Randolf Arriola (embryo) Guitar Gear 101

[Weiht]

Yeah power tubes, its not abt the gain... But its alot punchier n more full n just balls all the way. But u gotta play it LOUD to a certain sweet spot!!!!!!!

Ur neighbours will love you

 

[Weiht]

Since we r on the topic of tubes, i start the ball rolling hehe...

R all nos tubes really better than current production? Is it really impt to match the power tubes?

 

[embryo]

Yup.
Low end tone juice and tonal dynamics is at the Power Tube section. If you run high on the Pre Amp and very low on the Power Tube the sound is fizzier/ thinner and not so dynamic with volume control changes at the guitar end. That would be the classic 80's era shred metal sound. If this is the sound you are going for then perhaps the way to go is to get a Triaxis preamp with a solid state power amp driving your 4x12s.

The modern shred players' tones today are generally more of a combination of classic 80's shred sensibilities combined with a more classic range of tones from each players' uniquel blend of pre and power tube saturation.

 

[embryo]

R all nos tubes really better than current production? Is it really impt to match the power tubes?

The (NOS) new old stock of unused JAN (Joint Army Navy) Old Mullards, Sylvanias, RCA's and Philips are generally hghly regarded and priced tubes as these are obviously in questionable supplies if not extinct in some cases like the Sylvanias. The above list of tube brands are known for high standards in tone, consistency, microphonics and lifespan. However do note that lifespan of all tubes old or new is generally unpredictable.

Though many will state otherwise I feel that the current modern tubes are actually more consistent in manufacturing. Criterias for Replacement Tubes for High end HiFi and Guitar Amps are almost poles apart. Whereas in HiFi they would insist on high quality matched NOS tubes some manufacturers and guitarists actually do experiment with interesting tonal results from using mismatched tubes.

 

[Jay_Clones]

Yo Bro Randolf,

Thank u soo much for the call on my Roland ST-50R solid state amp. That piercing and humming are killing me, man.

Are u starting a thread on solid state amps? I believed with ur vast experience in amp repairs, u've might come across good ones on par with the tube amps.

The pros and cons of solidstate etc...

U Rock , bro!!!!!... Lakiun Camp has never been the same since u landed .hehehe

 

[sellingemall]

I remember reading that the Power tubes distort (compress) in a different way than Pre-amp tubes? And there's also the gain value of different tubes, 12AX7 VS 12AU7 etc. (easier to distort VS cleaner, lower gain)

All the wonderful Power-tube distortion you hear (think Slash ) comes from huge, super-loud tube amps... would using an attenuator allow us to attain that same tonal nirvana, but at bedroom volumes? Or does the magic happen only at earth shakingly loud volumes?

Btw, Thanks Randolf!!! This thread is super amazing! Thank U

 

[embryo]

I remember reading that the Power tubes distort (compress) in a different way than Pre-amp tubes? And there's also the gain value of different tubes, 12AX7 VS 12AU7 etc. (easier to distort VS cleaner, lower gain) All the wonderful Power-tube distortion you hear (think Slash ) comes from huge, super-loud tube amps... would using an attenuator allow us to attain that same tonal nirvana, but at bedroom volumes? Or does the magic happen only at earth shakingly loud volumes?

Tanx. You are welome. Attenuators is an idea to explore. Ya why not?

Ok so for those here jaded by all this "Tube amp this and that" talk here's some "hopefully refreshing" different news...

It's not necessary to play loud with big amps to achieve a big stack sound! By that same token it is also true that it's unrealistic to get a small footprint of an amp to look and sound exactly like a stack (past the head phones)

Ok so I dunno if the following is gonna make any sense at all but anyway here's a coupla improvised analogies that I could tink up to describe tube amps... hehehehe;

Preamp Tubes Types
Experimenting with different pre amp tube brands is almost similar to the range of dfferences you'll experience between different brands of the same string gauge set. Choosing different pre amp types between 12AX7 to 12AU7 is like going from a 8 gauge string set tru 11 gauge set... it'll sound and feel different.

Preamp Tubes vs. Power Tubes is like comparing between a Hamburger against a Juicy Steak.

In other words...Different brands of Power Tubes equates to different grades of steak from coffee shop Sirloin Steak to Morton's of Chicago grade.

Mmmmmm.... I'm hungry already, wat abt you!? Hahahahaha

BRB from lunch cya!

 

[embryo]

Attenuators come useful in trying to tame down the output volume of a raging 50 or 100 watt head to more tolerable hearing levels. However, do expect to retweak the eqs as the higher you push the master volume the more lows and less highs you'll get.

