How do you use your tubepreamp?
- Thread starter Thurisarz
- Start date
wahwah
GumbyLoveologist
Re: How do you use your tubepreamp?
I like to set the preamp so that the gain is sitting at the point where picking dynamics will determine whether or not the signal stays clean or pushes into the early stages of overdrive. This seems to give an overall full bodied warmth to the signal and sets it up well for use with pedals. That first preamp tube is also vital to tone production, and it is worth investigating preamp tubes from the "Golden Era." (1950's - 1960's) RCA black plates for Fender type amps, and early 60's Mullards for Marshalls. Unlike power tubes, there are still many of these available, and they make an enormous difference to the tone and dimension of virtually any amp.
Cheers..........wahwah
I like to set the preamp so that the gain is sitting at the point where picking dynamics will determine whether or not the signal stays clean or pushes into the early stages of overdrive. This seems to give an overall full bodied warmth to the signal and sets it up well for use with pedals. That first preamp tube is also vital to tone production, and it is worth investigating preamp tubes from the "Golden Era." (1950's - 1960's) RCA black plates for Fender type amps, and early 60's Mullards for Marshalls. Unlike power tubes, there are still many of these available, and they make an enormous difference to the tone and dimension of virtually any amp.
Cheers..........wahwah
JohnnyGuitar
New member
Re: How do you use your tubepreamp?
I keep it low enough to get good cleans but high enough so it would distort a little when I raise the volume of the guitar. Not going for too much gain.
I keep it low enough to get good cleans but high enough so it would distort a little when I raise the volume of the guitar. Not going for too much gain.
wahwah
GumbyLoveologist
Re: How do you use your tubepreamp?
Interesting...try swapping between a current production 12AX7 of any brand and an early 60's short plate Mullard in any pre 90's Marshall. Or in a Fender style amp, switch between any preamp tube made after 1968 and a late 1950's RCA 17mm blackplate. The contrast in tone, dimension and response is profound enough to psycho-acoustically make the neck of the guitar "feel" different!
It can be the case with modern hybrid or high gain front ends that the preamp tube is not going to have much bearing, especially if there is diode clipping involved in the circuit, but it's certainly not the case in good vintage amps. That first preamp tube is the most vital in tone production.
Cheers............wahwah
Interesting...try swapping between a current production 12AX7 of any brand and an early 60's short plate Mullard in any pre 90's Marshall. Or in a Fender style amp, switch between any preamp tube made after 1968 and a late 1950's RCA 17mm blackplate. The contrast in tone, dimension and response is profound enough to psycho-acoustically make the neck of the guitar "feel" different!
It can be the case with modern hybrid or high gain front ends that the preamp tube is not going to have much bearing, especially if there is diode clipping involved in the circuit, but it's certainly not the case in good vintage amps. That first preamp tube is the most vital in tone production.
Cheers............wahwah
