Valbee

Thin Connection · Tadpole Joined: 11 Sep 2004 Posts: 17

Anyone seen this new Ibanez amp? A little hybrid valve amp at 5W with a small speaker. Reviews seem very favourable so far, but I have to find one and try it myself.

michal · Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 6:08 am Post subject:

I saw it on Japanese Ibanez site. Is it available to buy in Europe? How much?

gzed · Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2005 10:05 am Post subject:

Hello,

I own this little amp since a relatively long time now... Cool

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 Very Happy

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 quicly...

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 Laughing

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 spiker is way tooooo harsh and treebly sounding, It's also very stiff and
slow responding, but that might have to do with the fact it hasn't played much
yet, 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 #Mad

I think that whoever designed this amp has horrible taste when it comes 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

michal · Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2005 10:26 am Post subject:

Hi Giuseppe.

Thaks for your review. I'm downloading now mp3's to hear how it sounds.

My local Ibanez dealer probably won't have in short future this amp. They have only stuff, which is easy to sell... effects, small amps and some Gio series axes. They've got two prestige's for show Wink

.

There is a block diagram of amp at Japanese Ibanez Site. Here is direct link to pdf. I don't understand much from electronic diagrams, but i hop this would help you.

Welcome to the board. Visit us often Wink

.

Michał

gzed · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 9:43 am Post subject: For Electronic/DIYers freaks...

Thanks Michal I will visit often considering that with my Jem 7WHT and now my new Valbee I am now 100% Ibanez "geared" . Very Happy

Also I've put online pictures of the internal circuitry of the amp for other electronic freaks to enjoy:

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

I already had the pdf you outlined in your reply, but thanks anyway. It is a good block diagram but it's not a real circuit schematic, I'll have to trace a real one when I'll find the time.

Cheers,

-Giuseppe

michal · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 1:03 pm Post subject:

Man, you disassembled this little box Wink

. It looked like it was made from metal, now i see it's wooden Smile

. I see, you're some kind of electronic freak. So maybe you can tell what's all going about with theese valve amps. 6L6GCC, EL84 - it sounds like magic for me. Or maybe give some usefull link to read and understand (just in basic - how it works Wink

).

fazrul666 · Little Goldfish Joined: 08 Aug 2005 Posts: 52

wow, its sound great through my ear... good for a practice amp. is it a tube amp, or hybrid?

filthgrinder · Labrador Joined: 06 Aug 2003 Posts: 323

it's a full tube unit, love the tone with a tubescreamer. here's mine:

petetexas · Newbie Alert Joined: 04 May 2007 Posts: 1

Just bought one, changed the tubes for EH, changed the speaker to an 8 inch............ Very Happy

What a sound for such a little amp....!!!!!!
Volume is perfect for bedroom use, and has all the VALVEY overtones !!!!!!
Have used it straight, and with my Marshall 9000 pre-amp into the effect return for Guitar, and used my SWR Grand Prix into the effect return for Bass ( all at low volume - or the speaker Farts ! )
I cannot believe the sound from this little baby.......... Very Happy

For a cost of about £120 in the UK , it is REAL VALUE FOR MONEY, if you like valves in an amp !
I use it with my both my Fender Tele`s, my Epiphone Zepher Blues Delux, and both my Warwick Corvett`s ( one fretless )
The only down side I have found is the high gain settings, far too harsh.
If you see one in the shops, try it, I don`t think you will be dissapointed.