Tube Question
Question:
OK.. I am trying to get the brittleness and Harsh sounding trebble out of my guitar sound. I’m actually trying to get it out of my Preamp by changing tubes. I put in 5751’s and it helped tremendously but they aren’t perfect for what i want. I like Steve Via and George Lynch’s sounds. So here is my question. What tube should i use if i want to bring out each individual note while playing a large chord when using a lot of gain.? like if i were playing a 9th or something.. using 4 fingers to create the chord. And how can i kill that Sammy Hagar high end in my guitar.? Or.. ask yourself this What will tone down the high mids and trebble A) 12AX7 B) 12AU7 C)12AT7 D) keep my 5751’s My preamp is the ADA MP-1 (not that it matters) I have two tube slots in it I’ve tried MP-1 websight and other places. so can’t someone just flat out tell me what tube I should try next?
Response:
Turn down the treble knob. LOL! What kind of amp and bin do you have? We are not mind readers. The AmpMedic
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> OK.. > I am trying to get the brittleness and Harsh sounding trebble out of my > guitar sound. > I’m actually trying to get it out of my Preamp by changing tubes. > I put in 5751’s and it helped tremendously but they aren’t perfect for what > i want. > I like Steve Via and George Lynch’s sounds. > So here is my question. > What tube should i use if i want to bring out each individual note while > playing a large chord when using a lot of gain.? like if i were playing a > 9th or something.. using 4 fingers to create the chord. And how can i kill > that Sammy Hagar high end in my guitar.? > Or.. ask yourself this > What will tone down the high mids and trebble > A) 12AX7 > B) 12AU7 > C)12AT7 > D) keep my 5751’s > My preamp is the ADA MP-1 (not that it matters) > I have two tube slots in it > I’ve tried MP-1 websight and other places. > so can’t someone just flat out tell me what tube I should try next?
Response:
> OK.. > I am trying to get the brittleness and Harsh sounding trebble out of my > guitar sound. > I’m actually trying to get it out of my Preamp by changing tubes. <snip> > So here is my question. > What tube should i use if i want to bring out each individual note while > playing a large chord when using a lot of gain.?
<snip> Asking for ‘definition’ without harsh high end products… ….hmmmm (‘engineering’ ears?) OK during our blind taste test this summer on ‘recent’ 12AX7’s, the ‘engineering’ ears seemed to like the Sovtek 12AX7LPS and the Chinese ‘old’ 12AX7 (the ’silver plate’ ones); now I say 12AX7’s, because 12AU7’s, or 12AT7’s will likely reduce your stage gain enough to fall out of the ‘high gain’ description…. JJ 12AX7’s are known to roll off high end too… (not my personal favorite, especially in BF Fender circuits) A large plate NOS (i.e. Mullard) 12AX7 might be a good choice, if you can get a couple cheap without microphonics… > My preamp is the ADA MP-1 (not that it matters)
Um, yes, it really does: the preamp design (plate voltages, loading, bypass/coupling values, etc) will dictate how a particular tube responds in a particular way. I haven’t personally played with a MP-1 for tube selection, so my advice has to be taken for ‘general trends’… My 2c- -Robert QTS http://www.Braught.com
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > OK.. > I am trying to get the brittleness and Harsh sounding trebble out of my > guitar sound. > I’m actually trying to get it out of my Preamp by changing tubes. > I put in 5751’s and it helped tremendously but they aren’t perfect for what > i want. > I like Steve Via and George Lynch’s sounds. > So here is my question. > What tube should i use if i want to bring out each individual note while > playing a large chord when using a lot of gain.? like if i were playing a > 9th or something.. using 4 fingers to create the chord. And how can i kill > that Sammy Hagar high end in my guitar.? > Or.. ask yourself this > What will tone down the high mids and trebble > A) 12AX7 > B) 12AU7 > C)12AT7 > D) keep my 5751’s > My preamp is the ADA MP-1 (not that it matters)
When it comes to wanting a distorted yet articulate sound, the preamp DOES matter. So does the guitar, pickups, power amp, power tubes and speaker. You may be expecting too much from a preamp tube swap. Even so, I’d recommend a couple of strong used Mullard ECC83/12AX7, with a strong preference for long plate. They seem to give a smoother distortion and retain the musicality better than other tubes, in my experience, in various circuits. These tubes were produced in the late 1950’s. They are NOT cheap, but worth the price (IMHO).
