do you have to bias guitar amp preamp tubes

It’s a very nice tube.ĦV6: I use the JJ 6V6 in my Jim Kelley Reverb head. I also like the GT-E元4M.ĦL6: I run TAD 6L6GC-STR tubes in my ’66 Fender Bassman. They have good tone and are fairly reliable. Peter Thorn’s “New Production” Tube PicksĮ元4: I use and recommend JJ E元4s. are long since closed, and almost all tubes made today are manufactured in Russia, China, or Slovakia. Tube manufacturing factories in countries like England, Germany, Holland, and the U.S. Because they were manufactured years ago, that’s why they are referred to as new-old-stock (NOS). Tubes from these manufacturers can still be found, but in very short supply. Most aficionados would probably agree that the best tubes were made from the 1950s to the 1980s by Mullard, RCA, Siemens, Telefunken, Sylvainia, Amperex, and others. The only remaining folks who really needed tubes were audiophiles and musicians.

Most of the electronics world moved from tubes to transistors in the late 1960s, and the tube market shrank dramatically. That’s part of their tonal signature, and guitarists from Brian May to the Edge have created a number of epic tones using amps with EL84 tubes. EL84s are low-power tubes that quickly compress and distort. Marshall amps are famous for using E元4s for their signature midrange crunch, while the Vox AC30 uses EL84 tubes. Though 6V6 tubes share some tonal similarities with 6L6s when run clean, 6V6s will break up sooner and tend to grind more when pushed. The 6L6 is known for having full, round, and clear tone that stays big and clear even when pushed. amp companies (Fender and Mesa/Boogie, for example) use either 6L6s or 6V6s. Other amps use 12AU7 or 12AT7 tubes, which are similar to the 12AX7 but have lower gain. And most use 12AX7 (aka ECC83) preamp tubes. Most tube amps need multiple preamp tubes to perform various functions. First, let’s look at some different types of tubes. But remember, I’m not an amp tech: This advice comes solely from my experience as a player. I'll attempt to shed some light on these mysterious glass bottles and offer some tips on how to keep your amp rocking when you run into tube-related issues.

Tubes can and do wear out and fail, which can wreak havoc on your gigs and sessions. Yet with so much confusion and misinformation, tubes can be a daunting subject for even the most experienced guitarists. But you probably hate them too! The magic bounce, compression, and grind that tubes produce form the tonal foundation for almost every great electric guitarist-past and present. As an electric guitarist, you likely love tubes.

Do you have to bias guitar amp preamp tubes