Vox Lil' Night Train Humming After Tube Swap.

[tom310]

I recently purchased my NT2H and after reading a lot of forums decided to switch out the stock 12AU7 power tube with an Electro-Harmonix 12AU7 I had. After doing the swap I hear a little louder hum with the Electro-Harmonix in than I did with the stock tube. Anyone else run into this?

Also, this is the first time I've seen the tube retainers used. I unscrewed the retainers to get the tube out. Is this what you have to do or can you just lift the top of the retainer up and get the tubes out?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[Blue Strat]

I can't imagine any cheaper tube than an Electro Harmonix so I'm wondering why that would be considered an "upgrade".

Try swapping back just to be sure. It could just be a bad tube. It happens.

 

[tom310]

I can't imagine any cheaper tube than an Electro Harmonix so I'm wondering why that would be considered an "upgrade".

Try swapping back just to be sure. It could just be a bad tube. It happens.

Blue Strat, I did switch back and the hum was reduced. Is the JJ 12AU7 considered a better tube than the EH 12AU7? Thanks for your reply.

 

[jb4674]

Get a Sovtek 12AX7 LPS and put it in there instead.

 

[tom310]

Get a Sovtek 12AX7 LPS and put it in there instead.

jb4674, this is the power tube in the Lil' Night Train which I've heard should remain a 12AU7. I might try the Sovtek 12AU7 and see how that sounds. Thanks for the info!

 

[CrackTheSkye]

The JJ that was in there is usually considered to be more of an upgrade than an Electro Harmonix branded tube so you actually downgraded and the EH may be bad from the get go. But continue to play around with tube swaps, you'll find that you can get a lot of different tones just by changing tubes.

 

[tom310]

The JJ that was in there is usually considered to be more of an upgrade than an Electro Harmonix branded tube so you actually downgraded and the EH may be bad from the get go. But continue to play around with tube swaps, you'll find that you can get a lot of different tones just by changing tubes.

Thanks for the info CrackTheSkye. I'll certainly be trying other tubes in this amp. It's a little tone killer!!

 

[geek-mo]

The JJ that was in there is usually considered to be more of an upgrade than an Electro Harmonix branded tube so you actually downgraded and the EH may be bad from the get go. But continue to play around with tube swaps, you'll find that you can get a lot of different tones just by changing tubes.

Very true. I have had very good results with JJ tubes in my Lil' Night Train. I had a gold pin 12AU7 and a JJ 12AT7 (tames the gain a bit) for the Phase Inverter and a Tungsol 12AX7 in V1. The other day, I took out the Tungsol and replaced it with an ANOS Sylvania and it sounds noticeably better, with more warmth and definition.

Lots of options without having to spend too much money.