What do you think of the Ibanez ValBee tube amp?

[ustolemyhandle]

Just saw this on the web today. Has anyone tried one or know when they hit stores?

[eviltwin]

They've had one at the store that I frequent, for a whilealready. I didn't play the thhing myself, but I listened to some guy play on it. It sounded great (for it's size), the guy who played loved it too.

If you're looking for a practice amp, or something to mike in the studio, go get one, they're dead cheap anyhow.

It does make me anxious to try the big Ibanez Tube top, that Thermion thingy.

[gzed]

Hello,

I own this amp and I am going to quote a reply I gave on post on another forum on the same subject:

"Hello,

I own this little amp since a relatively long time now...
I paid 170 Euros for it, I guess it's around for ~180 Euros retail at least here in
Italy, the shop did a little discount on me.

I have also bought a VHT Yellow Jacket (~25$ @ http://www.tubestore.com)
which allows me to switch the output tube from the 6L6GCC to EL84 pretty quickly...

This gets me a more creamy/ british sound, as it's more similar to an EL34 and
lowers the output powers a tad, which is good considering my neighbours...

All in all the cleans are pretty good the distorted sounds are harsh and treebly,
it really sounds like a "Flying Bee"!

I really don't like the distorted crunchy sounds, as it seems the way Ibanez
designed it, most of the distortion happens in the solid-state part of the
preamplifier but kept the 12ax7 and 6l6 from overdriving...

also the speaker is way too harsh and treebly sounding, It's also very stiff and
slow responding, but that might have to do with the fact that it hasn't played much
until now, so it will probaly losen up with time. Bass response is decent considering its
size. the back of the cabinet can be removed and that of course will give you a
different sound.

The good thing is that having an effect loop that completely bypasses the
solid-state preamp I was able to connect my Carvin Quad X-Amp tube preamp
to drive the output stage direcly... much better sound! still the speaker is way too
treebly/harsh/stiff.

I think that whoever designed this amp has horrible taste when it comes down to
distorted sounds. He could have made it 100% solid state and it wouldn't have
changed much.

I am going to mod this amp as much as I can (no schematrics avaiable
anywhere), I already opened it and took pictures of the inside, but first I am
going to try to connect to a different speaker when I'll be ready choosing a
different one.

If you would like to listen to some sound samples there's this site here:

http://www.ntfc.it/valbee.html

of another Italian fellow that hosts some mp3's recorded with decent
microphones - it's only in Italian, sorry.

I don't want to put you down, so please take my words with a grain of salt and
please, go, try it out in your next local music store when it'll be avaiable.
What suits me might not suit you!"

Cheers,

-Giuseppe

[gzed]

Also, for the electronic freaks/DIYers out there I've put some pictures of the internal circuitry and schematic block diagram here:

http://utenti.lycos.it/gzed/Ibanez_Valbee/

Cheers,

-Giuseppe

[slaxl]

hey, can i replace the stock tube with any tube, or does it need to be a rectifier tube?

[eviltwin]

Originally Posted by slaxl

hey, can i replace the stock tube with any tube, or does it need to be a rectifier tube?

Rectifier? There is no rectifier tube in the valbee, just a 12AX7 preamp tube (double triode: one used for boost the other post EQ) and a single 6L6 power tube in the power section.

You can exchange the 12AX7 for any other 12AX7 (=ECC83) or go for a lower gain version, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12AX7

When you exchange the 6L6 for power tube you may need to rebias the amp.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6L6 plenty of alternatives there as well.

[slaxl]

I heard that it is self biassing, just like Champs it uses a resistor or something

[slaxl]

I;ve got the awnser, it IS self Biassing

[10pizza]

Hi Slaxl,

I've got a valbee coming my way too.
did you already try changing tubes?
if yes, which types and how's the result?

thanks

[Guitarmattms]

I know this post is really outdated but I take it Ibanez doesn't make this amp anymore? Does anyone know of an amp that's similar to this?

Thanks.

[Pursuit]

Originally Posted by Guitarmattms

I know this post is really outdated but I take it Ibanez doesn't make this amp anymore?

Actually they DO still make it!

I'm not sure why it doesn't appear on the USA website but if you to the UK or Australian site you can still find it.

[Guitarmattms]

Originally Posted by Pursuit

Actually they DO still make it!

I'm not sure why it doesn't appear on the USA website but if you to the UK or Australian site you can still find it.

u guys are lucky. I'll deft. have to look this up.