tube n00b question

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kidkage

kidkage

Bored of Canada
I'm on my cellphone so I don't know how well thisll work out but anyway, I'm aware the different tube "models" make a difference in tone but do different brands make a difference. Meaning if I get different brands of el34's will the tone change or no? Sorry for the annoyance and the probable confusing sounding post.
 
Every manufacturer of the same tube will sound different.
Just take a look at the price difference of Nos tubes.
The cheap lousy ones will cost a couple of bucks, wear as the great sounding and highly sot after ones of the same model will cost ya over $100.





:cool:
 
Since you're speaking about EL34 tubes....

I have several brands of EL34, Svetlana, Sylvania, Philips, JJ, and have had others too...they all sound a bit different.
 
Thanks for the help.

I used EL34 as an example but my situation actually calls for 6V6 tubes :p
Not really sure why I didnt use those as an example instead of the EL34's

:drunk:
 
I have a bunch of those too...the 6V6 based amps/tones are becoming my favorite along with EL34 tubes, which I've always liked.

The 6V6 also give different tone flavors depedning on brand...and NOS & used old brands can be had for decent prices...the 6V6 tube prices haven't gone as nuts as some other types.
 
kidkage said:
I'm on my cellphone so I don't know how well thisll work out but anyway, I'm aware the different tube "models" make a difference in tone but do different brands make a difference. Meaning if I get different brands of el34's will the tone change or no? Sorry for the annoyance and the probable confusing sounding post.
Click to expand...
Maybe yes, maybe no. I've done a bit of tube swapping and never really heard much of a difference, but that's just my limited and subjective experience. Also, what some will call a huge change will be less obvious for others. What amp(s) you are using, how you are using it/them, and what tubes you are swapping between are factors as well.

The only way to know for sure is to try it and see what you get.
 
Well, (if all goes well) I'll be getting a Phaez by September, and I figured if tube brands would effect the tone I could pick up some different tubes to mess around with when the amp comes in :o

Again, the help and patience is appreciated. Thanks. :drunk:
 
Tube/valve amps are DANGEROUS. So don't play swappsies until you learn about the death potential and ways of avoiding it.
 
rayc said:
Tube/valve amps are DANGEROUS. So don't play swappsies until you learn about the death potential and ways of avoiding it.
Click to expand...
While it is true that lethal voltages reside on nodes internal to tube amps, one doesn't risk coming in contact with them when changing tubes unless you somehow touch a hot pin while the tube is still deep enough in the socket to make contact. That would be hard to do and even harder to imagine doing accidentally. Anyone who can manage to change a light bulb in a live socket without getting electrocuted won't have a problem.
 
kidkage said:
I'm on my cellphone so I don't know how well thisll work out but anyway, I'm aware the different tube "models" make a difference in tone but do different brands make a difference. Meaning if I get different brands of el34's will the tone change or no? Sorry for the annoyance and the probable confusing sounding post.
Click to expand...

You would think that the tone wouldn't be differrent, but it will very slightly
 
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