how to add more gain in amp stages?
- Thread starter walters
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theodie
Guest
Re: how to add more gain in amp stages?
Plug a microphone into you amp, turn it up to 10, and fart repeatedly into it.
Plug a microphone into you amp, turn it up to 10, and fart repeatedly into it.
drew_half_empty
Looking for Real Life
Re: how to add more gain in amp stages?
take out v1
seriously, i did it on my bassman all the time
take out v1
seriously, i did it on my bassman all the time
Last edited:
sosomething
Seymour Duncan Customer Support
Re: how to add more gain in amp stages?
Give all the tubes a good twist. This will wind them down closer to the sockets and create a better connection, letting more signal through and giving you more gain.
It also helps to turn your amp on and play through it for a few minutes without connecting it to a speaker cabinet. This lets the amp warm up and get a "power head start" before you plug in the cab.
Give all the tubes a good twist. This will wind them down closer to the sockets and create a better connection, letting more signal through and giving you more gain.
It also helps to turn your amp on and play through it for a few minutes without connecting it to a speaker cabinet. This lets the amp warm up and get a "power head start" before you plug in the cab.
drew_half_empty
Looking for Real Life
Re: how to add more gain in amp stages?
^ yeah uhh, don't do that
^ yeah uhh, don't do that
sosomething
Seymour Duncan Customer Support
Re: how to add more gain in amp stages?
Don't listen to him, he knows nothing about tone. He has dirty bacon pans for ears.
If your amp has EL84s in it, you should also take them out and run them through the dishwasher every once in a while. Don't use soap and don't use the heated dry cycle though. This gets all the impurities out of the glass and helps create a better vacuum and keeps the tubes operating within their prime tolerances longer.
They say Clapton used to wash his by hand with Lava soap back in the '60s, but he's never commented on it that I've seen. Some people do it though and claim to hear a difference. It's really one of those things that are up to personal preference I think. I think just super-hot water in the dishwasher gets them just as good.
Don't listen to him, he knows nothing about tone. He has dirty bacon pans for ears.
If your amp has EL84s in it, you should also take them out and run them through the dishwasher every once in a while. Don't use soap and don't use the heated dry cycle though. This gets all the impurities out of the glass and helps create a better vacuum and keeps the tubes operating within their prime tolerances longer.
They say Clapton used to wash his by hand with Lava soap back in the '60s, but he's never commented on it that I've seen. Some people do it though and claim to hear a difference. It's really one of those things that are up to personal preference I think. I think just super-hot water in the dishwasher gets them just as good.
The Golden Boy
Fleecy Sweaterologist
Re: how to add more gain in amp stages?
More Gain?
Just add another cap full.
I'd recommend against the powdered stuff though.
More Gain?
Just add another cap full.
I'd recommend against the powdered stuff though.
Pink Unicorn Horsey
Megä Pöny Rÿdr
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: how to add more gain in amp stages?
drew_half_empty
Looking for Real Life
YJM_Rocks
New member
Re: how to add more gain in amp stages?
The objective here is to get the tubes running as hot as possible. Block all ventilation to the tubes and preferably even add some type of heating mechanism. You should probably get it to where the tubes are just about going to melt, then it will be the most saturated with gain. All of the greats did this. Townshend, Hendrix, even Gearjoneser.
The objective here is to get the tubes running as hot as possible. Block all ventilation to the tubes and preferably even add some type of heating mechanism. You should probably get it to where the tubes are just about going to melt, then it will be the most saturated with gain. All of the greats did this. Townshend, Hendrix, even Gearjoneser.
stuey222
New member
Re: how to add more gain in amp stages?
WTF? That actually works? I figured it would damage the tubes....
WTF? That actually works? I figured it would damage the tubes....
SlyFoxx
Glossless
Re: how to add more gain in amp stages?
No, it's fine. Just make sure you put them in the silverware basket. One tube per compartment.
No, it's fine. Just make sure you put them in the silverware basket. One tube per compartment.
Pink Unicorn Horsey
Megä Pöny Rÿdr
Re: how to add more gain in amp stages?
Yeah, it does. You'd think you'd only get clean tones using this technique. Not true!
Yeah, it does. You'd think you'd only get clean tones using this technique. Not true!
Condemned soul
New member
Re: how to add more gain in amp stages?
There are two minor mods that you might consider.
First, you need to add the special electrolytic caps from Bulgaria between amp stages. This will help block the ac current. REmember-you want gain not alternating noise.
The second mod might require you to raed your schematic before you poke around the tubes. Grid stopper resistors must be added to the grid stage of the power tubes. These resistors will help prevent stray electrons from magnetizing the output transistor.
There are two minor mods that you might consider.
First, you need to add the special electrolytic caps from Bulgaria between amp stages. This will help block the ac current. REmember-you want gain not alternating noise.
The second mod might require you to raed your schematic before you poke around the tubes. Grid stopper resistors must be added to the grid stage of the power tubes. These resistors will help prevent stray electrons from magnetizing the output transistor.
ParameterMan
New member
Re: how to add more gain in amp stages?
Although to get really fat dirty tones you need chicken grease. Lubricate the tube sockets, pots and jacks - the interfrequency transconductance of the fat accentuates "scream" and smooths out the "bottom end". Stay away from anything that's been fried in soy or genetically modified oil though, it'll do bad things to your tone.
Also, for the best richness, you want paper caps that have been boiled in chicken grease. The new "paper and oil" caps use an inferior oil replacement and won't give you that proper mojo. You can do this yourself if you're careful. Remove the caps from your amp and out them in a pan with about ½'' of chicken grease(try and get some when your favorite chicken shack changes their oil.) Turn up the heat until the oil is lightly smoking(cough cough) and turn them regularly until they stop bubbling. This will ensure the old oil is fully displaced. Pull them out and once they're cool you're ready to experience tone like you've never heard in person.
Although to get really fat dirty tones you need chicken grease. Lubricate the tube sockets, pots and jacks - the interfrequency transconductance of the fat accentuates "scream" and smooths out the "bottom end". Stay away from anything that's been fried in soy or genetically modified oil though, it'll do bad things to your tone.
Also, for the best richness, you want paper caps that have been boiled in chicken grease. The new "paper and oil" caps use an inferior oil replacement and won't give you that proper mojo. You can do this yourself if you're careful. Remove the caps from your amp and out them in a pan with about ½'' of chicken grease(try and get some when your favorite chicken shack changes their oil.) Turn up the heat until the oil is lightly smoking(cough cough) and turn them regularly until they stop bubbling. This will ensure the old oil is fully displaced. Pull them out and once they're cool you're ready to experience tone like you've never heard in person.