Help, tube amp and Bass amp gurus
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Superlizard
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mayfly said:
STDC making a statement, and myself asking STDC a simple question regarding said statement should not be construed as a "pissing match"... I honestly do
not recall any of those mentioned discussing (original) Mullards or the like, and I'd assume I would have noticed, since it is a topic that interests me very much.
Which is of course why previously I mentioned to the new guy that it's good to have someone else knowledgeable in these subjects on the board.
So, with that said - let's not make false accusations, shall we?
Super Turbo Deluxe Custom
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Search "Mullard." And yes, no pissing match.
Superlizard
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Super Turbo Deluxe Custom said:Search "Mullard." And yes, no pissing match.
You're right - late in the wee hours last night I was bored and did a search like your image implies.
It would be nice however if more would chime in on t00bs, t00b amps, etc... I mean, who
wants to read about Floyds? :toothy12:
The problem with discussing tube technology in any musical context seems to me to be related to the fact that it's really an engineering subject. I am an engineer so I'm cool with the maths involved but spectrum analysis of the harmonic overtones is not exactly rock n'roll. Or jazz. It sometimes seems to distract people from the reality that YOUR TONE is IN YOUR FINGERS and how well you use the connection between your fingers and your EARS.
I have heard people playing "instruments" that I would regard as firewood sounding wonderful.
My guitar teacher remarked to me late one night as we were jamming on acoustic guitars "If someone can't make a tune sound good on an acoustic they can't really play" but those are hard words for someone looking for a Magic Bullet Solution to get their heads around. Good tone comes from long hours, not money I think.
I am not looking for an argument here. I remember the first time I ever played through a good tube amp (silverface Twin) and it was a religious experience. I like shiny things as much as any other fool, but if it's not in your fingers there is little hope of it coming out of any amp you're playing.
This needs to be stated clearly I think so that impressionable children of whatever age are not led astray! If you can make it sound good on a plywood topped acoustic with a .013 high E then it's time to worry about the microscopic differences in amplifiers that only sound good wound up to stage volume anyway. Your tone is in Your Fingers.
A classical musician was approached by a member of the audience one night during the intermission "That violin/cello/whatever sounds really great tonight" so the musician picks up the instrument and holds it up to his ear and says "Thats strange, I can't hear it at all"
It's just cool to use Mullards in a Marshall because that's what they put in them back in the 60's. Amperex "Bugle Boys" apparently have more "mojo"!
I have heard people playing "instruments" that I would regard as firewood sounding wonderful.
My guitar teacher remarked to me late one night as we were jamming on acoustic guitars "If someone can't make a tune sound good on an acoustic they can't really play" but those are hard words for someone looking for a Magic Bullet Solution to get their heads around. Good tone comes from long hours, not money I think.
I am not looking for an argument here. I remember the first time I ever played through a good tube amp (silverface Twin) and it was a religious experience. I like shiny things as much as any other fool, but if it's not in your fingers there is little hope of it coming out of any amp you're playing.
This needs to be stated clearly I think so that impressionable children of whatever age are not led astray! If you can make it sound good on a plywood topped acoustic with a .013 high E then it's time to worry about the microscopic differences in amplifiers that only sound good wound up to stage volume anyway. Your tone is in Your Fingers.
A classical musician was approached by a member of the audience one night during the intermission "That violin/cello/whatever sounds really great tonight" so the musician picks up the instrument and holds it up to his ear and says "Thats strange, I can't hear it at all"
It's just cool to use Mullards in a Marshall because that's what they put in them back in the 60's. Amperex "Bugle Boys" apparently have more "mojo"!
ccasion14:seanmac said:
Not at all old man. Just a clarification for the uninitiated on my behalf.
Good that they publish low frequency current handling... sort of.... I'm assuming they're saying they can handle that much current _and_ match it to the output too. If so, nice spec to have published. Transformers do seriously insane things at low frequency, and less insane, almost predictable things at higher frequency.
Back to the rated for "whatever" tubes.
Folks will often look in a book, find that a transformer is rated for "two 6L6's" and think, oh crap, I need a two 6V6 rated transformer, without realizing that its just a matter of speaker load impedance - not always given as "8 ohms".
For instance, you take a Deluxe Reverb, and stick some 6L6's in it. Instead of a good match from 6V6's to 8 ohms, you're now a better match to 6L6's into 4 ohms. No problem, just plug in an extension 8 ohm cabinet, and you got a marginally cleaner, but no more powerful, little amp!
Thats the sort of point I was making on the "rated for" post...
Hi Folks again,
I have no notion how to do the "quote" thing. I'm kind of new to the interweb.
=CB= To begin with I'd like to say first how much I admire your work. You have the hands of an angel.
I'm delighted you took the time to respond to my first post. It seems to me that you are one of the most respected members of this forum for very good reasons. Skillful, wise and generous with your time and knowledge. Are you a wizard and what brand of tubes do you use in your magic wand?
Mayfly, it is the most important "secret" of finding your tone as I'm sure you, as a player and amp builder (very impressive) know well but it never hurts to repeat it. Too much of the internet is brainwashed with mythology and nonsense concerning various boxes of wires. So in the spirit of this forum, which demystifies the guitar building process so clearly and helps people build some of the most beautiful guitars I have ever seen I thought I would be cool using BIG letters.
take care, and may you all have toneful fingers and good vibes
John
I have no notion how to do the "quote" thing. I'm kind of new to the interweb.
=CB= To begin with I'd like to say first how much I admire your work. You have the hands of an angel.
I'm delighted you took the time to respond to my first post. It seems to me that you are one of the most respected members of this forum for very good reasons. Skillful, wise and generous with your time and knowledge. Are you a wizard and what brand of tubes do you use in your magic wand?
Mayfly, it is the most important "secret" of finding your tone as I'm sure you, as a player and amp builder (very impressive) know well but it never hurts to repeat it. Too much of the internet is brainwashed with mythology and nonsense concerning various boxes of wires. So in the spirit of this forum, which demystifies the guitar building process so clearly and helps people build some of the most beautiful guitars I have ever seen I thought I would be cool using BIG letters.
take care, and may you all have toneful fingers and good vibes
John
