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The Sushi Box FX Secret Society

#25,561
carl-anton said:
So, I’ve searched and read myself blind, and I’m sure my questions have been answered already somewhere I overlooked. Apologies.

I’ve just acquired an UA and already love the sound (not deaf yet, luckily). I use it always-on with eq off and gain at around 9. Just want a little warmth and “3D”. Will a 12AU7 tube give me more of this? Can someone recommend a 12AU7 with good midrange?

Oh, how do I get the tube out?! I’ve watched the videos and I’m wriggling, wriggling and nothing happens except I’m afraid to damage something.
Click to expand...
I strongly suggest searching specifically for posts by @JackFawkes. I think he's tried every member of the 12a_7 tube family is his Finally.

Here's a good one: The Sushi Box FX Secret Society
 
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#25,562
rickdog said:
A little leverage underneath the tube doesn't hurt. I used (very carefully!) a small flat blade screwdriver. Push the tube one way to get a little space under it then pry gently while continuing to wiggle it. Don't scratch the glass.

I tried a 12AU7 in mine, I didn't care for it - it seemed to stay clean until the Gain knob was way up, then saturated in a way I didn't like. Next tube I put in was a JJ ECC803S, which is just a little lower gain (as claimed on the eurotubes.com website, but curiously not on the datasheet) than the original ECC83S. That one stayed in, the lower gain gives me more resolution on the Gain knob, and I like its saturation characteristics better. It's funny, I didn't like that tube in anything else I've tried it in, but it pleased me in the UA.

My experience might be different from yours, I always have the EQ on (except when I scare myself by accidentally bumping that little switch with my toe). So maybe the 12AU7 with its lower gain will work better for you.

Another tube you might want to try is a 12AT7/ECC81, medium gain. I might still try one of these in my UA, but right now I'm happy with what I have.

I have the impression that Nathan's circuits are especially responsive to different tube characteristics. A tube claimed to have "good midrange" in someone's tests in some other device might not behave the same way in the UA.
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Thanks for the tip. I’ll try that. Actually, I have an GE ECC81 lying around. Will roll that in first if I ever get the 12AX7 out.
 
#25,563
carl-anton said:
Thanks for the tip. I’ll try that. Actually, I have an GE ECC81 lying around. Will roll that in first if I ever get the 12AX7 out.
Click to expand...
A credit card corner is an effective tool for gradually wedging up the base of the tube from the socket. Once there's a gap there, grip the top of the tube and gently rock back/forth/side-to-side while exerting upward pressure from below. It's not that hard.
 
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#25,564
carl-anton said:
So, I’ve searched and read myself blind, and I’m sure my questions have been answered already somewhere I overlooked. Apologies.

I’ve just acquired an UA and already love the sound (not deaf yet, luckily). I use it always-on with eq off and gain at around 9. Just want a little warmth and “3D”. Will a 12AU7 tube give me more of this? Can someone recommend a 12AU7 with good midrange?

Oh, how do I get the tube out?! I’ve watched the videos and I’m wriggling, wriggling and nothing happens except I’m afraid to damage something.
Click to expand...
For increased midrange and slightly higher saturation point you might try a JJ 12AX7MG. I really like it in my first issue UA on fretless, guitar and steel.
 
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#25,565
Sushi Box FX said:
Definitely let me know how it goes. Was the XLR output still working? What power supply were you using?
Click to expand...
Received my SBVT II today and I'm also having some quirky stuff with the 1/4 out. Question: is it normal for the little XLR level knob on the left to effect the 1/4 out? Because if I turn the gain up on the main gain knob I get a CRAZY squeal and hiss out of the 1/4 inch, like super uncomfortable. But if I turn the little left XLR level knob up and down it affects the squeal by making it go away or fluctuate or come back stronger. And when the main gain is up and I click the XLR pre and dry switch, the squeal goes away and comes back, too. And at one point I fully lost signal out of the 1/4 out, but twiddled the XLR output level and the signal came back.

BTW, this is happening with all other knobs at 12:00, ultra lo and hi off, and using the power supply that came with the pedal, and going into my HX Stomp for headphone use.
 
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#25,566
Thanks a lot everyone. I managed to get the tube out and have tested a few I had lying around with headphones. For now, I still like the JJ ECC83s the UA came with, with an old 5751 a close second. I’ll keep testing and see which is a better fit in the long run in real band situations. The JJ 12AX7MG sure sounds interesting. Thanks again!
 
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#25,567
SBVT II landed! Great sounding and easy to dial in. Killer grind.

IMG_4845.jpeg
 
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#25,574
eeyorebass said:
I strongly suggest searching specifically for posts by @JackFawkes. I think he's tried every member of the 12a_7 tube family is his Finally.

