Tube Questions from a true Tube Ignoramus...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Resonant Alien
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Resonant Alien

Resonant Alien

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Sorry if this has been answered somewhere before. I did a search, honest I did. I couldn't find what I was after, but I admit I do pretty much suck at searching.

What is the function of the various preamp tubes. Particularly in the Renegade, but I'm sure there is a general answer to the question.

In the Renegade, there is V1/V2 in Ch1 and V3/V4 in Ch2. In Ch1, V1 is pre-gain knob, V2 post gain knob. In Ch2, V3 is both before and after gain knob - V3A before and V3B after, and V4 is post-gain knob. V5 looks to be a tube buffer for the FX loop, and V6 is a final preamp stage post-Main Volume before the power stage input.

I assume that V1/V2 and V3/V4 have the most impact on the tone. My first question is what is the difference in impact of the two basic tube positions - i.e. pre-gain (V1/V3) vs. post-gain (V2/V4)? I've seen you guys use different brand tubes in V1 vs. V2 of the modules - what is the general function of the positions, and which affects what part of the tone.

I assume that V5 would have little impact on the tone, being a tube buffer to the FX loop, and I would assume that swapping this tube should not be high on the To Do list.

What about V6? Seems to me that this would have a decent impact on the tone, since the harder you push the Main volume of the Renegade, the harder you will drive this tube.

Thanks for any insight you can give!

Rick
 
Definitely spend your money on V1 and V3 first

If the channels on the Renegade are anything like the modules in the Mod50, then V2/V4 really won't benefit THAT much from a tube swap. I keep the stock sovteks in all my V2s. Sounds great, saves money! :thumbsup:

Now that I have a renegade to play with, I'll try to get some time to do some tube swapping and let you know my results.
 
RockStarNick":1whuew4i said:
Definitely spend your money on V1 and V3 first

If the channels on the Renegade are anything like the modules in the Mod50, then V2/V4 really won't benefit THAT much from a tube swap. I keep the stock sovteks in all my V2s. Sounds great, saves money! :thumbsup:

Now that I have a renegade to play with, I'll try to get some time to do some tube swapping and let you know my results.
Click to expand...
How's your Dad's new toy Nick,does he even get to use it??? :lol: :LOL:
 
I must admit... I have been totally hogging it... but he's cool with that! haha.

The clean channel is absolutely stunning on that amp. Just awesome.
 
tomk62":3nr1gwsd said:
Are you running the cab open back or closed back?
Click to expand...

Closed back right now.

I am thinking about trying out some different speakers also, and trying it out open back. I got a V30 from Eric that I haven't put in yet. I am thinking about getting either a G12H or GT12-75 to mix with the V30. The E80s just seem to have a little too much presence for my tastes. I have vintage-output pickups in my guitars (I switched my LP back to 57 Classics) - I liked the E80s when I played through them at GC with a guitar with hot pups, but the additional high end in the vintage winds seems just too much, for me anyway. YMMV as they say.

Also thinking about putting a JAN/Phillips 5751 in V1 of Ch 1 - seems like a lot of guys like that in V1 of the BMAN module, so that seems logical. And thinking about putting either a Chinese or a Tung Sol in V3 of Ch2, since seems like several guys like those in V1 of the SL2.

Think I'll leave the Sovteks in V2/V4.

Still not sure if I should try something different in V6, and I am thinking about trying out some different 6L6s at some point instead of the Sovtek 5881s, but not now. I like Ruby EL34s, so I'll leave them for now.
 
Resonant Alien":3pix9mzs said:
tomk62":3pix9mzs said:
Are you running the cab open back or closed back?
Click to expand...

Closed back right now.

I am thinking about trying out some different speakers also, and trying it out open back. I got a V30 from Eric that I haven't put in yet. I am thinking about getting either a G12H or GT12-75 to mix with the V30. The E80s just seem to have a little too much presence for my tastes. I have vintage-output pickups in my guitars (I switched my LP back to 57 Classics) - I liked the E80s when I played through them at GC with a guitar with hot pups, but the additional high end in the vintage winds seems just too much, for me anyway. YMMV as they say.

Also thinking about putting a JAN/Phillips 5751 in V1 of Ch 1 - seems like a lot of guys like that in V1 of the BMAN module, so that seems logical. And thinking about putting either a Chinese or a Tung Sol in V3 of Ch2, since seems like several guys like those in V1 of the SL2.

Think I'll leave the Sovteks in V2/V4.

Still not sure if I should try something different in V6, and I am thinking about trying out some different 6L6s at some point instead of the Sovtek 5881s, but not now. I like Ruby EL34s, so I'll leave them for now.
Click to expand...


Get a set of NOS JP 6L6s..holy hell..similar bottle shape to the TS 5881s...but they sound better than the TS5881s IMHO.

Eric
 
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