Preamp tubes or power tubes?

[Rowan]

Which has the bigger influence on your amp's tone? Upgrading the preamp tubes or the power amp tubes? I'm thinking about getting some tubes for a new amp and I'm not sure if I want to replace them all. What would make the biggest difference in tone using the smallest number of tubes?

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Preamp tubes or power tubes?

They can all make a large difference. I think pre tubes have the largest effect IMHO. Power tubes can have a fairly decent impact, but the difference between good and not good pre tubes is pretty darned glaring to me.

 

[Gunny47]

Re: Preamp tubes or power tubes?

+1 Preamp tubes for me also. Totally changes out the EQ balance of the amp. The original groove tubes in my tweed made the amp sound way brighter and nastier than it is now with the Tung Sols and JJ.

 

[Rowan]

Re: Preamp tubes or power tubes?

I see. So would it be advisable to change all of the preamp tubes or only the first one?

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Preamp tubes or power tubes?

The first one will make the largest difference.

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Preamp tubes or power tubes?

The first one will have the largest impact on the overall tone, but you might get the very best sound by changing them around till one combination becomes noticeably better.

 

[Rowan]

Re: Preamp tubes or power tubes?

So tubes don't have to match? There wouldn't be any issues if I replaced the first tube in my ENGL with a sovtek 12ax7 LPS and kept the rest stock?

My tube set up is three 12ax7 preamp tubes, two 6L6s and one 12ax7 for the power section.

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Preamp tubes or power tubes?

I have found that some amps like having a matched set of pre tubes. The 12AX7LPS from Sovtek is amazingly good in marshally amps. Throw that bad boy in V1 and see what you think. If you like it, try another in V2 and V3. I usually find that the amp sounds better with all the pre tubes matching. Some amps like a mix though. It really depends on the amp.

 

[Rowan]

Re: Preamp tubes or power tubes?

Thanks Gr8scott. I'm thinking about sovteks in the preamp and JJ's for the poweramp section in my ENGL screamer. I had that combo in my 5150 and the sound was musical and the feedback very managable. But so far I'm liking this amp much better with the stock tubes so it can only get better right?

 

[Gr8Scott]

Re: Preamp tubes or power tubes?

Lets hope so. Good thing you're digging it as is though.

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Preamp tubes or power tubes?

I dont know I am a contrarian a lot in life so ..... I think that power tubes decide the type of tone and pre-amp tubes help find "who you are." To me, there is a huge difference between EL34 and 6L6. I am personally gravitatin toward KT77s because to my ears they give the best of both worlds. To me ears EL34s and 6L6 give two very different low ends, but its the pre-amp tubes that will help you to tweak it to what you hear in your head. But start with power tubes, its like BMW vs. Mercedes, both German but very different cars.

 

[millsart]

Re: Preamp tubes or power tubes?

Depends on the amp and what your looking to get out of it. As you no doubt know, theres the preamp distortion an amp can generate and then theres the power amp distortion or a mixture of the two.

If your the type of player who cranks the gain but can't turn the master past 2, then power tubes will be a waste. As long as you've got the headroom you need, they just won't be doing much.

If on the other hand you like to get most of your tone from a cranked amp, then you'll see some dividends as there are some pretty big differences in how different types of tubes, as well as different brands break up.

So as I said, totally depends on the amp and your application

 

[Rowan]

Re: Preamp tubes or power tubes?

Depends on the amp and what your looking to get out of it. As you no doubt know, theres the preamp distortion an amp can generate and then theres the power amp distortion or a mixture of the two.

If your the type of player who cranks the gain but can't turn the master past 2, then power tubes will be a waste. As long as you've got the headroom you need, they just won't be doing much.

If on the other hand you like to get most of your tone from a cranked amp, then you'll see some dividends as there are some pretty big differences in how different types of tubes, as well as different brands break up.

So as I said, totally depends on the amp and your application

Thats a good call. This new amp is 50 watts and I'm able to crank it a lot closer to it's max output compared to the 120 watt I had before. That was one of the lures too, being able to really crank it up the ENGL without drowning out the rest of the band. So the power tubes play a larger role if they're really being pushed? **** I'm probably going to end up replacing all of the tubes now :doh:

 

[Mincer]

Re: Preamp tubes or power tubes?

I really hate preamp distortion- that buzzy fizziness that comes with most master volume amps. It tends to make most players sound exactly the same, tone wise.
However, I absolutely love a low powered amp (6v6s) pushed with a pedal. You can't get super gain, but that isn't the point either.

 

[Ringlund]

Re: Preamp tubes or power tubes?

Depends on the amp and what your looking to get out of it. As you no doubt know, theres the preamp distortion an amp can generate and then theres the power amp distortion or a mixture of the two.

If your the type of player who cranks the gain but can't turn the master past 2, then power tubes will be a waste. As long as you've got the headroom you need, they just won't be doing much.

If on the other hand you like to get most of your tone from a cranked amp, then you'll see some dividends as there are some pretty big differences in how different types of tubes, as well as different brands break up.

So as I said, totally depends on the amp and your application

This sounds logical enough... +1