside and some white marks on the tolex but no tears. The knobs felt a little tight as well so it could use a little clean up but a pretty good score for a 94'.

 

[benduncan]

Congrats!!!!

Can't wait to hear what you think!

 

[Racerxrated]

New to the VHT camp, just grabbed a Deliverance 60 a month ago. Great amp, clear/articulate and very versatile as far as the different tones you can dial in. Congrats on your new amp..more players should try VHT if they haven't...

 

[Dale B]

I used to love tube rolling the preamps in the ULs I owned. If it's set up with 5 - 12ax7 and 1 - 12at7, have fun! My favorite was a Telefunken Smooth Plate in V1, a Mullard 12at7 in the last PI slot and RFTs in the rest of the slots. I liked JJ KT88's and Chinese KT88's. JJ KT88's were the cleanest of the bunch.

 

[maddnotez]

I used to love tube rolling the preamps in the ULs I owned. If it's set up with 5 - 12ax7 and 1 - 12at7, have fun! My favorite was a Telefunken Smooth Plate in V1, a Mullard 12at7 in the last PI slot and RFTs in the rest of the slots. I liked JJ KT88's and Chinese KT88's. JJ KT88's were the cleanest of the bunch.

It's actually the 5 12ax7 and one 12au7 driver. I've never played the 12at7 version. Some say the at is more agressive, some say the au is punchier.

Would love to try them side by side but so far I'm not disappointed.

Plan on getting a Telefunken, have been trying to hold out for a good deal on nos.

Congrats!!!!

Can't wait to hear what you think!

Thanks man. I will definitely be cranking it up later today but I need to buy some more 12ax7 to really have fun with it. I don't have any extras ATM.

New to the VHT camp, just grabbed a Deliverance 60 a month ago. Great amp, clear/articulate and very versatile as far as the different tones you can dial in. Congrats on your new amp..more players should try VHT if they haven't...

Agreed, everyone needs a VHT. I want all of them

 

[apophis]

Welcome to the club

 

[RJF]

I'd get a set of 88's in it, and call it a day. I don't mess with preamp tubes though.

 

[leib10]

Congrats man!

 

[maddnotez]

I'd get a set of 88's in it, and call it a day. I don't mess with preamp tubes though.

Actually got a quad of JJ's from apophis and I might get a quad of EH in a couple weeks.

Between those and a few 12ax7 I should be able to get a tone I really like.

Might even try 6550's in it at some point.

Congrats man!

Thanks man. It's a bit different than that CL I had.

With the tubes it has and no boost it almost sounds like the CL mixed with the roar of a Mesa.

 

[Thor1777]

prefer 6550s in the UL...such an awesome amp

 

[benduncan]

I have a EHX 12ax7 in the v1 and a Phillips 12AT7WC in the v6. The rest are all either JJ's or Ruby's, with the standard Sovtek kt88's in the power section.

 

[Kelly]

Grats. I've tried rolling different preamp tubes in the Deliverance. Always end up with Chinese in every spot except V1 (although the D60 doesnt have anything but 12AX7s.)

 

[yngzaklynch]

LOVE those amps!!!! Congrats

 

[311boogieman]

Glad it all worked out. I know you've been on the hunt for awhile. Why no clips? I was checking out your soundcloud

So are you going to need a biasing or are you good?

 

[metalmaniac93]

Awesome amps!! Congrats!!

 

[maddnotez]

Thanks guys.

And 311 I should hopefully have some clips soon.

Just need to find a good time to crank it up when no one is home. I will also have to use the line out because I do not havea mic or any ISO booth.

It is either that or some cell phone clips haha.

I do also still need to BIAS it.

I got the KT88's but still need to buy the Biasing probes and everything.

 

[311boogieman]

^ Get the Weber probe if you can. The cheaper ones are ...well...cheap. I blew my Eurotubes probe pretty quickly.

See if you can get the expected plate voltage and location of the bias pot. It is probably VR1.

I'll continue to talk to you through PM.



Have fun

 

[maddnotez]

^ Get the Weber probe if you can. The cheaper ones are ...well...cheap. I blew my Eurotubes probe pretty quickly.

See if you can get the expected plate voltage and location of the bias pot. It is probably VR1.

I'll continue to talk to you through PM.



Have fun

Thanks for the heads up.

Did you buy the Euro probe that had the built in plate voltage reader?

That is the one I had my eye on because Weber has been out of stock.

Edit: Also I will be making some clips this weekend.

I want to have something with the 6l6 before I swap the tubes so I can remember the differences.

 

[rottingcorpse]

Freaking awesome amp. It will make you a better player. I will always own one. Got my ex-best bro playing one a while back. He has an endorsement now with another company, but still plays the ultralead , just like dime did with the krank/Randall deal during damageplan.

 

[311boogieman]

^ Get the Weber probe if you can. The cheaper ones are ...well...cheap. I blew my Eurotubes probe pretty quickly.

See if you can get the expected plate voltage and location of the bias pot. It is probably VR1.

I'll continue to talk to you through PM.



Have fun

Thanks for the heads up.

Did you buy the Euro probe that had the built in plate voltage reader?

That is the one I had my eye on because Weber has been out of stock.

Edit: Also I will be making some clips this weekend.

I want to have something with the 6l6 before I swap the tubes so I can remember the differences.

No, it was just the single probe. I don't know if I would trust the one with the built in meter. If one part fails then the whole thing is dead. You can see by these pics how much better the Weber probe is. Downside for me is that because the probe is so tall I pretty have to take the chassis out every time even to just check the bias as it won't fit, as where the Eurotubes probe is much shorter.