Response:
From the units I demo’d the ADA MP1 can be a buzzy/fuzzy preamp in stock form. I think its the preamp used on Metallicas pre-1989 albums. So IMHO a tube swap might be a step in the right direction. and IMHO its a great PU for humbucker growl/bottom. But it doesnt drive the high end & saturate the preamp trebble tones like a duncan 59, JB or dimarzio Fred. Its similar to the tone zone but with less overall output. Garrett – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > OK.. > I am trying to get the brittleness and Harsh sounding trebble out of my > guitar sound. > I’m actually trying to get it out of my Preamp by changing tubes. > I put in 5751’s and it helped tremendously but they aren’t perfect for what > i want. > I like Steve Via and George Lynch’s sounds. > So here is my question. > What tube should i use if i want to bring out each individual note while > playing a large chord when using a lot of gain.? like if i were playing a > 9th or something.. using 4 fingers to create the chord. And how can i kill > that Sammy Hagar high end in my guitar.? > Or.. ask yourself this > What will tone down the high mids and trebble > A) 12AX7 > B) 12AU7 > C)12AT7 > D) keep my 5751’s > My preamp is the ADA MP-1 (not that it matters) > I have two tube slots in it > I’ve tried MP-1 websight and other places. > so can’t someone just flat out tell me what tube I should try next?
Response:
thanks for the replies. I’m just as confused as before. AS far as what guitar amp etc.. I have about the best you can buy so i don’t think changing anything in that respect will help.. I"ll probably just buy some Sovtek EH 12AX7’s and maybe a few more 5751’s and just swap them in and out of my MP-1 preamp section and my Ampegs preamp section. I just wish i knew how the Ampeg V5’s preamp section worked.. it would save alot of time when using my Tubes to EQ my sound. I guess i can just do it the old way and????/ well lets see.. 7 pre tube slots total.. 2 types of tubes .. how many different configurations would that be?… See what I mean?
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> OK.. > I am trying to get the brittleness and Harsh sounding trebble out of my > guitar sound. > I’m actually trying to get it out of my Preamp by changing tubes. > I put in 5751’s and it helped tremendously but they aren’t perfect for what > i want. > I like Steve Via and George Lynch’s sounds. > So here is my question. > What tube should i use if i want to bring out each individual note while > playing a large chord when using a lot of gain.? like if i were playing a > 9th or something.. using 4 fingers to create the chord. And how can i kill > that Sammy Hagar high end in my guitar.? > Or.. ask yourself this > What will tone down the high mids and trebble > A) 12AX7 > B) 12AU7 > C)12AT7 > D) keep my 5751’s > My preamp is the ADA MP-1 (not that it matters) > I have two tube slots in it > I’ve tried MP-1 websight and other places. > so can’t someone just flat out tell me what tube I should try next?
Response:
> thanks for the replies. > I’m just as confused as before. > AS far as what guitar amp etc.. I have about the best you can buy so i don’t > think changing anything in that respect will help..
The "best" is at best a subjective rating, if you want input from people on this, they may need to know what you have, as each amp is different and will respond differently. So I guess you’ll just have to figure it out yourself > I"ll probably just buy some Sovtek EH 12AX7’s and maybe a few more 5751’s > and just swap them in and out of my MP-1 preamp section
and my Ampegs preamp > section. > I just wish i knew how the Ampeg V5’s preamp section
worked.. it would save > alot of time when using my Tubes to EQ my sound. I guess i can just do it > the old way and????/ well lets see.. 7 pre tube slots total.. 2 types of > tubes .. how many different configurations would that be?… > See what I mean?
