Bugera V5 Infinium Customization
Hello Skip,
I have a full tubed 5 watt Bugera V5 Infinium amp which I began to customize. Also I have a Shure 520DX green bullet with volume control. The target is my childhood dream to have a vintage crunchy sound for my amp.
I already changed amp's loudspeaker to Vintage Ted Weber Signature which has a crunchy sound mainly for draw and bended 1-4 holes at loud volume. I tried with preamp tube ECC83 = 12AX7 which is its original tube but too loud for crunchy effect in my block of flat. At lower volume there is no crunchy effect, By the way the crunchy effect accompanying the main sound nicely as if it would surrounding it. Amp has 0.1 Watt, 1 Watt and 5 Watt selectable settings at the back. I tried to use it but at lower settings crunchy effect disappears. It is heard only at 5 watt.
Now I am experimenting with preamp tubes. My target is to have the crunchy sound at lower sound volume not disturbing neighbourhood that much and my own ear in my room.
I tried:
6072 equivalent with TAD 12AY7 -> not bad but still loud for crunchy effect
Philips ECC81 equivalent with 12AT7 -> crunchy sound comes at lower volume, the best until this time
Philips ECC82 equivalent with 12AU7 -> there is no crunchy sound at all at loud mic setting, harmonica sound is completely clear
I ordered a 12AZ7 and a 12AV7 too. I hope I won't kill my amp. I still have some fuse.
Well do you think am I at a good way to find out how to solve to have a crunchy sound but not at so loud volume?
So this crunchy effect works interesting regarding the gain (at max) and mic ( at max) volume settings. Should I take into consideration some other options?
Thank YOU!
Tried tubes/amp factors at plate voltages 100 Volts and 250 Volts:
12AU7(19.5;17), 12AV7(37;41), 12AY7(37;46), 12AZ7(60;60), 12AT7(44;65), 12AX7(100 - linear)
12AT7 (ECC81) the best for me practicing at home: Delicately adjustable volume with softer characteristics but keeps the full sound with crunchy effect and 12AY7 will be used for an audience in a hall as a standalone amp because of it is loud enough with more dynamics. By the way, if the hall has amplification system 12AT7 can be used as well.
Its amplification characteristics are not linear but slightly increasing. That is the key.
It is very demanded to me not only develop my embouchure technics but the quality of my recorded performance even if amplified or not. I began to understand here at the school that FX and EQ - even if hardware or software related - has a remarkable added value on quality of performance. But it has to be in aware of the opportunities, combinations, and how to.
Isn't his amp hand-wired?
Hello Laszlo- Wow! You are really doing your homework! I hate to say it, but experimentation like you are doing is really the only way to find the best tone for YOU. Other people may tell you what works for them, but it is your ears that you are trying to please. One more thing, please don't experiment with changing capacitors, resistors or other actual circuitry. Printed circuitboard amps like the Bugera are fragile and harder to work on than a hand-wired amp.