Without getting technical (which I've had far too much to drink for at the moment), no, I wouldn't expect it to hit the power tubes harder. 12AX7, 12AT7, 12AY7 or 5751 are all good candidates for the PI position, but it is the 12AX7 that will drive the power tubes hardest in a guitar amp, even when the supporting circuitry is optimised for the 12AT7 (lower value plate resistors & larger value tail resistor). Think of the amps that Leo changed over from a 12AX7 to 12AT7 phase inverter (pro, showman, tremolux etc, etc), the 12AT7 PI amps exhibit more clean headroom from the power amp than their earlier 12AX7 PI counterparts. Cheers
Thank you, Ivan...i suppose that i am perhaps "hung up" on the higher transconductance of the 12AT7 in comparison to the 12AX7.
I want you to know (and this includes the rest of you that have commented) that i sincerely appreciate the education in this regard.
Let me say that the ECC823 is pure genious in the V1 position of these DSL40C amps. I believe it was
@syscokid,
@Goldmember, and
@Hackmaster that suggested this "hybrid" tube to me.
These amps have way too much gain in stock form, so much so that the upper 2/3rds of the gain knob is largely unusable.
The JJ5751 in V2 and V3 gives the gain control a more linear functionality. The gain is still quite pronounced, but not as "peaky" or extreme.
Conversely, a 5751 or other lower gain tube in V4 has a similar effect of reducing the "harshness" of the gain structure and giving the amp a smoother, less "brittle" tone.
I am eager to try a 12AT7 in V4, but have zero in stock, so i have to wait for replacements to arrive from Amplified Parts.
I read an article by Myles Rose where he liked to put a Sovtek 12AX7LPS in V4 despite lower gain tubes in the first 3 slots. This seemed very odd to me to have the highest gain tube in the very last position.
Any idea why this would be a suggestion???
Also, Is there any risk of damaging the DSL40C by long term use (very near 3/4 knob volume with volume controlled by a FV30L in the FX loop) with a 12AT7 in V4???
I have a couple of experiments that i would like to try in V4...