Rocket with switchable ef86?

[peckjed]

Semi-recently I built a Rocket Reverb from RJ's layout and it sounds killer! From what I understand its a pretty traditional Rocket layout with a Fender style reverb circuit (but don't quote me on that!). Does anyone know of a way to add a switchable (not footswitch, toggle) ef86 into the mix? If there is a layout someone could possibly point me to, that would be awesome!!

[M Fowler]

No switch shown in this schematic but one could add it after the mixing resistor 470k.

KT88 Rocket.gif

[joeboo88]

This is awesome, thanks Mark. I don't need it myself but you sure have lots of good stuff to share with us

[M Fowler]

This layout has a SPDT switch to toggle between EF86 channel or 12AX7 channel.

Mark

Vox_AC15-30_Layout_2007-07-30_C.gif

[plook]

I think i will use this to convert my Liverpool to a Rocket with EF86. Thanks Do you have any videos or sound files of the tone?

[joeboo88]

Hi Plook:
Are you wanting to know the tone of the EF86 in general? or a Rocket with ef86?
in youtube there are videos of Marshall 18 watt with ef86 and ac15's to know the tone of an ef86 channel.

RJ built an Express with a 5879 in V1 which is like an EF86-
https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.ph ... ilit=twist

Seeing that you live in England you should keep a Liverpool
Cheers

[peckjed]

This layout has a SPDT switch to toggle between EF86 channel or 12AX7 channel.

Mark

Vox_AC15-30_Layout_2007-07-30_C.gif

This is INCREDIBLY helpful. Thank you very much.

[peckjed]

Hi Plook:
Are you wanting to know the tone of the EF86 in general? or a Rocket with ef86?
in youtube there are videos of Marshall 18 watt with ef86 and ac15's to know the tone of an ef86 channel.

RJ built an Express with a 5879 in V1 which is like an EF86-
https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.ph ... ilit=twist

Seeing that you live in England you should keep a Liverpool
Cheers

I played an AC30 with an EF86 channel while in the recording studio and it sounded awesome. Very different than a 12ax7. I got to thinking - why not make my Rocket more versatile!

[johnny riff]

I've done the dance with the ef86. bright n clean. look at the ac 15 schem.
the switch would be noisy with out a relay.

[rooster]

This is not a noisy switching issue as someone reported. I have this in my AC30TB build and it's straight ahead. My switch is a single pole on/off/on switch which allows for removal of the Normal channel or EF86 channel entirely. This basically unloads the 220k resistive load to ground that the Normal channel or EF86 channel creates. Ken talked about this to one of his Rocket buyers after he made delivery. It was an afterthought. Ken was enamored with the AC30TB sound and when he created the Rocket it would seem he overlooked the fact that the real TB channel in the Vox was affected by the load of the Normal channel. So he would later suggest a switch to include a 220K resistor to ground at the PI so that the actual Vox TB channel could be duplicated by his build.

The EF86 is fun, not as much gain as the TB channel, and with a 5-way rotary switch you can get some interesting sounds. It's worth the addition if you have always wanted the option to mimic the AC30/04 or the various Matchless/Dr.Z/whomever's amps out there.

Also, P.S., I just took delivery of some Saratov 6P14P-EV tubes from a company named Viva Tubes in Easthampton, MA. The four tubes were matched very well, in my AC30TB/Rocket they measured in mAs @: 44.1, 44, 43.7, and 43.5, high to low (350 plate volts). Pairing the one low and one high on either side, my amp is hum free and amazingly quiet after swapping out a Saratov quad that had many miles on them. Oh, $72.44 delivered.

[bcat01]

I loved the ef86 channel in my bad cat, I used it a lot. Very musical. I did have to replace tubes often, especially after gigging. I talked to a studio owner who had a crem brulee, and he said the same thing. One tube that held up was a winged c, while it didn't sound quite as good as others, I couldn't hurt it.