how do you get 7 preamp slots? does your amp use 6 preamp tubes? Unlikely, but I suppose possible. Are you counting phse inverter and reverb drivers as preamp tubes? I would think that the tube in the MP-1 and one channel’s preamp slot would be enough to find out all you need to know. You seem not to listen when people here have offered their opinions anyway. You need to look at your pickups, amp, speakers, effects, strings, and yes, tubes. But you keep expecting someone to recommend a magic 12ax7 that will make your rig sound just right. You may have an amp that won’t go there regardless of whether it’s "about the best you can buy" or not. Or you may have a set of cones that just have a thin sound. Are you using .008 strings? like someone else said, you are expecting an awful lot out of a preamp tube. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> OK.. > I am trying to get the brittleness and Harsh sounding trebble out of my > guitar sound. > I’m actually trying to get it out of my Preamp by changing tubes. > I put in 5751’s and it helped tremendously but they aren’t perfect for > what > i want. > I like Steve Via and George Lynch’s sounds. > So here is my question. > What tube should i use if i want to bring out each
individual note while – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> playing a large chord when using a lot of gain.? like if i were playing a > 9th or something.. using 4 fingers to create the chord. And how can i kill > that Sammy Hagar high end in my guitar.? > Or.. ask yourself this > What will tone down the high mids and trebble > A) 12AX7 > B) 12AU7 > C)12AT7 > D) keep my 5751’s > My preamp is the ADA MP-1 (not that it matters) > I have two tube slots in it > I’ve tried MP-1 websight and other places. > so can’t someone just flat out tell me what tube I should try next?
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> thanks for the replies. > I’m just as confused as before. > AS far as what guitar amp etc.. I have about the best you > can buy so i don’t > think changing anything in that respect will help.. > The "best" is at best a subjective rating, if you want > input from people > on this, they may need to know what you have, as each amp > is different and > will respond differently. So I guess you’ll just have to > figure it out yourself
OK how’s this.. 1.American Kramer Pacer ( Violet Pearl ) W/ Custom Seymor Duncan Pickups. Telling me the above guitar isn’t about the best money can buy would prove how ignorant and stupid many people are. 1.Ampeg V5 120Watt Head Telling me the above Head isn’t about the best clean head money can buy would also prove stupidity and ignorance Acoustic GS412? Cabinet As for the Acoustic Cabinet one could be subjective here. I personally love this cabinet. (It has different speakers in it and sounds more like a Marshall 412 with Celestions) > how do you get 7 preamp slots? does your amp use 6 preamp > tubes?
Ooops.. I proved my stupidity and ignorance here.. (actually my complacency) That would be 5 preamp slots.. It would still be many many combinations of tubes to try out. I have a rebuilt Ampeg V5 Head w/ 4 6550 power tubes & 3 12AX7 pre tubes The ADA has 2 pre tubes. > Unlikely, but I suppose possible. Are you counting phse > inverter and reverb drivers
I don’t know anything about reverb drivers or phase inverter tube slots. I dont have reverb in my Ampeg and i don’t really think i have a phase inverter in it iether (^ Even I can be ignorant) > as preamp tubes? I would think that the tube in the MP-1 > and one channel’s > preamp slot would be enough to find out all you need to > know.
Well, yes and no. If i had a solid state power amp then that would be true But i have a tube head so I have to mix the two. > You seem not to listen when people here have offered their > opinions anyway.
Actually I’ve included what all of the posters have said. I see no reason to change my guitar head, guitar, or cabinet, or pickups. All I have left to change are tubes, strings, and the ADA > But you keep expecting someone to recommend a magic 12ax7 > that will make your rig sound just right.
no, I just want one that is warmer and has as little microphonics and noise as possible. I was also hoping someone knew how the preamp section was configured in the ADA so they could possibly tell me how it would treat certian tubes. Like how will it effect a 12AU7? I know they have a lower gain output but what does that mean? Will that cause them to distort easier? Will they distort at all? Will they reduce the mid section or high end? >You may have an amp that won’t go there > regardless of whether it’s "about the best you can buy" or not.
Well, my amp Will go there, My ADA on the other hand may not >Or you may have a set of cones that just have a thin sound. NO it doesn’t sound thin. I would have sold it or switched speakers years ago if that were the case Are you > using .008 strings?
Nope.. the usual 9’s > like someone else said, you are expecting an awful lot out > of a preamp tube.
