Tube changes and how different preamps influence the sound

[Jono82]

Can anyone advise some general guidelines in terms of tubes and what you can expect from each brand? I am about to do the first tube change on my HT-60.

What will the different preamp tubes do? Does it affect EQ or the gain structure? More gain? Less gain?

What will different poweramp tubes do? I think I understand this a bit better. Changing the EQ characteristics, like more low end.. more high end. More of a 6L6 sound or more of an EL34 sound, or something in the middle?

For the preamp tubes, I'm quite confused though. Is it possible to pick a tube that makes the clean channel Fendery? The OD1 channel more Marshall crunch, more like JVM.. where the sound is less dark and smooth.. and have more bite and upper mid crunch.. and for the OD2 channel to sound modern (like the way it already is), like a Peavey or Mesa?

I am wondering if you change one.. and then it compromises the rest. And I wouldn't even know which brand or type of tube to try. I guess I just don't understand much about preamp tubes and how they work.

I guess my biggest thing would be wanting to make the OD1 channel less dark and smooth.. and more alive and open.. but without trying to change the clean and OD2 too much, because I like these the way they are even with stock TAD tubes.

Any help is appreciated. Any brands or types of tubes etc.

[MikeD]

Noticed it´s really getting dead around here and haven´t seen many of the experts around. I haven´t had my amp long enough to do any really testing, have just had time for one tube replacement, put these in after stock

TAD el34 B-str matched quartet...ask for pc 28´s ( we did 2 amps and bias was maxed for the pc 30´s and they were just getting close to getting run "warm")
JJ´S ECC83 s
JJ´S ECC82/12AU7
.....and found that the difference was Amazing (note that even the pc markings on the TADS really made a difference too!!...was recommended these tubes by my amp-doctor....and he biased them for what we wanted (Classic rock-tone).

found this on google and hope it´s of some help:

http://atoragon.blogspot.se/2012/04/whi ... r-amp.html

the author of this one´s a Little wobbly but there are some gems:

http://www.jemsite.com/forums/f30/a-gui ... 26072.html

a bit of info on the V1:

http://proguitarshop.com/andyscorner/th ... reamp-tube

substituting tubes with others:

http://www.ebay.com/gds/Guitar-Amp-Tube ... 359/g.html

this may be of some help too...some opinions from other blackstar users:

http://www.blackstaramps.com/forum/view ... =28&t=1881

it´s hard finding concret info on different tubes in just the blackstar models seeing that they haven´t been around so long but hopefuly you´ll be pointed in the right direction.....What guitar your playing really affects tone too...no matter what tubes you have it´s really hard to get that AFD sound when your holding a fender!!
//Good luck

[Jono82]

Cheers, will give those a read.

[Sonofarich]

Swapping the 12AX7 with a 12AY7 or 5751 is a good way to reduce the gain (change the sweep).

Different brands of preamp and/or power tubes can make subtle changes to the tone (i.e. chimey, gritty, more low end or mids, etc.), but (IMHO) an EL34 won't sound like a 6L6. Search the archive for threads dealing with tube brands and characteristics. There are at least a couple...

[Jono82]

Yeah have done alot of reading and searching lately. Thanks.

I think I want to try V1 - Tungsol 12AX7 V2 - JJ ECC83S V3 - JJ ECC82 with JJ EL34L for the power tubes.