Mailist to discuss all issues regarding the Digitech GSP-2101 Guitar FX Processor

I've had several responses to my last post regarding NOS JAN/Phillips
12AX7WA, so I'm posting my reponse to the group . . . excuse the post if
it's old news or simply boring.  BTW, good concise review of 12AXyyy tubes
(as well as other preamp and power tubes) at
http://thetubestore.com/12ax7review.html

The change to 12AX7WA really "blues' up" the tube distortions. Nothing
brittle or "fuzzy." Probably not be great for metal, but for crunchy rhythm
and
smooth lead distortion (think Clapton, Neil Schon), these tubes blew away
the Penta's. I'll caveat by saying I play nothing even remotely approaching
metal . . . I found the stock tubes somewhat "fuzzy" and they seemed to go
from very clean to distorted without much in the way of "crunchy," which I
like to use for most rythym patches. The 12AX7WA's seem to start to break up
a bit earlier than the stock tubes, but take more to drive them into pure
distortion, so there's is a nice period of "crunchy" tone for rythym or
chicago-type blues.  FWIW, I'm playing an `82 Am. Strat w/ Gilmour EMGs, an
Epi Les Paul Std w/ Duncan 59 (neck) and JB (bridge), a ASAT Standard (stock
pickups), and an Epi Reviera (stock pickups).  I also have a variety of
acoustics but those go through an LR Baggs Para DI to an old Effectron
digital delay and then to the board.

Here's the quote from Tom Owens in his 1997 trial-and-error testing of
various tubes on 2101:

"Phillips 12AX7WA: No trashiness. A little bit better low end than the
Sovteks (especially evident in V2). These guys fit into the sockets REALLY
tight. That was one of those ultra-practical aspects I liked; it doesn't
affect the sound but it IS a plus. I would have preferred the wide dynamic
range that the Sovteks had but having that little bit of low-end tipped me
back in favor of the Phillips. That and the tight fit. I rationalized that
the more compressed signal in V2 will be easier to control in a live
situation, so that put the Sovtek out of the running. This is my present
tube of choice."

Tom was right, these suckers fit TIGHT. They are also a bit shorter than
the Pentas so the cross bar that sits on top of the tubes doesn't fit as
tightly.

I've just ordered another set for my Marshall DSL201 (and some Tesla/JJ
EL84's). The tube store (www.thetubestore.com) has about the best prices and
quick delivery. They're about 12.95 each. If you hunt, you can find them a
bit cheaper, but the tube store always has them and they are great to deal
with -- VERY knowledgeable, no bullshit, and not completely starry-eyed over
obscure, rare, Telefunken and the like, although they do have some of those
if you've got the cash ;-)

regards, 

Greg

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff+Caroline [mailto:scully6@...]
Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2001 3:37 PM
To: Greg Chabon
Subject: Re: 2101: 2101 Vs. 2112 / 2101 Direct Recording

What kind of huge difference?
-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Jones [mailto:mdjones21@...]
Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2001 12:12 AM
To: g_chabon@...
Subject: RE: 2101: 2101 Vs. 2112 / 2101 Direct Recording


Greetings,
                 How did these tubes change the sound?
Thank you.
Michael


>From: "Greg Chabon" 
>Reply-To: "Greg Chabon" 
>To: , , <2101@...-dod.com> 
>Subject: RE: 2101: 2101 Vs. 2112 / 2101 Direct Recording 
>Date: Sat, 7 Jul 2001 08:27:26 -0400 
> 
>I put NOS Jan/Phillips 12ax7WA into the 2101 in both the V1 and V2 and it 
>made a huge difference. 
> 
>greg 
> 
>-----Original Message----- 
>From: 2101@...-dod.com [mailto:2101@...-dod.com]On 
>Behalf Of XORGATE@... 
>Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2001 1:49 AM 
>To: g_chabon@...; gsp-2101@yahoogroups.com; 
>2101@...-dod.com 
>Subject: Re: 2101: 2101 Vs. 2112 / 2101 Direct Recording 
> 
> 
>I agree with Greg. Well put. I've made some cool guitar tracks using the 
>2101, going direct or patching into my Mesa or Roland amps. It's a
versatile 
>box to take to a gig too. Digitech's reverbs have always been nice, going 
>back to the dsp128....256 etc. I was first attracted to it so i would haul 
>around less pedals and less cables. I don't try to make it emulate other 
>pieces of gear, I try to make it enhance the guitar that's plugged into it.

> I've ordered a pair of JanPhillips 12ax7wa's to replace my original tubes 
>which are Groovetubes. It should be interesting. Ric 
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