Agreed, but when you consider all the guitarists that have used the ADA for live and recordings it must be halfway decent. You need to hear the Electro Harmonix 12AX7’s You can’t be subjective and say "those tubes suck"
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>snip >1.American Kramer Pacer ( Violet Pearl ) W/ Custom Seymor Duncan Pickups. >Telling me the above guitar isn’t about the best money can buy would prove >how ignorant and stupid many people are.
I have a Parker Fly which is a rather nice guitar (definitely *not* the best money can buy), but which has enough output to turn the front end of many amps to mush. Here’s an experiment for you: try turning the volume down on the guitar (maybe as far as half-way), and see if you can get the sound you want. Free and easy.
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. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – message > > thanks for the replies. > > I’m just as confused as before. > > AS far as what guitar amp etc.. I have about the best you > can buy so i don’t > > think changing anything in that respect will help.. > The "best" is at best a subjective rating, if you want > input from people > on this, they may need to know what you have, as each amp > is different and > will respond differently. So I guess you’ll just have to > figure it out yourself > OK how’s this.. > 1.American Kramer Pacer ( Violet Pearl ) W/ Custom Seymor Duncan Pickups. > Telling me the above guitar isn’t about the best money can buy would prove > how ignorant and stupid many people are. > 1.Ampeg V5 120Watt Head > Telling me the above Head isn’t about the best clean head money can buy > would also prove stupidity and ignorance > Acoustic GS412? Cabinet > As for the Acoustic Cabinet one could be subjective here. > I personally love this cabinet. (It has different
speakers in it and sounds > more like a Marshall 412 with Celestions)
You miss my point, if you love your gear then it’s the best that YOUR money can buy. As for me, I love my Strat and BF Super Reverb, and wouldn’t buy what you are using. BUT that doesn’t matter! It’s all subjective every bit of it! i’m not going to tell you anything about whether your gear is the best or not. Who cares? My point is that someone who might be using/ or have used the same gear might be able to address your issues from the viewpoint of thier expeiriences, but only if we know what gear you have. mellow out dude, if your gear is the be all for you, congrats, most folks have a harder time finding thier version of "the best gear money can buy". > how do you get 7 preamp slots? does your amp use 6 preamp > tubes? > Ooops.. I proved my stupidity and ignorance here..
(actually my complacency) > That would be 5 preamp slots.. It would still be many
many combinations of > tubes to try out.
Ok, now we’re getting someplace. Does your amp have 2 preamp tubes per channel and 2 channels? Most have only 1 preamp per channel. I’m thinking that you only need to work one channel at a time. > I have a rebuilt Ampeg V5 Head w/ 4 6550 power tubes & 3
12AX7 pre tubes Is it a 3 channel amp? if not, then only 2 of those 12ax7 are likely preamp tubes unless you have a high gain channel that uses 4 stages of gain. (Obviously I don’t know the V-5) > The ADA has 2 pre tubes. > Unlikely, but I suppose possible. Are you counting phse > inverter and reverb drivers > I don’t know anything about reverb drivers or phase
inverter tube slots. > I dont have reverb in my Ampeg and i don’t really think i have a phase > inverter in it iether > (^ Even I can be ignorant)
no reverb? OK, But I’d bet you do have a phase inverter in there as you are running more than 1 tube for output. Given that you are running 2 pairs of output tubes in a push/pull configuration, the phase inverter keeps them running together (more or less). So the 12ax7 closest to the Outpyt Xfrmr is probably the phase inverter. It doesn’t have to be a "toneful" tube, but it should have both sides of the tube balanced(a 12ax7 is a 2 tubes in one deal). So you really only have 2 preamp tubes, probably one for each channel. SEE! now your down to only 3 tubes at most if you do one channel at a time. > as preamp tubes? I would think that the tube in the MP-1 > and one channel’s > preamp slot would be enough to find out all you need to > know. > Well, yes and no. If i had a solid state power amp then that would be true > But i have a tube head so I have to mix the two.
