question about tubes, blue tube

[Jeffguy11]

Im currently experimenting with running my rhodes through an old tubeworks blue tube pedal. At first it sounded terrible, because the previous owner had swapped out the 12ax7 with a 12at7. I put an ax7 back in (i have all sorts or tubes from project hammonds) and it sounds good, but i was thinking of maybe trying a 12au7, cause i hear they dont break up as fast and are better for clean sound. anyone have any experience with anything like this?
thanks

[michaeltristan]

try to find out what the original specs for that pedal are.  I THINK the 12ax7 will be the highest gain tube. The 12au7 or the 12at7 will overdrive much earlier than the 12ax7.  If you want to really make it sound nice for the Rhodes, I would suggest a 12ax7a or a 7025.  These are both higher quality versions of the 12ax7.

-michael

[michaeltristan]

... after taking a look around about this pedal... I it seems most people are using the 12au7 or 12au7a for clean headroom, the using the 12ax7 for overdrive.  It seems to be a matter of preference, so try'em out and see what you think.

[The Real MC]

I have the rackmount blue tube, it has two controls that are omitted on the floor pedal.  The controls are bias and contour.  They shape the dynamic response of the tube, and they are essential for Rhodes piano in that they remove the mud and really bring out that bell tine of the piano.  Plus if you hit the Rhodes hard it brings out that bark.  Really nice dynamic timbre control that you can't get with EQ or compressor.

[shmuelyosef]

I use an ART Tube MP, and have been quite happy with the overdrive. I can switch it in and out and the output goes direct into my JC-120

[hieronymous]

I had a rackmount blue tube too - it sounded great on my bass, but I realized much later that it wasn't true bypass, and sounded terrible when it was off! Not sure if this is true of all of them. This was about 15 years ago that I was using it, and didn't understand stuff like that back then - if I were to use it now I would put it in an effects loop.

[darkboneus]

I like to use 12AY7s in my preamp.  I have experimented with AU7s,AY7s, and AX7s. The AX7's seem to break up too much for my tastes.

[Jeffguy11]

I find that 12ax7s break up too much for a Rhodes.  I use a 12ay7 in my preamp.  I offer my preamp retrofit from my website if anyone is interested.  You can find it on my site www.newenglandanalog.com under "custom resotrations" and "parts and kits".

Yup! The ax7 was too much.  i went with the 12au7a.  I got that nice clean sound with a hint of "crunch" Makes my solid state keyboard amp sound a bit less....solidstately? With the new crunch i sort of wish i had a 73 or 88 key to really jam out!