Randolf Arriola (embryo) Guitar Gear 101
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embryo
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Tube Amp Biasing
A popular enquiry about Tube Amp Biasing. What's good and what's not so good and why?
Regarding Tube Amp Biasing do's and dont's there are of course documented safe and recommended ranges for each manufacturers' Power Tubes model to operate optimally but what exactly is optimum? Well in HiFi Speak and Guitar Speak we can be poles apart as both camps have different ideals and opinions and quite understandably so because HiFi enthusiasts usually go for as much clean headroom as possible whereas us weirdo buncho Geetar players usually want things a little furrier...if you get my drift. hehe :lol:
Because, if it's the cleanest, loudest and most transient as possible that one need's from a guitar amp then we'll might as well go all out solid state...right? But that's not what we want, we want tone, we want mojo! Well Mojo isn't exactly rocket science 'cause it's Voodoo! (If I'm making any sense of it all...so far)
Caution Ahead: Controversial statement about Amp manufacturers...well most, not all though.
I do believe it's in most "major" amp manufacturers interests to control the rate of after sales returned amps coming back in for servicing within a said warranty period and so taking that into account it's quite expected that they would usually bias the amps in the factory lines to operate within the "Safe Bias" range for the amp to sound...quite ok. Unfortunately, this also means the amps are biased kinda cold. Not all amps....but most amps. :roll:
Interesting so far? Read on then if you're sorta interested or are determined to get the best out of your beauiful much hard earned, painfully paid for amber glowing toneful all tube amp.
It's important to note that when amps are biased too cold you will lose volume and get a kinda "strange overdrive" happening from the Power Tubes which is kinda interesting (if you're into that kinda)but not ideal in most musical situations but the intended "noise rock situations". Why? Well because the amp will sound like it's lacking "Vitamins" hehehe, the low notes of the guitar will also get quite a bit too uncontrollably furry.
Now if the Power Tubes were biased kinda too hot or too much you'll get a very different kinda behaviour in that the 1st thing you'll notice is that the amp seems much louder and harder dynamically. Kinda harsh (not plush)Also because of the higher heat generated at the Power Tube's plates the lifespan of tubes will also run kinda short. How short? Based on my own experience anywhere from a instantaneous "Pffft!" to a coupla months at most.
So what's Good Biasing? Really it depends on each unique player's tonal intention from the amp. How's to then? Well every manufacturer's tube design has it's own recommended biasing specs. Ok so here comes the "Voodoo" part about biasing for guitar amps... I know this is gonna sound kinda "Mumbo Jumbo" especially if you're a HiFi Nutcase/Purist (which I can be btw now and zen when I'm in the mood)...Watever! Ok, anyway... To achieve or approach "Ideal Tone" with Full Tube Amps, Power Tubes have to biased not just within specs... BUT! also With the EARtoo.
As Dylan says; That's 3 chords and the truth.
A popular enquiry about Tube Amp Biasing. What's good and what's not so good and why?
Regarding Tube Amp Biasing do's and dont's there are of course documented safe and recommended ranges for each manufacturers' Power Tubes model to operate optimally but what exactly is optimum? Well in HiFi Speak and Guitar Speak we can be poles apart as both camps have different ideals and opinions and quite understandably so because HiFi enthusiasts usually go for as much clean headroom as possible whereas us weirdo buncho Geetar players usually want things a little furrier...if you get my drift. hehe :lol:
Because, if it's the cleanest, loudest and most transient as possible that one need's from a guitar amp then we'll might as well go all out solid state...right? But that's not what we want, we want tone, we want mojo! Well Mojo isn't exactly rocket science 'cause it's Voodoo! (If I'm making any sense of it all...so far)
Caution Ahead: Controversial statement about Amp manufacturers...well most, not all though.
I do believe it's in most "major" amp manufacturers interests to control the rate of after sales returned amps coming back in for servicing within a said warranty period and so taking that into account it's quite expected that they would usually bias the amps in the factory lines to operate within the "Safe Bias" range for the amp to sound...quite ok.
Unfortunately, this also means the amps are biased kinda cold. Not all amps....but most amps. :roll: Interesting so far? Read on then if you're sorta interested or are determined to get the best out of your beauiful much hard earned, painfully paid for amber glowing toneful all tube amp.
It's important to note that when amps are biased too cold you will lose volume and get a kinda "strange overdrive" happening from the Power Tubes which is kinda interesting (if you're into that kinda)but not ideal in most musical situations but the intended "noise rock situations". Why? Well because the amp will sound like it's lacking "Vitamins" hehehe, the low notes of the guitar will also get quite a bit too uncontrollably furry.
Now if the Power Tubes were biased kinda too hot or too much you'll get a very different kinda behaviour in that the 1st thing you'll notice is that the amp seems much louder and harder dynamically. Kinda harsh (not plush)Also because of the higher heat generated at the Power Tube's plates the lifespan of tubes will also run kinda short. How short? Based on my own experience anywhere from a instantaneous "Pffft!" to a coupla months at most.
So what's Good Biasing? Really it depends on each unique player's tonal intention from the amp. How's to then? Well every manufacturer's tube design has it's own recommended biasing specs. Ok so here comes the "Voodoo" part about biasing for guitar amps... I know this is gonna sound kinda "Mumbo Jumbo" especially if you're a HiFi Nutcase/Purist (which I can be btw now and zen when I'm in the mood)...Watever! Ok, anyway... To achieve or approach "Ideal Tone" with Full Tube Amps, Power Tubes have to biased not just within specs... BUT! also With the EARtoo.
As Dylan says; That's 3 chords and the truth.
embryo
New member
Post Womad 2007
... still mesmerrized by the Womad event and am ever grateful for being a part of it. Tanx to everyone .