No sir, start with the preamp tubes in your amp, one channel at a time, and find the best one that you like in each, WITHOUT using the MP-1 at first. Once you have done that, try a few in the phase inverter spot,(better yet just order one from LV, telling him you are going to use it in the phase converter spot, and just pop it in, he will make sure it’s balanced) They are way cheaper than 12ax7s for gain slots. Then, when your amp is sounding good, plug up the MP-1 and try the different tubes in it. > You seem not to listen when people here have offered their > opinions anyway. > Actually I’ve included what all of the posters have said. > I see no reason to change my guitar head, guitar, or
cabinet, or pickups. > All I have left to change are tubes, strings, and the ADA
As far as I recall, no one has suggested that you change guitar, head, or such, as for pickups, they offer way more difference than tubes are likely to. But if you like what you have, then by all means keep them. It is possible that your gear cannot get you where you are wanting to go though, without changing some of it. > But you keep expecting someone to recommend a magic 12ax7 > that will make your rig sound just right. > no, I just want one that is warmer and has as little
microphonics and noise > as possible.
well, telling us what you have may help if someone has tried various tubes in THAT particular gear. All tubes sound a bit different in each different piece of gear. As for microphonic and noisless go, that may be a good sounding tube or it may not be. They are not the same thing. And noise and microphonics are characteristics of any single tube more that a certain brand. what you want is a tube that sounds good AND that is low in microphonic and noise. I just got an Ei Gold 122ax7 from LV and I would say it’s a great sounding tube. I like it better than any one of my 6 Jan Phillips NOS 12ax7, also better than a Raytheon, 2 Tungsols, a Sylvania, 2 Sovetks, and a Sovetek LPS. But I can only say that if you were to ask me about a ‘72 Twin, a Super Twin, or a Gibson Ga-5 Skylark because THOSE are the ONLY amps i’ve tried them in. The fact that they sound good to ME in 3 different kinds of amps though, tells me that it MIGHT sound pretty good in yours, IF what sounds good to me is the same as what sounds good to you. Do you see what I’m getting at here. > I was also hoping someone knew how the preamp section was configured in the > ADA > so they could possibly tell me how it would treat certian tubes. Like how > will it effect a 12AU7? > I know they have a lower gain output but what does that
mean? It means that it will amplify less. Will that > cause them to distort easier?
Probably they will cause the Power tubes to distort less. > Will they distort at all? Will they reduce the mid
section or high end? again, this depends on the particular tube, though some types and brands are more or less dependable to sound the same way. >You may have an amp that won’t go there > regardless of whether it’s "about the best you can buy" or not. > Well, my amp Will go there,
OK, I can’t know. I also have an amp that is among the best that money can buy, a 1964 Super Reverb. But if I want it to sound like a Mesa? Guess what it isn’t going to do it. >My ADA on the other hand may not > >Or you may have a set of cones that just have a thin sound. > NO it doesn’t sound thin. I would have sold it or
switched speakers years > ago if that were the case > Are you > using .008 strings? > Nope.. the usual 9’s
I changed to .010s and then .011s a few years back, it drasticly improved MY tone. Just an idea. > like someone else said, you are expecting an awful lot out > of a preamp tube. > Agreed, but when you consider all the guitarists that
have used the ADA for > live and recordings > it must be halfway decent.
Hmmm…….Your amp and guitar are top notch and can’t be bettered. Your pickups are all that a pickup can be, and the MP-1 must be good. If all this is true then you tell me, why AREN’T you getting what you want out of your rig? Must be the preamp tubes eh? > You need to hear the Electro Harmonix 12AX7’s > You can’t be subjective and say "those tubes suck"
I have and I haven’t found anything that I really like them in. they sound grainy and lifeless, with no real high end and muddy lows. BUT again that is only in MY gear and with MY ears. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –
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> Ok, now we’re getting someplace. Does your amp have 2 > preamp tubes per > channel and 2 channels? Most have only 1 preamp per > channel. > I’m thinking that you only need to work one channel at a > time.
Uhh.. thats odd. I only have 1 channel? atleast only 1 that i know of.. and it has 3 pre tubes.
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> no reverb? OK, But I’d bet you do have a phase inverter in > there as you are > running more than 1 tube for output. Given that you are > running 2 pairs > of output tubes in a push/pull configuration, the phase > inverter keeps > them running together (more or less). > So the 12ax7 closest to the Outpyt Xfrmr is probably the > phase inverter.
