Different Rebel 20 Preamp Tubes for More Gain?

[FirebirdDan]

Would switching from the stock preamp tubes in my Rebel 20 allow me to get more gain/overdrive? The Rebel 20 just doesn't have enough gain for me. The only thing I know about the stock 12AX7's is that they're supposed to be GT (which I know means they could be JJ's). So I guess my questions are:

1. What is the actual stock preamp tube in the Rebel 20?

and

2. Is there a preamp tube out there with higher gain than the stock tubes?




Thanks in advance.

 

[Buckeyedog]

Nothing wrong with some high gain chinese. Get with Doug at dougstubes.com and tell him what you are looking for. Good luck!

 

[xfactor27]

Mornin' Firebird,
I picked up my Rebel 20 head a little over 6 mos. ago here in Ill.....a local GC...and it came stock with Sovtek 12ax7's..and not the good ones either, I might add. Was good enough for me to make my decision to purchase , but to get the tone i was after , changes needed to be made. Also, I want to add that IMO, the
stock JJ power tubes ( both El 84 & 6v6 ) were "lacking substance" and dark sounding.
Look up my past post of what ( for me ) I felt was a "magic mixture" of tubes for this head. I'm running this through a cab currently with 212 Celstion Vintage 30's. I play on it almost every day, and love it more and more each time!! The amp by itself will not reach metal territory, but it does have a sort of Marshall crunch that again, IMO, is very good! Cleans, although you get a little volume drop, with a chorus/reverb
pedals are slightly less than a Vox or Fender, but again , suits me just fine. This head loves O.D. and Dist.
pedals by the way, also.
If you choose to purchase , don't sweat the biasing of new tubes, I'm a noob when it comes to that stuff
and I was able to do it with a good multi-meter picked up from Ace Hardware.
Got my Tubes from Doug's Tubes , also by the way. Excellant service.
Hope this helps you and anyone else looking at this post that might be " on the fence"!!! LOL!
A Great Rockin' Day to all!!!
DJ