Here's a good one: The Sushi Box FX Secret Society
Click to expand...
That's very kind of you to recommend. Mostly I'm just a nerd who likes music and donking around with instruments, circuits, oscilloscopes, and tubes in particular.
I feel like a lot of the things that people read and repeat about tubes on the internet are just popular myths, though some of them have kernels of truth that are misunderstood or have become exaggerated through the retellings; but there's always a subjective element with audio so I happily share my ears opinions too.

carl-anton said:
I’ve just acquired an UA and already love the sound (not deaf yet, luckily). I use it always-on with eq off and gain at around 9. Just want a little warmth and “3D”. Will a 12AU7 tube give me more of this? Can someone recommend a 12AU7 with good midrange?

Oh, how do I get the tube out?! I’ve watched the videos and I’m wriggling, wriggling and nothing happens except I’m afraid to damage something.
Click to expand...
It's important to remember that all audio tubes are pretty linear by design, though in my opinion 12AU7s are one of the most "clean" and linear, adding just the smallest bit of "roundness" to a signal. Unless a circuit is way too hot or specifically made for a 12AU7, I generally find it a little lacking in character for my taste. You could try a 5751 which works well with pretty much everything while still all the tube "character" we crave, or a 12AY7 if you really want to reduce the overall gain while keeping some "character".
Also, because audio preamp tubes are designed to be linear, the direct effect that they have on EQ tends to be pretty subtle. Theoretically, going from a tube that has "the least mid response" to one that has "the most" would still have less of an effect than just turning a Mids knob anywhere in your signal chain by a notch.
However, some tubes do extend a little further or less than others at the extreme highs or lows. For example, certain tubes that people feel "give a tighter bass response" are actually just acting like a mild High-Pass Filter and not reproducing as much of the unnecessary lows compared to certain other tubes.

The socket is very tight the first time you remove one. Just keep gently wiggling and maybe use a credit card to help work it away from the socket and it'll eventually come out. The good news is that the socket gets a little looser after the first few you swap, so it'll never be as difficult as this one... until your next new Sushi Box anyways ;)

Jack
 
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#25,577
Quatschmacher said:
I roll a strip around the tube and pinch it together to grip it, which allows me to wiggle the tube free without touching the glass. Also works for inserting a new one.
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That is indeed @Sushi Box FX original recommended method, I personally have always just been too much of a lazy raccoon to sit down and make a suitable strip out of something... 😅
Will I spend hours tweaking settings and taking notes while studying a spectrum analyzer? Yes!
Will I spend five minutes making something to make it easier for me to remove a tube when I can just start wiggling the one in front of me? NEVAR!
 
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#25,578
It's been a while since tube rolling but I always seemed to get back to the JJ that @Sushi Box FX uses since that is his baseline for the circuit designs. The only exception is using the JJ 12AX7MG in one of my UA pedals that sits up a bit better in the mids for fretless, guitar and steel to my ear.

I do need to try a 5751 one of these days.
 
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#25,579
Just listed my Nobelium, neptunium, grand slampegg, and venus x (I'll likely regret selling that), because the SBVT II is enough for me tube pre-wise and I have some house projects I need $ for... If you're interested please send a DM :)

C2CE / Sushi Nobelium (Noble Clone)

For sale C2CE / Sushi Nobelium (Noble Clone)

Lightning Boy MC15 DI transformer Clear LEDs Low profile switch Ships with 2 x JJ 12AU7 tubes Looking to get $390 shipped CONUS Thanks!
$390.00
4 watching

Sushi Box Neptunium (Compact Noble Clone - no longer made)

For sale Sushi Box Neptunium (Compact Noble Clone - no longer made)

Hey TB, looking to sell this awesome compact Noble Clone that's no longer made, have to fund some house projects $350 shipped CONUS, because this is one I'd rather not sell unless the price is right :)
$350.00
2 watching

Sushi Box Grand Slampegg

For sale Sushi Box Grand Slampegg

Awesome sounding B-15 preamp, just need the $$$ for house projects $350 shipped CONUS Thanks
$350.00
4 watching

Sushi Box FX Venus X

For sale Sushi Box FX Venus X

Great preamp, really nice high mid bite to it if you want that, and it's one of the few (only?) sushi box tube pres that has a cab sim on the DI (sounds really good) I'm sure I'll regret selling, since these and the PMLE aren't made anymore, but I have sound house project bills to pay. $330...
$330.00
5 watching
 
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#25,580
JackFawkes said:
That is indeed @Sushi Box FX original recommended method, I personally have always just been too much of a lazy raccoon to sit down and make a suitable strip out of something... 😅
Will I spend hours tweaking settings and taking notes while studying a spectrum analyzer? Yes!
Will I spend five minutes making something to make it easier for me to remove a tube when I can just start wiggling the one in front of me? NEVAR!
Click to expand...
I cut a strip out of an old bicycle inner tube to handle high power flash and projector bulbs in the past. I can't image that would not work for Sushi tubes.
 
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