Uhh no push pull of anything.. there are two switches a bright boost and a gain boost. It has 3 transformers in it. 2 that are each the size of two of my fists put together and 1 real small one
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> I just got an Ei Gold 122ax7 from LV and I would say it’s a > great sounding > tube. I like it better than any one of my 6 Jan Phillips > NOS 12ax7, also better
Thats because the Jan Phillips dont have a low microphonic or noise rating , they also don’t hold as much musical detail due to that. The Electro Harmonix (Sovtek) have the lowest noise and microphinc rating of any 12AX7 out right now. Therefore, technically they should be the best tube to use. Unless you enjoy hearing microphonics when you play. Jan phillips are good tubes.. I use to use them exclusively until i learned that Sovtek started using new technology to make a better tube.
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> OK, I can’t know. > I also have an amp that is among the best that money can > buy, a 1964 Super Reverb. > But if I want it to sound like a Mesa? Guess what it isn’t > going to do it.
They are called Mesa Boogie Preamps
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> Hmmm…….Your amp and guitar are top notch and can’t be > bettered. > Your pickups are all that a pickup can be, and the MP-1 > must be good.
I dunno about the ADA.. so far i like the clean sounds.. and the distortion has potential > If all this is true then you tell me, why AREN’T you > getting what you want out > of your rig? Must be the preamp tubes eh?
I dunno it could be my power tubes.. I use 6550’s so i don’t know what they are notorious for? maybe brittleness? if so they could be the culprit – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> You need to hear the Electro Harmonix 12AX7’s > You can’t be subjective and say "those tubes suck" > I have and I haven’t found anything that I really like them > in. > they sound grainy and lifeless, with no real high end and > muddy lows. BUT again that is only in MY gear and with > MY ears.
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> Ok, now we’re getting someplace. Does your amp have 2 > preamp tubes per > channel and 2 channels? Most have only 1 preamp per > channel. > I’m thinking that you only need to work one channel at a > time. > Uhh.. thats odd. > I only have 1 channel? atleast only 1 that i know of.. and it has 3 pre > tubes.
Post a schematic link, I’m no expert by any means but I’d like to take a gander at this puupy anyway.
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> no reverb? OK, But I’d bet you do have a phase inverter in > there as you are > running more than 1 tube for output. Given that you are > running 2 pairs > of output tubes in a push/pull configuration, the phase > inverter keeps > them running together (more or less). > So the 12ax7 closest to the Outpyt Xfrmr is probably the > phase inverter. > Uhh no push pull of anything.. there are two switches a bright boost and a > gain boost.
Push-pull isn’t a switch, it’s the common configuration of the out put section of your amp. Meaning that you have 2 tubes that amplify the positive side of the waveform and 2 tubes that amplifiy the negative going part. The phase inverter well…..it inverts the phase of the signal so that that can happen. Yes, you will have a phase inverter tube. > It has 3 transformers in it. 2 that are each the size of two of my fists put > together and 1 real small one
One of these (the biggest) is likely the power transformer. The one on the other end (it will be the one closest to the Power tubes) is the Output tranny. Big= good. ordinarilly the smallest one will be the tranny for the reverb, but you say you haven’t any so I don’t know. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –
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> I just got an Ei Gold 122ax7 from LV and I would say it’s a > great sounding > tube. I like it better than any one of my 6 Jan Phillips > NOS 12ax7, also better > Thats because the Jan Phillips dont have a low
microphonic or noise rating , > they also don’t hold as much musical detail due to that. > The Electro Harmonix (Sovtek) have the lowest noise and
microphinc rating of > any 12AX7 out right now. Therefore, technically they
should be the best tube > to use. Unless you enjoy hearing microphonics when you play. > Jan phillips are good tubes.. I use to use them
exclusively until i learned > that Sovtek started using new technology to make a better
tube. whatever, I don’t like them.
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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hmmm…….Your amp and guitar are top notch and can’t be > bettered. > Your pickups are all that a pickup can be, and the MP-1 > must be good. > I dunno about the ADA.. so far i like the clean sounds.. and the distortion > has potential > If all this is true then you tell me, why AREN’T you > getting what you want out > of your rig? Must be the preamp tubes eh? > I dunno it could be my power tubes.. I use 6550’s so i
don’t know what they > are notorious for? maybe brittleness? if so they could be
the culprit I don’t use them, but brittle isn’t a word I hear associated with them. Big, loud and clean is the word. really it could be anything. Just because something is pricey or has a good rep doesn’t mean that it will sound right to you. like everyone said, try everything you can, diff amp, pickups tubes,strings, effects. You never can tell but what you’d like something cheesy better than what you pay big for. I’ve seen it happen.
