Vigier Arpege
New member
I know what Peter recommends but anyone tried these kits, are they good?
http://www.watfordvalves.com/products.asp?id=26&man=227
http://www.watfordvalves.com/products.asp?id=26&man=227
Peter Diezel
Well-known member
Sorry, I don´t know about what they recommend and got no tube set to agree to recommend.
I can only state that we don´t recommend the tubes they are offer.
If you guys are happy with the recommended tubes, I will be happy too.
I can only state that we don´t recommend the tubes they are offer.
If you guys are happy with the recommended tubes, I will be happy too.
racerevlon
Active member
Herr Diezel,
Have you had the opportunity to look at / try out the new pre tube replacements called "Retrovalves?" They're being sold through Jet City Amps and replace a 12AX7 in a 9-pin socket. Just wondering if you have any opinions either way.
Thanks!
Race
Have you had the opportunity to look at / try out the new pre tube replacements called "Retrovalves?" They're being sold through Jet City Amps and replace a 12AX7 in a 9-pin socket. Just wondering if you have any opinions either way.
Thanks!
Race
Peter Diezel
Well-known member
Mr. Race,
I don´t had the chance to try the "Retrovalves".
Best,
Peter
I don´t had the chance to try the "Retrovalves".
Best,
Peter
Jens RKLR
New member
Hmm, Electro Harmonix?
Seems like an odd recommendation, but maybe that's just me...
Seems like an odd recommendation, but maybe that's just me...
King Crimson
Banned
Active member
EH sounded fantastic back in the day (circa 2003) when I owned a PV-5150II and had integrated quads of EL34 & 6L6 (rare at that time being a fixed bias) installed in it. It really made the amp light up.Jens RKLR":121yqn8h said:Hmm, Electro Harmonix?
Seems like an odd recommendation, but maybe that's just me...
I met with Peter and Uwe once at Salwender International in Anaheim CA with my PV and did an A/B comparison with a 1st generation Herbert. I remember Peter saying that the PV was a very good sounding amp. Of course I agreed, however I’m now since then a Diezel Herbert connoisseur for life.
This is also something about Peter that always impressed me and that is he is always honest and complimentary of other amplifier manufacturers and very humble, despite his magnificent amplifier creations.
badgergman
Member
Bit bogus anyway. Einstein takes 6 preamp valves??? Wahst with the 5 they are selling?
King Crimson
Banned
Active member
They don't want you to use Einy's reverb . . .badgergman":8zfzxkpz said:
badgergman
Member
Reverb in combo is V7.
6 tubes in std Einstein Head.....
They don't want to understand what they are selling the tubes for perhaps.......
Personally, I am happy with the Dizel reccomendations. Rubys seem to be very resiliant and consistent.
6 tubes in std Einstein Head.....
They don't want to understand what they are selling the tubes for perhaps.......
Personally, I am happy with the Dizel reccomendations. Rubys seem to be very resiliant and consistent.
Ventura
Well-known member
Me thinks bogus.Vigier Arpege":1ftmd14f said:
Just a marketing pitch.
Me
Member
I generally buy from them (as supposedly does Brian May/Radiohead/Iron Maiden/Eric Clapton)! They have a big custom test rig and seem to test the hell out of their valves generally. I seem to have been very unlucky with original valves in my Herbert over the years from new. I even sent my amp to Germany, back to Peter once, who couldn't find anything wrong with it, just retubed it. Wasn't that long before they seemed to blow again. Watford's are still tubes so they won't last forever or be indestructible, but I've had a LOT less problems with their valves in my Herbie than other makes such as the TAD and Rubys that were originally fitted or fitted as a replacement when I had problems. I haven't changed thm for a good while now.
So I can't necessarily vouch for how good these will sound in your Diezel. All I can say is it might well make them more reliable! In general WV seem pretty well respected and have done kits for Marshalls and Mesas for years. They never used to have any Diezel kits (this was news to me) and when I phoned a few years back now and spoke to Derek there he seemed pretty knowledgeable. He didn't have any suggestions for what would sound good in my Diezel though at the time as he hadn't tried one. That was a while back now though so whether he's just got sets of tubes that fit and sound nice in other amps, so is selling them as a kit, or if he's since been borrowing Diezels and experimenting with them who knows!?!
I'd be interested to hear them though. Currently my Herbie has a mixture of their Harma STR and Retros in (Watford's own-brand). These EL34s have lasted a LOT longer than any of the other sets I've had in it; they're yet to blow after an annoyingly short time at least! Am I happy with my Watford Valves? Yep! Certainly lasted longer at least. These aren't their own brand though. These are JJ/Tesla or Electro Harmonix, but WV have had them cryogenically treated. So I have less of an idea how they'd sound than my WV own-brand non-cryo ones. Whether the cryo valves sound better or not remains to be seen. Haven't seen any reviews of these directly, but I have seen reviews of their cryo-treated own brand to give you an idea. WV have a link to the reviews in Guitarist (probably the biggest selling UK guitar mag, not a tin-pot internet site!), and guitar buyer (another proper mag). In the Marshall at least the cryo results seemed to make a difference, but not necessarily for the best, depending on the tube. At least they seemed to think all of them were a good improvement over stock tubes in the Marshall at least. Guitarist: http://www.watfordvalves.com/pdfs/git276.rev_valves.pdf Guitar Buyer: http://www.watfordvalves.com/pdfs/guita ... rd_4mt.pdf
If anyone has money kicking about for a set then I'd be very tempted to give them a try. I'm trying to save for a 212FC at the mo though so don't want to be unnecessarily spending money on tubes when mine all seem to work! I've got "notify me when a reply is posted" though, so hopefully by the time I next do need a set someone will have posted a verdict here!
