Hughes & Kettner Edition tube 20th tweaking/modideas?

[jphilly77]

So I've had this amp for a couple of years and I'm ready to start tweaking. I'm hoping someone on this forum has some experience with this amp and can give me some ideas to try.

It has a GREAT clean channel! The only negative observation I have is that the lead channel is just waaaaaaay too loud and has just too much gain in general. If I put the *clean* channel volume around 11 o clock to noonish it just sounds amazing. BUT, once I step on the footswitch to the activate the lead channel I simply can't get that channel's gain OR the volume past 8 o clock, which is barely on at all and it still just about rips your face off. I'm thinking I might need to try changing the tubes or something that might give me a smoother sound with more headroom? It uses 2 EL84s and 2 12AX7s. I'd like to get a mild to medium overdrive out of the lead channel if possible

Thoughts? Anyone have experience with this combo?

Thanks!

 

[Reload in 5]

Re: Hughes & Kettner Edition tube 20th tweaking/modideas?

try swapping a preamp tube for something lower gain, 5751 or 12ay7 or similar.

 

[jphilly77]

Re: Hughes & Kettner Edition tube 20th tweaking/modideas?

Thanks for the feedback. Should I just replace 1 of the 12AX7s or both? Should they be a matching pair?

-jphilly

 

[Reload in 5]

Re: Hughes & Kettner Edition tube 20th tweaking/modideas?

I was hoping someone would answer this. I dont know how the preamp on that one works, but try it in the second spot first. then try it in 1, then maybe try it in both. 5751 is gonna be a little less than a 12AX7, and the 12AY7 is gonna be even less.
12AX7 gain factor of 100
5751 gain factor of 70
12AT7 gain factor of 60
12AY7 is 45
12AV7 is 41
12AU7 is 19