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> OK, I can’t know. > I also have an amp that is among the best that money can > buy, a 1964 Super Reverb. > But if I want it to sound like a Mesa? Guess what it isn’t > going to do it. > They are called Mesa Boogie Preamps
You miss my point, my amp sounds like a ‘64 super Reverb which is exactly what I want my amp to sound like. I don’t need a Boogie preamp because I don’t want that sound. If I did then I would buy a Mesa Boogie amp. I’m saying that to me it doesn’t make much sense for you to say that your amp is the best, but yet you want it to sound different, so now you’re putting a preamp in front of it. It may be a fine amp but if it doesn’t do what you are looking for maybe it isn’t the amp that you really need. I don’t care if your amp is used by each and every rock god in the UK and cost a zillion dollars. It seems obvious to me (and every one else that has tried to help you) that something needs changed( because you posted us about it) . BUT you say that your guitar is the best that money can buy and the pickups are great, the preamp is used by many stars so that it must be good. Now, you are arguing with each and every suggestion I make about what tubes your amp has in it. Great, it’s not push-pull and doesn’t have a phase inverter because there aren’t pull knobs and you’ve got an amp with 1 channel and 5 preamp tubes, no reverb but a reverb tranny. So I give you a suggestion or 2 about preamp tubes because YOU say that you want to try changing them. THEN you tell me that the preamp tubes that you use are the best. Allright dude, you have the best of everything that there is. Good Luck! I like everyone else give up on your "problem".
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> ordinarilly the smallest one will be the tranny >for >the reverb, but you say you haven’t any so I don’t know.
Choke coil. -Dave
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sorry there are no schematics for the ampegV5
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> sorry there are no schematics for the ampegV5
Bummer! I’d liked to have seen them.
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When we talk about the gain characteristics of preamp tubes, I hear it refered to (I believe) as mu. (Is that right?) Can someone explain that, please, in detail? ~kp
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>When we talk about the gain characteristics of preamp tubes, I hear it >refered to (I believe) as mu. (Is that right?)
Yep mu, or amplification factor. But what exactly is "mu" referring to? I’m sure it says in the RCA manual, but that involves looking at tiny print. A word that starts with mu…..? >Can someone explain that, please, in detail? >~kp
No, I can’t. Pete — Now you know why I used the qualifier "practically" –Bender
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> When we talk about the gain characteristics of preamp tubes, I hear it > refered to (I believe) as mu. (Is that right?) > Can someone explain that, please, in detail?
IIRC..refers to "amplification factor" of the tube type, eg 12AX7, mu/amplification factor of 100…then ya got transconductance and other parameters…lol…ain’t nothin’ simple I guess! Steve
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> When we talk about the gain characteristics of preamp tubes, > I hear it refered to (I believe) as mu. (Is that right?) > Can someone explain that, please, in detail? > ~kp
mu is one of the terms for it. Also called "amplification factor". The "mu" you see bandied about is from "mu-factor". mu-factor is the ratio of the change in voltage on any one electrode to the change in voltage on any other electrode. The one you care about, of course, is the mu-factor between grid and plate. Fortunately, the formula is easy — mu is transconductance (gm) times plate resistance (Rp) with appropriate adjustments for units. I.e. if you have Rp in ohms and gm in micromhos, the equation looks like: mu = (gm * Rp)/ 1,000,000 You can also figure out mu from characteristic curves. Pick two points with the same plate current. mu is the difference in plate voltage divided by the difference in grid voltage for the two points. This trick really only works effectively on triode curves. Detailed enough?
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Hit send too fast… For a triode assume that cathode voltage is held constant. If plate voltage goes up 1 volt and you decrease grid voltage by 0.1 volts to hold plate current constant, the amplification factor of the tube is 10.
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The u looking symbol is mu Kent, "Constants" A triode is described essentially by three well-known so-called constants: Voltage amplification (
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