chadrussel1221
New member
im on a mission to find out everything about how tubes affect sound, right now I'm curious about the rectifier, any info would help
rectifier tube
- Thread starter chadrussel1221
- Start date
trevorus
Modsterbator
Re: rectifier tube
Here's a good article from Soldano: http://www.soldano.com/amp-help/tube-vs-solid-state-rectifiers/ His opinion is completely against them, but he does have the description about right.
Here's a good article from Soldano: http://www.soldano.com/amp-help/tube-vs-solid-state-rectifiers/ His opinion is completely against them, but he does have the description about right.
hermetico
New member
Re: rectifier tube
If I am not wrong, a tube rectifier is working with some kind of ramp that makes it's response slower than in the case of a solid state rectifier. That gives some slight "delay" to the sound so, amp's response have less inmediatness than in the case of a solid state one.
Also, because of how they work, they tend to compress the sound, taming the attack and, giving some silkier or softer and warmer sound.
All those effects are known as the rectifier tube SAG.
Imagine that you combine that squash on the tails of a pedal compressor working hard (but in a very less noticiable level) and the compression of a tube screamer or, even better, of a dumblish pedal like the Hermida Audio Zendrive.
The result is soft attack, warm tone, good sustain, ...
Those things can be just what the doctor recommended to you or not, depending on the song but, If you want quick amp response and to preserve your attack (like in hard rock or other generes), solid state rectifiers are the option. In principle, solid state doesn't go bad and, a tube rectifier is a tube and, you know... it can go bad at any time.
The good thing to have a tube rectifier amp is that there is some device (at least in TAD) that you can plug, substituting the tube rectifier, to convert that slot into a solid state rectifier. So, you can have both worlds and, choose what to use for a certain session.
If I am not wrong, a tube rectifier is working with some kind of ramp that makes it's response slower than in the case of a solid state rectifier. That gives some slight "delay" to the sound so, amp's response have less inmediatness than in the case of a solid state one.
Also, because of how they work, they tend to compress the sound, taming the attack and, giving some silkier or softer and warmer sound.
All those effects are known as the rectifier tube SAG.
Imagine that you combine that squash on the tails of a pedal compressor working hard (but in a very less noticiable level) and the compression of a tube screamer or, even better, of a dumblish pedal like the Hermida Audio Zendrive.
The result is soft attack, warm tone, good sustain, ...
Those things can be just what the doctor recommended to you or not, depending on the song but, If you want quick amp response and to preserve your attack (like in hard rock or other generes), solid state rectifiers are the option. In principle, solid state doesn't go bad and, a tube rectifier is a tube and, you know... it can go bad at any time.
The good thing to have a tube rectifier amp is that there is some device (at least in TAD) that you can plug, substituting the tube rectifier, to convert that slot into a solid state rectifier. So, you can have both worlds and, choose what to use for a certain session.
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TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: rectifier tube
A great way to learn about rectifiers and how they affect an amp's tone is to get hold of a MESA Dual Rectifier amplifier and switch between the valve and solid state rectifiers. It's really amazing how it changes the amp's response feel to your playing.
I wonder if you mic'd the amp, however, and recorded both, if a blind test would reveal anything sonically.
That being said, it's definitely noticeable from a player's perspective.
A great way to learn about rectifiers and how they affect an amp's tone is to get hold of a MESA Dual Rectifier amplifier and switch between the valve and solid state rectifiers. It's really amazing how it changes the amp's response feel to your playing.
I wonder if you mic'd the amp, however, and recorded both, if a blind test would reveal anything sonically.
That being said, it's definitely noticeable from a player's perspective.
LReese
Sausage Gravy
Re: rectifier tube
Its just my opinion, but switching types of rectifiers changes the idle level in those amps. Bias is non-adjustable in Mesas (AFAIK) unless modded. That can account for at least some of the difference.
Its just my opinion, but switching types of rectifiers changes the idle level in those amps. Bias is non-adjustable in Mesas (AFAIK) unless modded. That can account for at least some of the difference.
glassman
Electron Herder
Re: rectifier tube
The effect of different recitier tubes is dependent on several things:
(1) Power supply (transformer): an amp with a lower current power supply may not yield a distinguishible difference between rectifier tube types...or even a solid state rectifier for that matter. Any sag you experience in this case is probably copper loss in the power transformer and the rectifier may add nothing to the mix.
(2) Filtering: an over filtered power supply will make an amp feel slower with a recifier tube that has more envelope (current dependent voltage drop) while an amp with less filering will actually show an increase in attack and feel faster.
(3) power tube bias: the higher the bias, the slower the "recovery" time; this generally equals less attack and dynamics.
All of the above are subjective; rectifier type and behavior is something that has to be designed into an amp (or the modification of an amp) so that it work as a system with the rest of the amp. A tube rectifier can make or break an amp (tone-wise) depending on how it is used and with what.
The effect of different recitier tubes is dependent on several things:
(1) Power supply (transformer): an amp with a lower current power supply may not yield a distinguishible difference between rectifier tube types...or even a solid state rectifier for that matter. Any sag you experience in this case is probably copper loss in the power transformer and the rectifier may add nothing to the mix.
(2) Filtering: an over filtered power supply will make an amp feel slower with a recifier tube that has more envelope (current dependent voltage drop) while an amp with less filering will actually show an increase in attack and feel faster.
(3) power tube bias: the higher the bias, the slower the "recovery" time; this generally equals less attack and dynamics.
All of the above are subjective; rectifier type and behavior is something that has to be designed into an amp (or the modification of an amp) so that it work as a system with the rest of the amp. A tube rectifier can make or break an amp (tone-wise) depending on how it is used and with what.
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