Clean sound from Windsor

rlg5150 · 07-20-2011, 09:37 AM

What can I do as far as new tubes to be able to get a clean sound out of my Windsor? Is there any way to get a good loud clean sound but still have a good rock overdrive when the preamp is cranked?

It gets dirty sounding at literally .5 preamp volume so there's no way to get a loud clean sound. I bought this half stack for $400 brand new so maybe I should just put it on craigslist and buy something else? Any opinions on the Windsor?

Thanks!

redking · 07-20-2011, 10:23 AM

You got a Peavy Windsor for $400? That sounds like a great deal to me? I recently saw one on close out for something like $675 and thought that was a great deal. (Although I have only seen youtube clips and not actually played one)

I'm sure there are a few things you could do to get the sound you are looking for and this is the right place to ask.

rlg5150 · 07-20-2011, 11:30 AM

Yeah, I went in the shop looking to buy a cab for my 5150 and walked out with the Windsor for $400. I ended up selling the 5150 head because I needed the cash so now the Windsor is my only tube amp. I love the thick overdrive sound I just wish I could get a good clean sound too.

eddy999 · 07-20-2011, 11:34 AM

Try a lower gain 12A*7 series tube in V1 (and potentially the other preamp positions too) .. It sounds like you really need to knock the preamp gain down - i've had great results using 12AU7's in the past to bring down preamp gain a lot, plus you can usually pick up great quality NOS 12AU7's for around the same price as new production. I had a couple of great Philips/JAN 12AU7 that were dirt cheap from eBay. If that's too much of a gain reduction then you could experiment with 12AY7/12AT7 and see how it goes.

redking · 07-20-2011, 11:39 AM

I assume given the name Windsor that this is a British - voiced amp?

bufbills · 07-21-2011, 05:20 AM

I had the same half stack. You need to go with different preamp tubes. That amp sounds great dirty but is a one trick pony. What I considered was going all 12au7 and using a pedal for crunch. I ended up selling it before I did it though. That amp is to loud for what I need. Try some different tubes and see how that works out.

sg13 · 07-21-2011, 12:47 PM

I used to have it, never could get a good clean tone. I know its supposed to be like a single channel jcm 800

07-20-2011, 09:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
rlg5150 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Bowling Green, KY Posts: 109 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Clean sound from Windsor What can I do as far as new tubes to be able to get a clean sound out of my Windsor? Is there any way to get a good loud clean sound but still have a good rock overdrive when the preamp is cranked? It gets dirty sounding at literally .5 preamp volume so there's no way to get a loud clean sound. I bought this half stack for $400 brand new so maybe I should just put it on craigslist and buy something else? Any opinions on the Windsor? Thanks!

07-20-2011, 10:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
redking Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 1,288 Thanks: 1 Thanked 29 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Clean sound from Windsor You got a Peavy Windsor for $400? That sounds like a great deal to me? I recently saw one on close out for something like $675 and thought that was a great deal. (Although I have only seen youtube clips and not actually played one) I'm sure there are a few things you could do to get the sound you are looking for and this is the right place to ask.

07-20-2011, 11:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
rlg5150 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Bowling Green, KY Posts: 109 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Clean sound from Windsor Yeah, I went in the shop looking to buy a cab for my 5150 and walked out with the Windsor for $400. I ended up selling the 5150 head because I needed the cash so now the Windsor is my only tube amp. I love the thick overdrive sound I just wish I could get a good clean sound too.

07-20-2011, 11:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
eddy999 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Surrey, England. Posts: 1,063 Thanks: 20 Thanked 42 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Clean sound from Windsor Try a lower gain 12A*7 series tube in V1 (and potentially the other preamp positions too) .. It sounds like you really need to knock the preamp gain down - i've had great results using 12AU7's in the past to bring down preamp gain a lot, plus you can usually pick up great quality NOS 12AU7's for around the same price as new production. I had a couple of great Philips/JAN 12AU7 that were dirt cheap from eBay. If that's too much of a gain reduction then you could experiment with 12AY7/12AT7 and see how it goes. Thumpalumpacus and Lurko like this.

07-20-2011, 11:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
redking Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 1,288 Thanks: 1 Thanked 29 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Clean sound from Windsor I assume given the name Windsor that this is a British - voiced amp?

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07-21-2011, 05:20 AM	#6 (permalink)
bufbills Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,426 Thanks: 14 Thanked 30 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Clean sound from Windsor I had the same half stack. You need to go with different preamp tubes. That amp sounds great dirty but is a one trick pony. What I considered was going all 12au7 and using a pedal for crunch. I ended up selling it before I did it though. That amp is to loud for what I need. Try some different tubes and see how that works out. __________________ God rides a Harley, and Plays a Les Paul

07-21-2011, 12:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
sg13 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 391 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Clean sound from Windsor I used to have it, never could get a good clean tone. I know its supposed to be like a single channel jcm 800

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