Is there a way to improve the clean channel of a 6505 on the cheap?

[Joey Voltage]

Re: Is there a way to improve the clean channel of a 6505 on the cheap?

This is the reason I opted not to try to switch tubes in TT for better cleans. What the lower output preamp tube does is simply to lower the gain on next stage, which is exact the same thing gain knob does.

If it actually gives any "extra" headroom for the amp, it's because the eq shift of different tube, not the lower output.

It will all depend on the tube type, but a better way to put it is in terms of input sensitivity. For example a 12AU7 has a much lower input sensitivity as a result so it will take a higher input voltage to overdrive it than a 12ax7 would. That's the correspondence to headroom. In either case it's the power supply in conjunction to q point that will truly dictate headroom. Thats the limiting factor, nothing you use can exceed it.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Is there a way to improve the clean channel of a 6505 on the cheap?

It will all depend on the tube type, but a better way to put it is in terms of input sensitivity. For example a 12AU7 has a much lower input sensitivity as a result so it will take a higher input voltage to overdrive it than a 12ax7 would. That's the correspondence to headroom. In either case it's the power supply in conjunction to q point that will truly dictate headroom. Thats the limiting factor, nothing you use can exceed it.

Interesting. Works well for larger amps then I guess.

In TT most of overdrive happens in phase inverter tube, so changing that might actually drop the overall gain without losing too much volume... I need to look at this again.

 

[Joey Voltage]

Re: Is there a way to improve the clean channel of a 6505 on the cheap?

Interesting. Works well for larger amps then I guess.

In TT most of overdrive happens in phase inverter tube, so changing that might actually drop the overall gain without losing too much volume... I need to look at this again.

Yes, a 12au7 in the pi slot of a TT will clean it up quite a bit because it wont hard clip as early. it wont drop much volume at all because EL84's are very sensitive tubes, so they will be driven to full output with very little input signal.

 

[Diego]

Re: Is there a way to improve the clean channel of a 6505 on the cheap?

I had a 6505+ head for a while, with it's alledged "improved cleans" over the original 5150/5150 II and I thought the cleans sucked beyond belief.

I say if you wanna go running, buy running shoes.