transtube fex

jim milewski · Post by **jim milewski** » 27 Apr 2003 4:40 am

this thing has a 12ax7 right? why does it NOT need a warmup time when I put it on, I'm using the TB parameter, it is live 2 seconds after power up, don't tubes need to be heated which takes 10 seconds or so?

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 27 Apr 2003 4:48 am

nope---the Tubefex has a tube. The TransTubefex has a trans. (It's the PV 'transtube' thing--'pseudo'tube--- simulation circuitry. I've heard some folks say they like the 'tube' tones of the T'tubefex better than the tubefex.

jim milewski · Post by **jim milewski** » 27 Apr 2003 5:33 am

Jon, thanks, makes sense to me now, yes, this thing makes a borderline amp sound great, would a tube pre amp unit make my Vegas sound like my Twin, both have BWs 15" in them

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 27 Apr 2003 6:39 am

As a charter member of the rig-of-the-month club I put together a new one last week---rackmount----a Carvin Quad X all-tube 4 channel pre into a Mosvalve SS power amp (the 80w/side version). Ran an RV-3 thru a preamp loop (the Carvin actually has a spring tank in it but it's feeble) out into a Duane Marrs cab w/ Weber California 15" (often compared with a JBL). This preamp has standard per-channel eq as well as a master 5-band qraphic eq--possibly it's a Mesa-boogie rip-off. Prior to this, I was running for a few weeks thru a black face Showman head. Now granted, I should get the Fender to a tech for a cap job--no idea how tired this head may be--my rack rig is giving me way way more exciting "Fender" sound than the Showman was. Plus everything else under the sun that I tried to dial in. I just got a EH Holy Grail reverb stomp box that sounds so much like a Fender spring reverb--I'll be trying it tonite. And I'm really thinking of changing the Mosvalve to a tube power amp--possibly a Peavey 50/50.

Bottom line answer to your question----I do believe that a preamp--I'm not even sure it has to have tubes but I suspect it helps a bunch---with good eq flexibility can get you real close to a sound you are hearing in your head. At least that's the way it looks to me today.