Small Tube Amp - What Kind of Tubes?

[soundchaser59]

most home amps will probably never reach the volume levels needed to experience power-stage breakup anyway. And in gigging amps nobody will be able to appreciate the finer audio points in the typical venue. There, I've said it

Yes, you said it......and you are absolutely correct. I have found this out first hand in the last 6-12 months. I was one of those unlucky turds back in the 70's who mistakenly thought "solid state" was another term for "cutting edge." That's why I spent 20 hours and about $200 bucks making a small "box tent" (for lack of a better term) to set my newly rediscovered tube amp in (and the tent is inside a home made mic booth) just for that very reason......so I can turn it up full power (it's only 50w) and make the amp do the work, instead of trying to suck every last bit of inductive reasoning out of my pickups. Now I am much happier with my tone, with the amp at full and the guitar knobs at half. Just stick a good mic in front of it (inside the tent with the amp) and record to taste.

I agree that 99% of the time, I would never expect "finer audio points" to be on anybody's mind with "gigging amps in a typical venue." Most people are more worried about their next drink and their next cigarette.....

But there are some real concert scenarios with big box artists with crowds who are there for the sole purpose of appreciating the "finer audio points".....and in that situation, maybe that power tube will make a huge difference! I'm just guessing, but SRV comes to mind first......

 

[punkin]

Ahhhhhh.......my amp kicks so much ass.

Oh yea!

 

[sumitagarwal]

I have the Galaxie 10 as well. I replaced the preamp tube with a JJ ECC83, but eventually went back. So that it would be possible to hear the powertube saturation at home levels, I stuck a THD Jellow Jacket converter into the power tube socket and stuck in an EL84, which dropped wattage from 15w to 5w. It can still get plenty loud for home use (too loud!) but it is possible to hear power stage saturation at home. However, I find this amp in particular can get a bit flatulent at full-tilt and I'm not sure what to do about that.

I also replaced the cheapo Celestion with a custom speaker from Ted Weber that I call the 'Blue Runt'. It has the cone of his Blue Pup, but to accomodate the small size of the amp the magnet is the smaller Alnico Special magnet. Overall its got a great sparkly 'British' tone, but the new speaker has less authority and impact than the Celestion.

P.S. With its retro design and blue tolex, this amp looks great with a couple of vinyl Bettie Page stickers stuck onto it

CORRECTION: It was a JJ EL84, not the ECC83. The ECC83 is a Groove Tubes

 

[ggunn]

now I also have a Fender Hot Rod Deville. it has 2 6L6's and 3 12AX7's. Could I buy 3 NOS 12AX7's to put in there.. and still keep my old GrooveTube 6L6's in there? is it better to switch out both power and pre-amp tubes at once... or not really?

Not really, In the case of push-pull power tube pairs, you want to change them both at the same time and check/set your bias, but with preamp tubes, change them one at a time or all at once, it makes no diff.