Canard
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I just pulled a Crate Turbo Valve 60 out of deep storage. It is a 60 Watt all tube amp -- well ... all tube except for its solid state rectifier -- tubes: 12AX7 (4), 12AU7 (1), and 6L6 GT/5881 (2) . Despite Crate's highly chequered reputation, the TV60 is quite a decent amp (if you learn to use the overly complicated controls). It can be made to sound very nice, very very nice.
My difficulty with this amp is/was that the volume taper sucks, which is why the amp was in storage. The amp is just not very versatile volume wise. The taper goes from zero/off to really #@&%'n loud immediately, then to insanely loud, and then finally to Crate's signature heavy-metal angry-hornet's-nest™. So there are only two useful volume settings - really #@&%'n loud and insanely loud. It has been cynically suggested online that Crate chose this taper as a show room sales feature – “Hey, kid! Listen to how loud this amp is at 0.25. Just imagine what it would be like at 11!!! Man, you would totally rock with this amp!” The amp, with this volume taper, is a pain, both literally and metaphorically. I want something more incremental for a volume taper. I would also like a bit more clean headroom.
So I am thinking about preamp tube swapping in the V1 and/or V2 positions, and I have been looking at Youtube videos that discuss and demonstrate the swapping out of various pre-amp tube models: ECC83/12AX7, 12AT7/ECC81, 12AY7, and ECC82/12AU7.
Any thoughts, suggestions or advice? Anyone familiar with this amp? Anyone know where I can find a schematic diagram or service manual?
Thx.
My difficulty with this amp is/was that the volume taper sucks, which is why the amp was in storage. The amp is just not very versatile volume wise. The taper goes from zero/off to really #@&%'n loud immediately, then to insanely loud, and then finally to Crate's signature heavy-metal angry-hornet's-nest™. So there are only two useful volume settings - really #@&%'n loud and insanely loud. It has been cynically suggested online that Crate chose this taper as a show room sales feature – “Hey, kid! Listen to how loud this amp is at 0.25. Just imagine what it would be like at 11!!! Man, you would totally rock with this amp!” The amp, with this volume taper, is a pain, both literally and metaphorically. I want something more incremental for a volume taper. I would also like a bit more clean headroom.
So I am thinking about preamp tube swapping in the V1 and/or V2 positions, and I have been looking at Youtube videos that discuss and demonstrate the swapping out of various pre-amp tube models: ECC83/12AX7, 12AT7/ECC81, 12AY7, and ECC82/12AU7.
Any thoughts, suggestions or advice? Anyone familiar with this amp? Anyone know where I can find a schematic diagram or service manual?
Thx.