Just pure speculation here...

Gingrel

Gingrel

New member
I know next to nothing about amp wiring, so I thought I'd ask the experts:

Is there any reason why one couldn't wire an amp to have different power tubes for the clean and gain channels? e.g. a 6L6 clean channel and an EL34 gain channel?

Please satisfy my curiosity

EDIT: This is with reference to building an amp from scratch, not modifying an existing one.
 
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Re: Just pure speculation here...

I know less than you do about amps but I know the Mesa RoadKing has both EL34s and 6L6s in it. I am not sure how they are used though...
 
Re: Just pure speculation here...

Randall RM4 would allow you to have 4 channels set the way you want, 6l6 for clean, el34 for dirty, etc.
 
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it can and hs been done but its pretty complicated to make it work right
 
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It's kind of like saying you want to switch between two different engines while you're driving. Yes it can be done.
 
Re: Just pure speculation here...

The OP describes Mesa progressive linkage technology.

The Road King is the only amp doing this that I'm aware of. It's got four 6L6s, two EL34s, and two recto tubes in it.

On each of the four channels, you can assign which one, two, or three of the tube pairs you want to use for that channel. You can do a pair of EL34s or 6L6s, four 6L6s, two 6L6s and two EL34s, or all six tubes. Then you can choose whether you want to use tube or ss rectification on each channel. It's all incredibly complicated from a circuitry perspective and there is a LOT that could go wrong in there, but it's also totally cool and probably too much fun to goof around with.

Ultimately I had to accept that an amp with over 40 knobs and switches on it had me tweaking way too much and playing way too little, so I traded the one I had for my Splawn (which, years later, I still use).

If you just want to use, say, four 6L6s for your clean tone and two EL34s for your distorted tone all of the time, you're basically describing two totally separate amps in the same chassis, which I would imagine would be a much much heavier, more complex, more overheated, noisier affair than just running an A/B/Y box into two amps.
 
Re: Just pure speculation here...

Thanks for all the responses guys, my curiosity is sated. It sounds like its too complicated and problematic to be widely used.
 
Re: Just pure speculation here...

Essentially you could possibly build something with 2 different pre-amps and 2 different power amps. Very complicated but I'm sure it could be done.... Or buy a amp for cleans and a amp for distortion and use an AB switch. I love mesa amps and someday would like a Dual... but there is a point when you just want to turn on and play.
 
Re: Just pure speculation here...

Yes. It is possible. Case in point - Egnater Renegade.
I know nothing about wiring amps either, but my Egnater Renegade has two 6L6's and two EL34's. Each of the two channels has its own tube mix knob. If I wanted to, and I often do, I can set the clean tube mix on full 6L6 while the overdriven channel is set to full EL34.
 
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The main reasons it's not a popular idea is because it requires jamming a lot of tubes, transformers, and circuit boards into something the size of a headbox. It would be very heavy, expensive, hot, and potentially noisy with that much signal and electromagnets pushed that close together.
 
Re: Just pure speculation here...

Gearjoneser said:
The main reasons it's not a popular idea is because it requires jamming a lot of tubes, transformers, and circuit boards into something the size of a headbox. It would be very heavy, expensive, hot, and potentially noisy with that much signal and electromagnets pushed that close together.
Click to expand...

In the interest of cost-effectiveness, there is a practical limit to how much mediocrity can be stuffed into one chassis.
 
Re: Just pure speculation here...

I'm really proud of all you guys for being able to paraphrase what I said way up there in reply #9. ;)
 
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