[Boatanchors] 12AX7's, Thank you all. . .

[Philip (KO6BB)]

Hi, and Happy New Year,

Concerning my query about ruggedized 12AX7's, I received so many emails, 
both direct and on-list I've decided to answer all of them at once 
rather than individually.  First, I'll say thank you to all of you, and 
this list is a wealth of information.  I'm even thanking the gentleman 
who (tongue in cheek I'm sure) mentioned using special colored wire and 
so forth.  I too have made fun of some of the things "audio-phools" do 
and buy, but have been around long enough (over 50 years in electronics) 
to recognize a microphonic tube and it's effects ;-)

I'll answer all here, along with a few additional things that were 
mentioned in direct emails, then drop this OT thread.  Considering some 
items discussed on this list I think that is fair, don't you?

Anyway, YES, the 7025 tube, I'll look for a couple.  Now that you 
mention it, I had a Fender "twin" many years ago that used them, but 
couldn't remember the number.  The odd thing is, the 12AX7 in the Fender 
Super Champ is in an electrical part of the circuit that shouldn't be 
all that critical, all the high gain circuitry in the front end is solid 
state. All I can say is, if that particular tube had been in the front 
end of a Fender "Blackface Twin" like I had years ago, it would have 
howled like a banshee!

Now, since a couple folks asked, I'll go into why I chose this 
particular amplifier for the stage set-up.  This may be a little 
lengthy, so those not interested may just hit the delete key now.

Those who play electric guitar (as opposed to acoustic) realizes that 
every little detail of the set-up, from the choice of strings right 
through to the speaker comprises the total instrument and how it 
sounds.  Even how the amplifier is positioned, I.E. On the Floor, raised 
and tilted back and so forth.

I play in a small church "band" that, in addition to myself usually has 
a bass player, one or two rhythm guitar players (usually amped acoustic 
guitars) and sometimes a pianist.  The stage is rather small, the church 
can seat perhaps 120 if packed (which it usually isn't).  Sounds like a 
small venue, doesn't it?

Because of the musician make-up, I play primarily "melodic lead" with 
some country licks thrown in, a lot of it based on various "scales".  
Think of the parts that a violinist/fiddler might play, or an organist 
with the right hand.  Up to last spring I played through a Line 6 
Flextone (150 Watts, 2 12 inch speakers).  It emulated a classic Fender 
"Blackface Twin" very well and carried to the back of the room well with 
moderate SPL's on stage (though one guitarist who once sat behind it 
said it was "brutal").  The Pastor's wife who runs the sound said it 
sounded VERY GOOD back in the congregation area.

Then early this year (2010) I stopped playing. We had a new music leader 
that NOBODY could work with, including the pastor.  Said songleader was 
'fired' when he told the pastor on stage he wasn't 'annointed" to play 
guitar.  I brought the Flextone home when I stopped playing. I very 
nearly pulled my back out just getting it into the back seat of the 
pickup (over 80 lbs).  I limped around for a week and at that point I 
realized I could no longer handle the big gear.  I left it in the back 
seat of the truck, took it down to the music store and told them to sell 
it (even had one of their monkeys carry it out of the truck)!

Side note:  I play a Fender "American Telecaster" (vintage reissue) 
guitar, think "country twang", strung with "10s" (medium gauge strings, 
thicker than most rockers use).  When played through the proper 
equipment it "sings like a bird", especially on the higher notes.  When 
played through other gear, it sounds like cr--, shrill or muddy 
depending on the gear!

For the past few months I've been playing through a 65 Watt Crate with 1 
12 inch speaker.  I gave it to the church a number of years ago when I 
bought the Flextone (it rarely ever pays to trade a used amplifier in).  
It sounds good for a rhythm player, but the Tele doesn't sound that good 
through it.  And for it to carry back into the congregation I have to 
push it so hard the rest of the worship team on stage "cringe".  I tried 
miking it, but it sounded even worse through the PA.

That's when I decided I needed a proper amplifier for the Tele.  For 
some reason there is NOTHING that "sings" like a Tele played through the 
clean channel of a Fender Amplifier, whether it's a big one or smaller 
one! I DO have a 60 Watt Fender amp with 2 10 inch speakers that is my 
"carry around" amplifier.  The Tele sounds very nice through the "Clean" 
channel (I normally always play "clean"), but is a little dry sounding 
as the reverb is very weak in it (I often depend on the reverb).  
Besides, I like it at the house so if I need to grab it and go I can.

When I decided to buy a new amplifier, I tried out MANY small-medium 
sized amplifiers, up to about 60 Watts with 1 12 inch speaker.  If the 
local music store owners didn't know me so well and know that I DO 
eventually buy they might have thought I was a "looky-loo" and lost 
interest in helping me.  But they were very helpful and understanding.  
Besides the Fender, I tried Vox, Marshall, Peavey, Line 6, along with a 
couple "Boutique" amplifiers that I couldn't begin to afford.  The 
British Amps (Vox, Marshall etc) in my opinion sounded terrible with my 
Guitar/playing style

In the end the Fender Super Champ won out.  It's Clean channel has the 
sound I was looking for, channel 2 has 12 Voice settings that can 
emulate vintage Fender Amps as well as some of the more modern Brit ones 
(which again, I don't like).  But Channel 2 has a very good "Clean Jazz" 
setting that is deeper and more mellow sounding than Channel one.  So I 
can have two nice sounds at the step of a switch.  The effects are all 
usable for my playing, though the Reverb (4 different reverbs) and 
tremolo settings are my favorite (my favorite listening music genre is 
Surf).  The Chorus effect with delay is "ok" to fatten up the sound a 
little.

In addition, the price was "right", an early Pre-Christmas Special at 
249.00 left me enough to buy a nice Tilt Back Amp stand with self 
contained mic stand, a pair of Mic booms which I cut down to make a 
multi-jointed boom, and a Shure SM-57 Mic to mic the entire kit with.

Have a GREAT day all, and Happy New Year!

-- 
73 de Phil,  KO6BB
http://www.qsl.net/ko6bb/   (Web Page)
http://ko6bb1.multiply.com/ (My OTR Blog)
http://cbsmysterytheater.multiply.com/ (My CBS
Radio Mystery Theater Blog)

RADIOS:
Yaesu FT-2000 Xceiver for "hamming" and LF Beacons.
National NC-183 16 Tube Receiver (circa 1949)
Zenith "American" Royal-7000 Transoceanic. (circa 1970)
Zenith "Taiwan made" 7000-2 Transoceanic. (Circa 1971)
Realistic DX-380 Digital Portable.

ANTENNAS:
88' Long balanced dipole.
"Mini-Whip" (active antennas) for LF.

Merced, Central California, 37.3N 120.48W  CM97sh