Best tube for more chime out of my dark terror....

Re: Best tube for more chime out of my dark terror....

No. Anything that will increase the chime will also lessen the gain.
 
Re: Best tube for more chime out of my dark terror....

A tube change probably won't get you there, but a good clean boost OD will. I'm talking about something very subtle and neutral sounding that you can leave on all the time. You'll get more volume and punch, and when you turn it off, you'll feel like the normal sound of your amp is slightly lifeless.
 
Re: Best tube for more chime out of my dark terror....

I've been using green rhino alot with the gain jacked and I really like what it adds to the amp, I've been toying with another overdrive or top boost...any suggestions??? I have been thinking of just getting another amp for cleans though....
 
Re: Best tube for more chime out of my dark terror....

I like the Green Rhino, although it's a little bloated and gainy to put on an already gainy amp. The Green Rhino does a great job on clean amps like Fenders and Matchless.

On a gainy amp, I really like the cheap MXR Classic OD/GT-OD. They add just a little bit of shimmer and gain with the gain set to around 9:00. I like the MXR on Marshalls that already have some gain.
Check out some of the Joyo pedals too, like the Sweet Baby.

If you want a nice clean amp to put next to your Dark Terror rig, just pick up something like a Blues Jr.
 
Re: Best tube for more chime out of my dark terror....

I like the Green Rhino, although it's a little bloated and gainy to put on an already gainy amp. The Green Rhino does a great job on clean amps like Fenders and Matchless.

On a gainy amp, I really like the cheap MXR Classic OD/GT-OD. They add just a little bit of shimmer and gain with the gain set to around 9:00. I like the MXR on Marshalls that already have some gain.
Check out some of the Joyo pedals too, like the Sweet Baby.

If you want a nice clean amp to put next to your Dark Terror rig, just pick up something like a Blues Jr.

Funny, I had the mxr classic od...I really liked it with the 6505 I had previously but I felt it lacked something with the terror.....I found a really nice spot with the rhino where it shines with the gain pushed on the terror....

A friend of mine has a similar amp to mine (the Jim root terror) and he uses a modded sparkle drive with it, sounds pretty killer.....

I am waiting on call for an old ampeg which could be my "clean amp."
 
Re: Best tube for more chime out of my dark terror....

I've recently been using my SD-1 with Monte Allums GT mod as a boost for my cleans. What GJ said above is exactly how I describe it. Without it, the amp seems less lively. Something is definitely missing. It just hits the amp in all the right places.
 
Re: Best tube for more chime out of my dark terror....

In VOX style amps the baclplate RCA's give them a nice chime but it is there in spades already so I don't know how much difference that'll make in a Dark Terror. Just note JJ's are the opposite of chime in the preamp.
 
Re: Best tube for more chime out of my dark terror....

Its a "dark" terror, so i guess its not really chimey amp. But fwiw, the 12ax7 preamp tubes with the most sparkle/chime i would say is the tung-sol.
 
Re: Best tube for more chime out of my dark terror....

Pretty much any Chinese 12AX7 will be brighter and the Russian 12AX7's will darken your amp. That's what I've found in my 20+ years of electron manipulating. (Tone Sculpting)
 
Re: Best tube for more chime out of my dark terror....

Ruby 12AX7AC5HG in gain stages and Tung Sol 12AX7 in V1 will kick it in the bright direction as far as pre amp tubes go. Not sure about power tubes, but Tung Sol and most Chinese tubes are on the bright side. Remove any JJs since those are notorious for their chopped treble.
 
Last edited:
Re: Best tube for more chime out of my dark terror....

Just looking for an ever so slight bump in the bright department.....any suggestions???

A Tungsol reissue 12AX7 in V1. Most of the New Sensor current production 12AX7's have a brighter character. The Electro Harmonix will get you there too. It has 3 12AX7's, no? What brand are they?
 
Re: Best tube for more chime out of my dark terror....

+1 Tung-sol... he said "ever so slight bump" and that would/should be very slight
also yes to electro harmonix. to my ears they have the same top end as tungsols, but the tungsol has more solid bass.
chinese will do it too but I find they sound kinda fizzy and blurry to me but lots of people like them when playing with gain
 
Last edited:
Re: Best tube for more chime out of my dark terror....

I am amazed at some people's ability to remember fine differences between various valves. When I pop a new valve into an amp, I think 'like' or 'don't like' and then move on. Based on my experiences, I pretty much agree with everyone's observations here, though. But still don't think changing valve brands will add chime unless you go down in gain, which to me kinda kills the design intent behind the amp.
 
Re: Best tube for more chime out of my dark terror....

Lots of good info here guys, I did say ever so slight, I'm not expecting to change the tone completely, I'm quite happy with the amp, just a tweaker by nature I guess...
 
Re: Best tube for more chime out of my dark terror....

I am amazed at some people's ability to remember fine differences between various valves. When I pop a new valve into an amp, I think 'like' or 'don't like' and then move on. Based on my experiences, I pretty much agree with everyone's observations here, though. But still don't think changing valve brands will add chime unless you go down in gain, which to me kinda kills the design intent behind the amp.

I'm the same way. I've never really went further than paying attention to the immediate changes I heard. Sometimes I read threads on here and wonder if these guys set down w/ a notepad and write down all the subtle differences of each tube they use in their amp. To me it's bright, dark, good, or bad...next...I've got so many amps, I'd spend a year and hundreds of dollars fine tuning all that stuff.

FWIW though, I'm glad there are guys on here that do know their way around tubes. Every time I've asked for tube advice, the crew here has knocked it outta the park.
 
Re: Best tube for more chime out of my dark terror....

i have done the note pad thing before. It's a little tedious... but now I know what I like for the most part
 
Back
Top