Using the ESX with no tubes at all?

[Dr Feelgood]

Hi guys.

Well I think the stock tubes in my ESX have finally run their course. After hours of use, I'm beginning to notice a sharp decline in the quality of the overall sound. Not only that but the noise floor/white noise has grown noticeably louder and frankly it's becoming intolerable. This of course, is unacceptable and not up to my usual mixing standards, so I guess it's time to ditch the tubes and get some new ones. However, I'm wondering if it is possible to operate the ESX without any tubes at all ?? I do plan on eventually getting some JJ ECC's or GT's sometime in the near future, but I'm curious if anyone has tried using their ESX without any tubes ? And if so, how was the sound? Is it even safe to operate the ESX without any tubes? These are all just questions currently in my mind at the moment. I'm seriously contemplating removing the stock tubes possibly tonight and just using the ESX without any tubes at all until I put an order in for some JJ's or GT's.

Thanks for your time and help....

Feelgood

[h4ndcrafted]

Bump

[tim from texas]

i donno about it working with NO tubes installed but i use mine almost 100% of the time with the tubes turned all the way off and only turn them up part way when i "record"...

[Dr Feelgood]

*Update

Through a bit of trial and error, I found that the ESX is basically inoperable or rather inaudible without a pair of tubes plugged into the sockets. Prior to installing my JJ's from Eurotubes, I was a bit miffed about this , all turned out better then expected though. Once installed, the JJ's improved the overall sound tenfold! The grating white noise was reduced drastically, and the quality of all of the internal effects seemed hugely improved. The reverb alone, went from pingy to buttery smooth-so I was extremely happy about that.

I've heard some on here note that their panning levels were off after installing their JJ's-this wasn't the case with me. In fact, I noticed quite the opposite once I installed mine, the panning levels are dead center and more accurate then when I had the factory tubes in...this was good news.

All in all things are good again. I may just get a set of GT's next.

[FranzK]

youre right - no tubes, no sound. once tried it.

even if the tubes knob is dialed all the way down.

BUT

what if you replaced those tubes with a compatible transistor?
(electronics guys - is that pissibke? what woukd work?)

if these were bypased,
could the unit run on less power, and be battery fitted????

( the power block actually contains TWO power supplies,
said my friend who analyzid and mixed mine -
probably one for the tubes, one for the digital rest.


ORRRR EVEN MORE -

coukd another type of effect be wired into the tube slots?
making it a sort of "send effect" situatuon???