Several questions about tubes and cabs. (vh4 owners)

[Soliam]

Hey everyone, I'm trying to really build up my rig the way that I want it, and I have some questions for VH4 owners out there. Firstly, my rig currently consists of a vh4, a PRS custom 22 with stock pick-ups, and unfortunately some secondhand b52 cabinet.

My first question is about cabs. I play prog. metal tuned down a whole step. Does anyone have any good suggestions for ideal 4x12's that would compliment such a style? I want to keep the clean tone as lovely as they are, but still get really ballsy in channel three. My initial thought was either a high end marshall or possibly a good carvin, but I'm not really sure.

Secondly, I just blew a tube in my vh4 and I'm looking for good replacements. What works good for you guys that gives a nice bite on channel 3 but still gives good warm clean tones?

thirdly, when i get my tubes, how do I put them in? last time I changed them, I simply took the old ones out, threw the other ones in using a fine cloth and took it to a tech to get biased and get the fuses changed. Is there anything else I need to do?

Thanks in advance for aiding me on my utter ignorance to this stuff.

 

[Peter Diezel]

Welcome to the board, Soliam

I would suggest a 4 by 12 rearloaded with V30.

As for the tubes please see attachment.

Best,
Peter

 

[PaulyPanacea]

Diezel 4X12 is the way to go!!! you wont look back after that!!

 

[elfredoo]

preamp tubes: just swap and go
poweramp tubes: swap and bias (!), set must be a matched quartet

 

[Ventura]

Don't turn your back on a front loaded G12K100 4x12 just yet, especially if you're into down-step prog metal. It's damn responsive.

The VH4(S) had best results loaded with SED Winged =C= 6550s in my position with my ears. Just sayin'... Pauly?? Care to chime in here?? We can be the bad-glass influences on this board

Mo

 

[Ultradeaf]

I enjoy the EL34BHT (Ruby). I know there seems to be a bit of a paradigm shift from them to another tube type at the moment, but I still like them. They have a gain/crunch to them that I really like. The first set I had died prematurely and Peter was very quick to send me a replacement pair, free of charge (part of the five-year warranty). You don't get service like that from everyone. Good luck getting Marshall or Mesa to even answer the phone.

As far as speakers, I think the V30s are great. You have to be careful, though. Celestion voiced/manufactured the V30s differently for different customers. The types in Mesa cabs seem to be a bit darker...lots of bass and midrange. I have found that I prefer the type that Marshall was using in the mid-nineties in the Slash cabs and the 1960 "Vintage" cabs. They have a brighter high end that seems to cut through more in my opinion and they seem to have a real airy, breathy break up/crunch in a matter that I like more. All in all, the Vintage 30s seem to be very percussive. I played through a Bogner cab with them in it and it sounded pretty good. Orange and Carvin also put the V30s in their cabinets. And let's not forget Diezel uses them in their cabinets....

Great speakers, and every manufacturer seems to have their own "flavor", so they don't always sound the same. Use your ears!