Fender Ramparte Tube Swap
 

Today I decided it was finally time to swap the tubes and see what a difference it made. I had some old JJ 12au7 tubes lying around so I pulled the Sovtek 12ax7 tubes I had in the amp out.

The amp definitely has a lot more head room. I also feel like it sounds warmer. I’ve never disliked the tone from this amp, but it has also never blown me away. With my Rickenbacker plugged in and these tubes it definitely sounded quite nice. I also tried it with the stereo out and the bridge pickup into the gain and the neck into the clean channel; gave it quite a bit of body and a lot of options for sound with mixing them.

For a simple amp I do like the sound of this one. I don’t get to play it as often as I’d like with a two year old around, but I like having it for when I can. These amps get a lot of bad raps, but I think for their price you get a lot of amp. They do have a good sound, it’s just not “Fender” tone that comes to mind for me.

http://i67.tinypic.com/2zp1qbo.jpg

Had my eye on both the Excelsior and Atomizer when they were still in production - sorry I didn't move on either one... :(

Great! I found that to be true in the 5E3 Tweed Deluxe as well.

Bob

me too. i'm running a 12ay7 in v1 but a 12ax7 in v2. completely different sounds.

play music!

Yep. That's how they were designed to run and the amp just settles in and swings with that combo.

Bob

Some of the small signal tubes, 12au7 and variants can be quite economical and as you've noted have a real effect on the sound. I really like some of the old Sylvania's, Telefunken's and Electrohome's to name 3. JJ's I really like for power tubes.

I haven't tried either of those....but of the series the other one I dig is the Vaporizor.....something about those 10" speakers and a guitar.

Even more economical when they just happen to be ones I have sitting around in my box of guitar odds and ends! Sonically it makes an enormous change!