corrosivesubstanc
New member
i currently have a blackstar ht-5 1x10 combo. wanted more gain out of it. will changing the tubes help? any to recommend? (also, i dunno how to change the tubes... newb ah...)
Changing Tubes = Higher Gain?
- Thread starter corrosivesubstanc
- Start date
corrosivesubstanc
New member
metal kinda gain? or just a slight improvement? also, issit hard to change the tubes?
templar03
Member
Yeah metal gain. The improvement is definitely noticeable.
Well, as for changing the tubes, I unscrewed the back and slowly wiggled the tubes out while using a tissue paper.
I don't think you need to worry that you might break the tubes in the process. I've tossed the stock preamp tube around for kicks and it seems pretty tough.
Well, as for changing the tubes, I unscrewed the back and slowly wiggled the tubes out while using a tissue paper.
I don't think you need to worry that you might break the tubes in the process. I've tossed the stock preamp tube around for kicks and it seems pretty tough.
corrosivesubstanc
New member
i always hear of ppl getting tubes changed so frequently... honestly i dun even noe where to get 1... any recommended places to go to? 
And how do i noe which is the preamp and which is the power tube? (if there is 1 tht is...) also issit necessary to change both?
And how do i noe which is the preamp and which is the power tube? (if there is 1 tht is...) also issit necessary to change both?
Last edited:
Jumpin'Jellybean
New member
You can get tubes at Swee Lee. EHX tubes, i think.
subversion
Moderator
swapping tubes will change the drive character, not the drive type. if an amp was conceived to churn out blues-type crunch, no amout of tube swapping would turn it into a heavy metal-type.
dodgethis
New member
Changing the pre-amp tube currently in your HT-5 will do nothing to change the amount of gain. The 12AX7 in it already has the most highest gain factor (100), in the 12A_7 series. Different pre-amp tubes have different amounts of gain. A comparison of the gain factor numbers can be found here. A Tungsol is known to have smooth gain, which makes it ideal to be used in the V1 of many pre-amps.
Note: V1 is the designation assigned to the pre-amp tube in the pre-amp section that handles the gain.
However, changing a pre-amp tube can affect the amount of gain, assuming that the tube assigned to the gain stages of the pre-amp section, but of course it must have has a lower gain factor than a 12AX7, like a 12AT7 or 5751. By the same token, some people like changing the V1 12AX7 in the JVM to a 12AT7 to get less gain out of the JVM, but that screws around with the selectable gain stages in that amp. The JVM uses two 12AX7s to get the large amounts of gain that it has.
If you don't know how to change tubes or are not ready to do the swapping on your own or learn how to do so, don't buy a tube amp. Stick with solid state ones. Tube swaps are the most basic sort of maintainence that you need to able perform when owning one, just like changing of strings.
Note: V1 is the designation assigned to the pre-amp tube in the pre-amp section that handles the gain.
However, changing a pre-amp tube can affect the amount of gain, assuming that the tube assigned to the gain stages of the pre-amp section, but of course it must have has a lower gain factor than a 12AX7, like a 12AT7 or 5751. By the same token, some people like changing the V1 12AX7 in the JVM to a 12AT7 to get less gain out of the JVM, but that screws around with the selectable gain stages in that amp. The JVM uses two 12AX7s to get the large amounts of gain that it has.
If you don't know how to change tubes or are not ready to do the swapping on your own or learn how to do so, don't buy a tube amp. Stick with solid state ones. Tube swaps are the most basic sort of maintainence that you need to able perform when owning one, just like changing of strings.
Last edited:
Similar threads
