Tube Tone

[Alex/Tubewonder]

But you didn't say that you make guitar amps.

I didn't? Sorry, I guess I should be bragging more, there is a link in my sig....but try this for starters http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBNHq2q2648

[kleuck]

In my experience (but i'm not a pro builder) the more you tune the amp to your taste, the less important are the tubes.Not to say that there's no better tubes than others of course (i would not use NOS) but differences are in a much narrow field.

[Merlinb]

Another factor that can affect tone is compression. Plenty of valve circuits behave like audio compressors, squashing down on transients and expanding smaller signals. It's not the valves themselves of course, but the overall circuit that does this. By changing the envelope of signal you change its frequency content- you've probably experienced this if you've ever played through a compressor and noticed how much duller it sounds. A valve amp can have exactly the same effect.

[kleuck]

Another factor that can affect tone is compression. Plenty of valve circuits behave like audio compressors, squashing down on transients and expanding smaller signals. It's not the valves themselves of course, but the overall circuit that does this.

And it's exactly what we expect from a good tube amp, the reason why we love them, and why any "tube vs SS" on YT (just an example) is pointless unless YOU are the player. The "sound" is only a small part of the equation.

[kleuck]

BTW : not all compressors sound dull (but it's a common issue)

[kleuck]

Why is it impossible on this board to edit a post, despite the "edit" button ?

[catnine]

All I know is this SF champ home brew I built ended up with icepick highs and I had a ruby 12AX7 in there so I looked through all the 12ax7's I had (not many) and stuck in a JJ 12ax7 and that took out the icepick highs I tried a sovtek and that brought back the highs but not as back as the ruby and they were all new tubes.

[Enzo]

RE: edit of posts. We have a thread about it down at the bottom of the forum. You get a limited time to edit, so you can correct errors. Then it sticks. This prevents someone from sabotaging a thread.

[catnine]

All I know is this SF champ home brew I built ended up with icepick highs and I had a ruby 12AX7 in there so I looked through all the 12ax7's I had (not many) and stuck in a JJ 12ax7 and that took out the icepick highs I tried a sovtek and that brought back the highs but not as bad as the ruby and they were all new tubes.

[Chuck H]

As was mentioned earlier in the thread, this could be a difference in the tubes bias point. If the circuit in question were to have it's bias adjusted for any like designation tube, the theory is that all things would be created equal. The conflict in this thread is whether this is strictly true or if like designated tubes may have tonal properties or deficiencies that are audible one from another.