Retubing my Ampeg VL-503...What preamp brands/models?

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p4vl

p4vl

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So I got a VL503 for 399 from GC. If this thing has ever been retubed in the past 20 years, it was with cheap crap tubes. I can't tell what tubes are in there because the chassis has to be removed in order to change the preamp tubes (there are 6). Right now, the 2nd and 3rd channels are muddy (tried it with the combo speaker and my cab with Emi V12's) but I really think that it needs the right tubes.

I'm thinking Tung Sol High Gain 12ax7's for v2, v3 & v4-the gain channels (or is that overkill?).

I have no idea what to put in v1. V5 is the PI and V8 is verb/loop (V6 & V7 are the power tubes because: Reasons).

Any recommendations?
 
If you can get them cheap go with amperex. They last forever and even used are a good buy. Those amps have a ton of gain and a good NOS or used old school tube will really do wonders for it. I put some in a friend's Ampeg and it sounded better to me. Or you can try the Chinese Bs...they always work well in a high gain application. BTW good price on that!
 
Upon further reading, a good NOS tube is said by many to be the best v1 tube, even if one uses modern tubes for the rest.

Where should I look for NOS 12ax7's? There are a lot of sites, but I know nothing about brands or what to avoid.
 
You might want to try a JJ 803s in V1- it may give more open wider bandwidth to feed the other stages and

should help the clean tones as well.

It has a huge plate so in Combo Amps can be microphonic but usually

OK in heads.

This tube can sometimes give clearer gain less fuzz in gain stages -I am not an expert but noticed this

in one of my Preamps, really smoothed out the Gain a much wider sweet spot.

The use in V1 is pretty common , in gain stages maybe more hit or miss, depends on circuit and what you want.
 
I've always looked for NOS or strong old school tubes on ebay and haven't had any problems.
 
I finally got the chassis open. Last guy stuffed it with GT's and Sovtek 12ax7WA's. Everything else looked clean; none of the burned up wiring you see people posting when their VL needs modding (Preamps were GT's and Sovtek 12ax7WA's).

Taking my first step into NOS territory, I bought an NOS RFT 12ax7 for v1 and 2 x ANOS GE 6550A's, $50 each from KCA (I wonder if ANOS tubes cost more than tubes that are 'used, but in good shape').

Also: Sovtek LPS and 4 x Chinese 12ax7's. Antique Electronic Supply sells the chinese tubes for $7.65.

Even with what I feel aren't quite the right tubes, this amp has a totally different feel than modern high gain amps.
 
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