Bias Question

[Warheart]

If you have a high gain tube amp biased pretty hot, would it create more noise and hiss than the same amp biased at a lower level? I don't have a bias selector mod on my amp, but if it reduces the hiss, it might be worth it, even though it changes the tone. also, how would this affect the tone at higher volumes, where the tubes are being driven hard anyways? wouldn't it be better to have a lower bias for higher volumes?
Thanks

 

[aleclee]

Re: Bias Question

Biasing doesn't do much for you in terms of noise and hiss--in a high gain amp, most of that comes from the preamp, anyway.

You might want to check out some of the biasing articles in the tech section of Randall Aiken's site.

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Bias Question

Swap out some new preamp tubes and see if the hiss gets better. Cheap solution since you'll need new preamp tubes eventually anyway.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Bias Question

The more gain you have, the more noise and hiss. One thing I've noticed about expensive highgain amps is that the better they are, the higher the gain level and the lower the hiss. It's one of those topics that doesn't come up much, but it's a benefit of highend amps vs. midline amps with a mod or OD pedal in front of it.