i posted last week about my preamp tube journey
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make sure you get yourself a quad of the ruby 6L6's from guitar center for 50 bux. even as a backup, can't beat it.
you might (as i mentioned in my post about pre tubes) want to immediately get that sovtek 12ax7lps matched tube for the 8th tube position (the phase inverter). immediately, you'll notice a better "feel" to your amp. also, something a forgot to mention, i had a fender sovtek 12ax7 (b?i think). i put it in the reverb tube slot, and it REALLY sounds great. it's really warm and chimey, but not overbearing like the GT 12ax7 was in there.
other than that, the journey for tone with this amp has been a pleasurable one. for sure, the 4 channels can do ANY sound, you just have to dial them in.
when i get time, i'll post my settings for you other cats to check out on your own TM's.
i traded a mesa heartbreaker combo for this amp, and honestly, i can't believe how great it sounds, feels, and makes me actually WANT to play more and better.
don't snark one bit at the fact that it's made in china. it's a great amp. the power grid makes this just about the most versatile amp you can get your hands on for under 2 grand. i find it useful at low volume settings, as well as putting some power tube "whomp" into my distortion at higher volume settings.
the secret to channel 4 lies in the gain/bass/resonance settings....pending if you use a 4/12 cab with this amp, you can REALLY over dial in the bass and resonance. use those knobs sparingly. i use my gain around 2oclock, bass around 11 and resonance less than 12 oclock. adjust your contour to taste (for metal sounds) and you have it.
the combo speakers are a tad crispy at high volumes, and i cant seem to get this dialed out without really backing off on the presence, which im not too crazy about, BUT, once i mix the combo with one of my 4x12s, the darker color of the cabinet mixes well and balances the combo speakers out. so, for me, it works out well.
i can't stress enough how important (as with any tube amp) the gain is. too much is readily noticeable and can make things mushy sounding....you dont wanna lose those nice tones by diming the gain out...so be careful there.
one other tip i posted, you can easily give yourself a clean boost with this amp, with NO OTHER outboard gear.
simply put a small patch cable from the effects send output to the return. set it on paralell OR series (i like it in parallell). set the switch on the back to apply to all channels. now, on your footboard, you can hit your effects loop button, and, pending your volumes and the loop settings, you can have a stage volume boost, OR even set it to mute. nice feature to an already nice amp.
i REALLY like the way this amp sounds with the back board off the combo rear. i just leave the grill for the fan screwed in. it sounds deeper and has a clearer bass response.
thats about it...keep drooling til you get it..then crank it up. break those speakers in for a few hours, and have at it.
the manual gives some nice starting points, and reference points for tone.....but dont be afraid to start all the channel knobs on 12 oclock and go from there. i found that easier than dialing in each knob from "0".
good luck with her...you'll love this amp.