 

[snuffleupagus]

hey Randolf, anything to share about PtP pedals such as Menatone pedals? I have just gotten myself a Menatone KOTB and it sounds different, and I'm wondering why. Different as in, its very 3D sounding.(I hear that its meant to be a AMp simulation pedal, got such thing meh?)

Please share your opinions if any?

 

[edder]

IMHO with no disrespect to P2P builders, the build method have the LEAST to do with tone. Hiss/Noise/Oscillation maybe but not TONE or FEEL.

It is the design of the circuit and the quality of the parts that makes a difference.

I'm comparing a well designed circuit board vs a P2P. Not a circuit board design that routes a component from the left side to the right to the top and back to the right again.

 

[suckasucks]

^why then does builders like analogman say their p2p pedals (beano boost) say their circuit is supposedly quieter compared to those on a circuit board??

 

[ftggog]

hey randolf.

i've noticed that my overdrive tone's always the sweetest when i engage just a little of the drive channel on my tube amp (around 3) and use my pedal (barber direct drive) to push it up a notch. I don't think this is the power tube distortoin you're talking about, yet it does give quite a good tone imo.

do you do that all the time, or do you play straight into the clean channel of your amp?

 

[edder]

suckasucks, as stated

IMHO with no disrespect to P2P builders, the build method have the LEAST to do with tone. Hiss/Noise/Oscillation maybe but not TONE or FEEL.

I dunno man.... such a simple circuit like a booster NEEDS MOJO to sell. It needs some mojo components but some mojo marketing won't hurt either.

 

[embryo]

i understand that you use the rc-50 for looping guitars and hand percussion. but do you loop vocals as well? i'm trying to set-up my pedals in such a way that i can loop guitar and vocals using my rc-2. anyway, perhaps i should drop by harry's and catch your performance one day!

Yes I do loop vocals too with my RC50 which has an XLR input jack. You can hear what vocal looping sounds like with my Embryo piece called "Nebulla Vox Loopscape" voice into the CS3, Magicstomp, DD20 into RC50 at myspace;

http://www.myspace.com/the_embryo
http://www.myspace.com/theembryo

 

[embryo]

"i've noticed that my overdrive tone's always the sweetest when i engage just a little of the drive channel on my tube amp (around 3) and use my pedal (barber direct drive) to push it up a notch. I don't think this is the power tube distortoin you're talking about, yet it does give quite a good tone imo. do you do that all the time, or do you play straight into the clean channel of your amp?"

Yes setting the drive channel to hang on the edge between clean and the hint of saturation is one way that I use and recommend others who are seeking a classic amp character at a more manageble volume in the jamming studio or live. This is a different tone and dynamic character when compared to extracting tone by driving the power section tubes. This is also the way to explore the tonal possibilities of hybrid amps where the pream section is tube driven but the power section is solid state.

An interesting overall tone can be achieved with full solid state amps like eg. Roland JC120s. Simply switching on the "Overdrive" knob and leaving it at the low position will change the amps tonal and dynamic character making the overall tone just slighly saggier and more touch responsive.

 

[KennethC]

hey Randolf, anything to share about PtP pedals such as Menatone pedals? I have just gotten myself a Menatone KOTB and it sounds different, and I'm wondering why. Different as in, its very 3D sounding.(I hear that its meant to be a AMp simulation pedal, got such thing meh?)

bro snuff, you like the pedal? yea, exactly what I felt the first time i tried a KOTB...amp-like.

 

[suckasucks]

^oh i see edder, slightly misread your post there.

noticed that my overdrive tone's always the sweetest when i engage just a little of the drive channel on my tube amp (around 3) and use my pedal (barber direct drive) to push it up a notch

yeah, i've realised my 2 fuzzes and OD (NOC3, mjm brit bender and fulltone OCD) all sound much sweeter/creamier and thicker when my amp is slightly OD-ed, why is that?? i've always thought fuzzes didnt really like any other gain from pedals or amps.

 

[edder]

my Vishhudda Fuzz has got a booster feeding into the fuzz circuit. It rikes the boost!

 

[embryo]

...anything to share about PtP pedals such as Menatone pedals? I have just gotten myself a Menatone KOTB and it sounds different, and I'm wondering why. Different as in, its very 3D sounding.(I hear that its meant to be a AMp simulation pedal, got such thing meh?) Please share your opinions if any?

I've not tried the Menatone myself yet to give a fair opinion about it. Sounds like you're enjoying it and that's most important ya... I feel.
About PtP wiring, using exotic old style low tolerence components past the voodoo'd hype is pretty much more of a novelty these days I feel.

 

[AgingYouth]

Wah piang eh, all these talk makes me feel like having a nice bloody steak at Aston's and going for a beer at Joo Chiat after that!!!

What else can we do around that area eh?