Chandler Tube Driver Tubes

From anabl–(at)–alcyon.com Wed Jan 12 13:06:13 CST 2000
From: “James W. Anable, Jr.”
Newsgroups: alt.guitar.amps
Subject: Re: Tube for my Chandler Tube driver?
Date: Wed, 12 Jan 2000 10:35:51 -0800
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Xref: geraldo.cc.utexas.edu alt.guitar.amps:225333

Short answer: My first choice is Mullard, second is Sovtek 12ax7 LPS
(especially if you like a metal tone). Have not tried Chinese.

I have a early (ver. 2 on circuit board) *rackmount* Chandler that does
not say Butler on it. I’ve tried a few tubes in it. I do not like the
“Chandler” tube (really an Ei) that came in it. The best that I found
was a standard Mullard (not the long plate variety). I’ve got a few
Mullards, and the one that sounds the best is marked “CEI” and “Made in
England.” It does *not* say ECC83, so it must have been for sale only
in US (made by Mullard, labeled CEI). It may be very tough to find, but
other Mullards also sound very good.

The easiest to get tube that sounded decent was the Sovtek 12ax7 LPS.
The LPS is not quite as smooth as a Mullard, and has a bit more of a
metal tone. Not quite as good for a smooth “bluesy” sound, but they are
readily available and much better than the stock tube. I have not tried
the Chinese varieties, which some people prefer in stomp boxes.

Tubes that I didn’t especially like were the Ei, GE, JJ/Telsa and
Tungsram. All of the Mullards that I tried sounded good.

I still plan to try 12ay7 and 12au7 (may not have enough gain), but
haven’t done this yet. The Mullard sounds good, but I’m always
experimenting… I would expect these tubes to have less gain and sound
smoother, although I have enough control to smooth out the Mullard as it
is.

If you have the pedal, I don’t know how different the circuits are. I
know that they changed the newer models, and that there was one older
version than mine. The rack mount has more tone control and control
over the way it distorts.. The pots read: “drive,” “contour,” “bias,”
“master,” “high,” “mid,” “low.” It also gives you low AND preamp level
inputs and outputs, as well as footswitches for bypass and boost.

If you try other tubes, please post your results.

pfrischman–(at)–indspring.com wrote:

> Hey Guys,
>
> I got a Chandler Tube Driver the other day, Any body got any tube
> preferences or opinions?
>
> thanks,
>
> Paul Frischmann
>
> Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
> Before you buy.