Otherwise phone up, ask to speak to Derek, and ask him why he thinks they are better!
So I can't necessarily vouch for how good these will sound in your Diezel. All I can say is it might well make them more reliable! In general WV seem pretty well respected and have done kits for Marshalls and Mesas for years. They never used to have any Diezel kits (this was news to me) and when I phoned a few years back now and spoke to Derek there he seemed pretty knowledgeable. He didn't have any suggestions for what would sound good in my Diezel though at the time as he hadn't tried one. That was a while back now though so whether he's just got sets of tubes that fit and sound nice in other amps, so is selling them as a kit, or if he's since been borrowing Diezels and experimenting with them who knows!?!
I'd be interested to hear them though. Currently my Herbie has a mixture of their Harma STR and Retros in (Watford's own-brand). These EL34s have lasted a LOT longer than any of the other sets I've had in it; they're yet to blow after an annoyingly short time at least! Am I happy with my Watford Valves? Yep! Certainly lasted longer at least. These aren't their own brand though. These are JJ/Tesla or Electro Harmonix, but WV have had them cryogenically treated. So I have less of an idea how they'd sound than my WV own-brand non-cryo ones. Whether the cryo valves sound better or not remains to be seen. Haven't seen any reviews of these directly, but I have seen reviews of their cryo-treated own brand to give you an idea. WV have a link to the reviews in Guitarist (probably the biggest selling UK guitar mag, not a tin-pot internet site!), and guitar buyer (another proper mag). In the Marshall at least the cryo results seemed to make a difference, but not necessarily for the best, depending on the tube. At least they seemed to think all of them were a good improvement over stock tubes in the Marshall at least. Guitarist: http://www.watfordvalves.com/pdfs/git276.rev_valves.pdf Guitar Buyer: http://www.watfordvalves.com/pdfs/guita ... rd_4mt.pdf
If anyone has money kicking about for a set then I'd be very tempted to give them a try. I'm trying to save for a 212FC at the mo though so don't want to be unnecessarily spending money on tubes when mine all seem to work! I've got "notify me when a reply is posted" though, so hopefully by the time I next do need a set someone will have posted a verdict here!
Otherwise phone up, ask to speak to Derek, and ask him why he thinks they are better!
Peter Diezel
Well-known member
Don´t get me wrong. I never had a chance to talk with Derek
about his recommendations and my suggestions. Any contact
would be highly appreciated.
Cheers,
Peter
about his recommendations and my suggestions. Any contact
would be highly appreciated.
Cheers,
Peter
Me
Member
At the end of the day I'm sure you have a great idea what valves sound great in your heads Peter! I don't doubt that. 
I just had so many troubles with a lot of them and never hardly any with Watford's that I tend to buy their burn-in extra-tested ones. I'd love to buy tons and try them all but that will neither let me pay the mortgage or buy that Front-loaded cab I'm currently craving. Not to go too off-topic but I'd borrowed a barely used Orange 4x12 for a while off a friend. I didn't like it at first but it was nearly new, I ended up breaking it in nicely for him, started sounding great, then had to give it back. Weighed an absolute ton though. When I went back to my 1960A with G12T-75s I realised I really need a new cab. 
So best get the proper Diezel one, and this time a 2x12 as I'm getting too old for 4x12s up and down my stairs by myself and I hear the Diezel 4x12s are nearer the weight of the Orange than my Marshall! So, no expensive valve experiments for me!
Maybe you should phone or email him Peter, and see if you can get a free set. Say if you like them you'll recommend them to all the Diezel owners!
Love your new avatar pic btw!
I just had so many troubles with a lot of them and never hardly any with Watford's that I tend to buy their burn-in extra-tested ones. I'd love to buy tons and try them all but that will neither let me pay the mortgage or buy that Front-loaded cab I'm currently craving. Not to go too off-topic but I'd borrowed a barely used Orange 4x12 for a while off a friend. I didn't like it at first but it was nearly new, I ended up breaking it in nicely for him, started sounding great, then had to give it back. Weighed an absolute ton though. When I went back to my 1960A with G12T-75s I realised I really need a new cab. So best get the proper Diezel one, and this time a 2x12 as I'm getting too old for 4x12s up and down my stairs by myself and I hear the Diezel 4x12s are nearer the weight of the Orange than my Marshall! So, no expensive valve experiments for me!Maybe you should phone or email him Peter, and see if you can get a free set. Say if you like them you'll recommend them to all the Diezel owners!
Love your new avatar pic btw!