Amp gadget! has anyone actually made this??

[fingerace]

This would be quite interesting!

I was thinking about a pedal which would plug into the amp's v1 slot. I am refering mostly to "vintage" amps...

So this pedal would plug into the v1 pre amp slot and the pedal itself would contain two pre amp tubes. Those two tubes would be completely different and change the sound of the amp. Switching between the tubes would mostly affect gain...

So the player could select which tube to use to achieve a tweed tone for example or a more gainy marshall tone...

Would this actually work? or there's more to it than just wiring two pre amp tubes and selecting one...

Thanks
Andreas

 

[skyydogg01]

Re: Amp gadget! has anyone actually made this??

I personnally feel like there is too much voltage to be flip-flopping components like that. Sure, it's a good Idea but what kind of damage are you doing to the other components in the amp? what about switching noises (aka popping)? A bunch of things to consider.

 

[fingerace]

Re: Amp gadget! has anyone actually made this??

^ oh... em I guess not!

I don't know really that's why I asked!

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Amp gadget! has anyone actually made this??

Actually I saw something like that in Vintage Guitar magazine recently. It wasn't a pedal though, it was a box that mounts inside the amp cabinet. I don't remember the details, but I'm pretty sure it replaced V1 and provide more gain stages, probably using 2 tubes. i don't remember if it was remotely foot-switchable. I'll see if I can find it tonight.

 

[fingerace]

Re: Amp gadget! has anyone actually made this??

Actually I saw something like that in Vintage Guitar magazine recently. It wasn't a pedal though, it was a box that mounts inside the amp cabinet. I don't remember the details, but I'm pretty sure it replaced V1 and provide more gain stages, probably using 2 tubes. i don't remember if it was remotely foot-switchable. I'll see if I can find it tonight.

Was it this?
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=93207

I think that's a bit different. I will have to check it out again to make sure...

I was thinking about something much simpler...

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Amp gadget! has anyone actually made this??

Both Soldano and Kasha made socket mounted boosters but I thought those were for marshall's? I am not sure if they can be used with other types of amps? The Soldano one used a different pre-amp tube than a 12ax7. If I remember correct it was the tube that was used in the old Peavey classic series. That tube provided twice the gain of a 12ax7 so the amps that used them usually had only 2 in the pre rather than 3-4 tubes.

I have also seen a small plug in box for Fender champs but I don't know who made it?

 

[fingerace]

Re: Amp gadget! has anyone actually made this??

The worst part is that I can't find specs of these things... I can't find documentation on how they work...

 

[Jeff Seal]

Re: Amp gadget! has anyone actually made this??

Well, it really wouldn't be that hard.... but it would be much simpler to get something like a Triaxis or one of the smaller tube based pedals... Tapping into the HV/ Heater and signal from the socket would require a considerable amount of cable in order to be footswitchable. If you consider the fact the only thing separating the guitar cable from pin2 on most first gain stages might be a 68k resistor, you've basically just went through a whole lotta trouble to basically wire up a tube based preamp/pedal in the most difficult way possible.....

...i don't think that was the answer you were looking for, but it's my .02

Jeff Seal