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Post by DerAlex on Feb 6, 2018 14:24:27 GMT
salteedog So did you keep the Vaporizer? I read on forums that changing the preamp tubes already delivers a great improvement in tone.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2018 15:05:24 GMT
There's a nice bit of detail in this thread on the gearpage.net. Check out the post on Jan 21st 2016 and the ones on Sept 1st 2017 and Sept 18th 2017. |
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Post by salteedog on Feb 6, 2018 15:51:22 GMT
I'm in discussion with Thomann because of a reverb tank problem. I really would prefer not to return the amp though because I really like its tone and there is a long lead-time for replacements. So it's really not worth the hassle for marginal issues that I can live with/fix myself. Noise and hiss from the amp annoy me somewhat but taking time off work to send the thing back and then waiting for 2 montns to get a replacement annoys me far more.. Preamp tube swaps to lower output tubes will definitely improve the clean headroom ....however I'm not sure I want that. What I like about the amp is its vintage / garage style bite. This is a great 'nuggets' amp. |
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Post by salteedog on Feb 6, 2018 16:16:20 GMT
I'll put this here as one of the pinnacles of garage rock (albeit a song written by an otherwise maturing maths teacher who recruited a couple of young bands to record it - there another version by 'The Litters') and the kind of unruly guitar tone I think the vape is perfect for
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Post by salteedog on Feb 6, 2018 16:42:19 GMT
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Post by DerAlex on Feb 6, 2018 18:22:01 GMT
I'm in discussion with Thomann because of a reverb tank problem. I really would prefer not to return the amp though because I really like its tone and there is a long lead-time for replacements. So it's really not worth the hassle for marginal issues that I can live with/fix myself. Noise and hiss from the amp annoy me somewhat but taking time off work to send the thing back and then waiting for 2 montns to get a replacement annoys me far more.. Preamp tube swaps to lower output tubes will definitely improve the clean headroom ....however I'm not sure I want that. What I like about the amp is its vintage / garage style bite. This is a great 'nuggets' amp. Here is a quite cheap replacement that should also provide better reverb: www.tubeampdoctor.com/en/shop_Reverb_Cans_Effects_TAD_Reverb_Cans/8EB2C1B_TAD_Reverb_Can_3_springs_2209Also some users reported putting foam under the tank solved some issues (even one user on the german forum reported chaging the preamp tubes lowered the noise coming from the reverb tank). There´s a lot of useful stuff on the musiker-board.de-thread. |
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Post by salteedog on Feb 6, 2018 22:48:54 GMT
Good link that. Seems like the tank in my Stage 112se is compatible. I might swap it into the Vaporizer and see how it goes. I also have a reverb tank in an old Laney amp that could be worth a shot too.
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Post by salteedog on Apr 22, 2018 20:50:42 GMT
I put together a L-pad attenuator for use on the Vaporizer today. It's great - it allows me to push those power tubes into distortion and even to use the vaporizer mode. It darkens the amp a bit and I'll experiment some more with different value capacitors in the attenuator but the Vaporizer is a bright amp anyway so loss of some of the high-end is welcome enough.
The attenuator gets pretty hot though so I'll need to keep an eye on it. I might modify my coffee-can to add extra ventilation!
In other news I've a Zoom MS-70cdr on it's way next week (second hand) which I was looking for to allow me to run washy/ambient delays and reverbs in stereo - both from keyboard and guitar. Really looking forward to that - I'm already familiar with a lot of the Zoom effects and I like their modulation effects. So a pedal which focusses on those without all the amp and distortion pedal modelling stuff really appeals to me.
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Post by DerAlex on Apr 23, 2018 7:19:40 GMT
I have a Laney IRT Studio which has a <1W and a 15W input. I noticed quite a bit of a difference between those inputs. The <1W sounds muffled - not bad on its own - but if you A/B test the inputs everyone says that the 15W input is much brighter, better clarity.
Maybe this is the same effect as your attenuator. Or does the Vaporizer keep its tonal character better?
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Post by salteedog on Apr 23, 2018 9:35:33 GMT
Without very complicated filtering , all attenuators will darken the tone somewhat. So it's likely the effect on your amp is the same as on mine. How nice it sounds is going to be a function of the amp characteristics though (ie. whether mid scooped or not) and your personal taste.
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Post by DerAlex on Apr 23, 2018 11:02:13 GMT
It´s always about personal preference - isn´t it? Nothing is really better or worse. Most of the times just different. I have ordered a Vaporizer again as a birthday gift and will do the mods described on the pages above. Really curious how this turns out and then I will think about the volume of the amp.  |
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Post by salteedog on Apr 23, 2018 11:48:37 GMT
You might like it just the way it sounds stock from the factory. I was thinking of doing those mods too but I'm in no hurry.
Like most amps I suspect a speaker change will result in the most noticeable change.
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Post by salteedog on Apr 23, 2018 15:43:22 GMT
For ref in relation to the attenuator build, here are the component order codes from CPC. You can uses a 4.7uF or a 2.2uF capacitor (I'll need to buy a switch to be able to have the option to switch between them..at the moment I just have the 4.7uF soldered in). Warning..these are polarized electrolytic capacitors so make sure you wire them properly as they are not reversible. Incorrect wiring can cause them to explode (and take your eye out  ). AV09109 NEUTRIK 1 NYS229 Description NEUTRIK NYS229 1/4" Jack Panel Socket, Mono, 2 Pack LS00547 MONACOR 1 AT-62H Description MONACOR AT-62H 100W 8 Ohm L-Pad Attenuator - Mono CA07301 PANASONIC ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS 5 ECA2AM2R2 Description PANASONIC ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS ECA2AM2R2 Electrolytic Capacitor, 2.2 µF, 100 V, M Series, ± 20%, Radial Leaded, 5 mm CA07304 PANASONIC ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS 5 ECA2AM4R7 Description PANASONIC ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS ECA2AM4R7 Electrolytic Capacitor, 4.7 µF, 100 V, M Series, ± 20%, Radial Leaded, 5 mm |
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Post by DerAlex on Jun 11, 2018 7:43:58 GMT
After more than 4 weeks delay my new Vaporizer arrived. It was manufactured in 2014 (some got Vaporizer´s maunfactured in 2016).
What is interesting is that this particular amp is much more usable volume-wise.
My previous one I had to send back because if you put volume at around 7 o´clock it was unbearably loud. The current amp is perfect in that you can put the vol at 12 o´clock and is still ok to be played in a small room.
So this is a big improvement.
I also like the sound of the amp - I like it for bluesy/rock stuff.
What I don´t particularly like is the reverb - it has a quite unpleasantly "reverb" - it sounds somehow tinny. Hard to describe for me as a non-native speaker.
But this Vaporizer is now a keeper for sure - will probably do the mods also described in this thread. But an attenuator is currently not needed for me.
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Post by salteedog on Jun 11, 2018 11:48:41 GMT
Good to hear it's working out for you DerAlex. I'm interested in your comments about the amp volume. I'm not sure if mine (also a 2004 model) is like your first one or like your replacement one. It's probably closer to the first one. Certainly it's loud - but not unbearably so at 7.o'clock. It depends on the pickups I use but I'd probably play it at a 8 o'clock to 9.o'clock with single coils. Definitely it's too loud at 12 o'clock though. At what point does your start to break up? Mine breaks up on single coils just before 12 oclock. I agree that the reverb is not the best. Although I do like spring reverb this one can be a bit too 'boingy' for my tastes. It does give a nice touch though to quieter bluesy tunes so I'm happy enough that it is there in the first place. |
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