Tone Is In The…

Robert Herndon said:
The only difference I have ever experienced with tubes is differences in gain production.
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Same here. Rolling tubes never changed the core tone of an amp for me. It may have altered the point where breakup started, but the tone changed very little, if at all.

Fricker does make the point in the video that the real reason amps sound different is because of the rest of the circuitry in the amp, not necessarily the tubes. This is quite true. It’s why you can have amps that sound different even though they may use the same type and number of tubes and the same speaker.
 
smitty_p said:
Same here. Rolling tubes never changed the core tone of an amp for me. It may have altered the point where breakup started, but the tone changed very little, if at all.

Fricker does make the point in the video that the real reason amps sound different is because of the rest of the circuitry in the amp, not necessarily the tubes. This is quite true. It’s why you can have amps that sound different even though they may use the same type and number of tubes and the same speaker.
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It can make a huge difference.

Some tubes have very high sensitivity, like example Simo is more than double what an ordinary 12AX7 would be.
Some have much lower sensitivity example some JJ, which is Telefunken broadcast tube. More suitable in Hi Fi for very clean, good choice for clean channel of guitar amp.

You could test a tube which reads "good," and won't come close to a Simo.
You could hear a huge boost compared to the JJ clean tube.

The tests which you see on you tube:
are missing the whole difference. The tests are poorly conceived and do not show that there is a very noticeable difference between different brands and types of guitar amp tubes.

You are also judging based on "gain."
And gain is not the correct basis for judging the difference.
 
Amp Mad Scientist said:
You are also judging based on "gain."
And gain is not the correct basis for judging the difference.
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All I’m saying is that in the tube swaps I have done - which I admit have not been very much, so I don’t claim to have exhaustive experience with it - the core tonality of the amp didn’t really change.

I certainly am not making a blanket, categorical statement that different tubes cannot have a meaningful effect on tonality. I am also completely willing to accept that they can. But, for me - in my limited experience - speaker swaps have had more of an effect than tubes.

As for the idea that I’m judging ”based” on gain, well, no. I’m not. I’m judging based only on any differences I hear. If a difference in gain is all I noticed, that’s the only comment I can really make.
 
I have tried to like Glenn Fricker but its impossible. Don't know if it's his smugness, his " well I've recorded this many bands!" attitude ( by the way, go look at how many "successful" bands or well received albums he's made if you want a quick laugh) or maybe its just the fact he looks like a faux-metal version of the Area 51 scientist in Independence Day. Can't put my finger on it lmao

67803_0_wide_ver1507776207.jpg@642.jpgIndependence-day-dr-okun-brent-spiner.jpg
 
Iron1 said:
This guy is like the Skip Bayless of music. Not sure if being hyper-annoying is his schtick, or it's just a natural occurrence... either way, when I see one of his videos pop up in a search, I avoid if at all possible.
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I watched one of his videos once. Just once. It's time I'll never be able to get back.

That's also why I rarely click on any of the videos posted here. Unless they're in the "What are you listening to now?" thread.
 
smitty_p said:
Interesting. Do you notice more of a tonality change with them, or more of a gain change…or some of both?
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Quite simply, I've found no other tube that yields as much "gain" and lends a tighter gain structure that I never got from other tubes...

As far as "Tone" is concerned, I'm not sure it's doing much in that area...

All I have EVER got from tube rolling is more or less "gain," no other changes.
 
Robert Herndon said:
Quite simply, I've found no other tube that yields as much "gain" and lends a tighter gain structure that I never got from other tubes...

As far as "Tone" is concerned, I'm not sure it's doing much in that area...

All I have EVER got from tube rolling is more or less "gain," no other changes.
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Exactly the opposite of what I look for, and why I go after old NOS RCA and Mullard tubes. I like to get the most of the original character of the amp. Granted, I play old non-master volume amps, so I'm looking for a very different sound anyway. I did use Genelex Gold Lion KT66 power tubes in my JTM45 build, but I'll be swapping them out for some old GEC KT66s soon. Different strokes for different folks.

This '64 Bandmaster has a full compliment of original era RCA tubes in it. It sounds phenomenal. Was playing it last night, and it is a really great sounding amp. One of my top three, as far as how good it sounds. Our bass player has always hated Fender amps, until he heard this one. He loves it, and likes when I use it. It also compliments his overall sound with his old Acoustic 360/361 or 370/301 bass amps.

SG_Bandmaster.jpg
 
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