From c_schonberger@yahoo.com Wed Apr 02 21:07:29 2008
Subject:Re:Any news about the XK-3 upgrade?

Thanks so much for your great input.
My issue is that the XK-3 is not a tube amplified keyboard, but a digital emulation using tubes at the final output stage (so I understand) to provide overdive (of course not attempting the creamy overdrive of a power amp in a leslier cabinet).

Thanks again. I will check out your very useful suggestions,
Christian


jjmcs49 wrote:
All 12AX7 tubes meet certain specifications that have pretty much
been the same since tubes were born. Any 12AX7 will work in your XK-
3, whether it is the "right" tube depends on how you like the way it
sounds. You are the only person who can determine that. Quite
frankly, replacing the tubes with any others on your own may affect
the warranty. I currently have a 12AX7 tube in the V1 socket and a
12BZ7 in the V2 socket. 12BZ7's are like 2 12AX7's in parallel but
they have the same gain as a 12AX7. They sound great. I've also tried
2 12BZ7'z, a 12AT7 feeding in to a 12AX7, a 12AT7 into a 12BZ7 and
probably other combinations I can't remember. I suggest you stick
with 12AX7's for now.

In general (these are my opinions and observations, yours may vary)
old grey plate tubes have have a very nice full range clean tone. The
overdrive is nice and full range as well. I think of this as more of
a jazz/blues overdrive. Old black plate tubes tend to have a more
aggressive overdrive. The trade off is that while the clean tones are
full range, the lower octave notes/chords may get a little muddy.

I happen to like old box plate tubes like Sylvanias.

Again, if you want someone to tell you "These are the right tubes" no
one can do that. You need to try a few different types to se what you
like. The fact is no two tubes will necessarily sound alike. So you
or I could think a particular tube sounds fantastic and the one made
right after it in the production line could sound different. My
suggestion is look for cheap used tubes on ebay and try a few if you
different types to see what you like and then look for more of those
types if you want spares.

Good Luck.