Here's a sweet article about other performers and yours truly a Womad at Campus 2007;
http://youth.sg/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3207&Itemid=29
... still mesmerrized by the Womad event and am ever grateful for being a part of it. Tanx to everyone .
Here's a sweet article about other performers and yours truly a Womad at Campus 2007;
http://youth.sg/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3207&Itemid=29
embryo
New member
Steinberger Synapse Series
Regarding Edder's earlier enquiry about Gibson having the Steinberger Synapse series of headless baritone scale guitars with built in sliding capo. I have gud news! Yes there's 2 of them here.
Specifically the Steinberger Synapse SS-2F & the Transcale
They are show pieces so not for sale tho
Was playing a borrowed Transtrem equipped Steinberger from a student and boy oh boy is it making Miss 335 giving me suspicious dirty looks! Hehehe! :lol:
Regarding Edder's earlier enquiry about Gibson having the Steinberger Synapse series of headless baritone scale guitars with built in sliding capo. I have gud news! Yes there's 2 of them here.
Specifically the Steinberger Synapse SS-2F & the Transcale
They are show pieces so not for sale tho
Was playing a borrowed Transtrem equipped Steinberger from a student and boy oh boy is it making Miss 335 giving me suspicious dirty looks! Hehehe! :lol:
embryo
New member
Hughes and Kettner Triamp....yet again!
"Slaps Forhead!" Alamak! I really gotta share this...
The Hughes and Kettner Triamp is so beautiful it almost pains me to see it leave the house now it's all spruced up and ready to rock. Me being mostly 6L6 power tube fan for a long long time now it's a jaw dropping experience as I've never heard a EL34 head driving a 4x12 V30 equipped Cab with so much tonal and saturation range.
A total of 6 recallable Channels. The 1st clean channel is so Fender tight at the bottoms you see camel toes! 8O The 2nd clean is so Voxy creamy I almost wanna quit any Shred of Shred in me. 8O 8O The Hard Rock channels are amazingly Marshally in character including tones from the legendary MkII. The last 2 crazy gain channels take you the player beyond the Boogie Wonderland! 8O 8O 8O Crazeeeee! All this and only with a low output Lindy Fralin equipped Custom Shop Strat and my old faithful Boss SD1 with the Custom Trinity Mod. The guitar's volume knob action with this amp is simple magical! :wink:
With finger and thumb on the chin pacing up and down I stand back staring back and forth with a crooked brow at the Triamp's control panel and just wonder..What Iffff... what it would sound like with..... Tube Rectifiers! H&K guys if you are ever reading this at all...Make it Dual Rectos! Hahahahahahaaha!
"Slaps Forhead!" Alamak! I really gotta share this...
The Hughes and Kettner Triamp is so beautiful it almost pains me to see it leave the house now it's all spruced up and ready to rock. Me being mostly 6L6 power tube fan for a long long time now it's a jaw dropping experience as I've never heard a EL34 head driving a 4x12 V30 equipped Cab with so much tonal and saturation range.
A total of 6 recallable Channels. The 1st clean channel is so Fender tight at the bottoms you see camel toes! 8O The 2nd clean is so Voxy creamy I almost wanna quit any Shred of Shred in me. 8O 8O The Hard Rock channels are amazingly Marshally in character including tones from the legendary MkII. The last 2 crazy gain channels take you the player beyond the Boogie Wonderland! 8O 8O 8O Crazeeeee! All this and only with a low output Lindy Fralin equipped Custom Shop Strat and my old faithful Boss SD1 with the Custom Trinity Mod. The guitar's volume knob action with this amp is simple magical! :wink:
With finger and thumb on the chin pacing up and down I stand back staring back and forth with a crooked brow at the Triamp's control panel and just wonder..What Iffff... what it would sound like with..... Tube Rectifiers! H&K guys if you are ever reading this at all...Make it Dual Rectos! Hahahahahahaaha!
embryo
New member
Dunno whether Smarvo or Soldano Head but I remember it begins with "S".....wait! or maybe it begins with "C" which is either Crate, Carvin or Ceriatone or some... I dunno la maybeit was a "P" afterall..... :lol:
4X12 Bogner Speaker Cab btw and he yes he previously used a POD Xt which he said got him abit worried coz all his friends say the POD sounds better with Crate!!! LOL!
Well I think he's much more experienced now... I believe.
4X12 Bogner Speaker Cab btw and he yes he previously used a POD Xt which he said got him abit worried coz all his friends say the POD sounds better with Crate!!! LOL!
Well I think he's much more experienced now... I believe.
trianglebiscuit
New member
bogner cab!? hackSSSS!!
curious, how much did your carvin one run you?
curious, how much did your carvin one run you?
Randoff i heard that the bogner 2*12 can smoke some of the 4*12 cab out there... now, kinda wondering what can the 4*12 do???hehe cant imagine really..
no wonder tone heaven !!!
any way im waiting for the L6 Bogner amp to touch down..
at least i can afford this bogner design model... ..
no wonder tone heaven !!!
any way im waiting for the L6 Bogner amp to touch down..
at least i can afford this bogner design model... ..
gibbytones
New member
hey randolf. on the note on amps and stuff.
I was wondering do you do amp head mods. Eg. change the board on a solid state head to a TUBE amp.
talking about amp heads here not combos.
do you do you? or is it even possible?
I was wondering do you do amp head mods. Eg. change the board on a solid state head to a TUBE amp.
talking about amp heads here not combos.
do you do you? or is it even possible?
embryo
New member
Speaker Cabs
Speaker Cabs are the most overlooked aspect of tone sculpting in guitar gear I feel and quite understandably so considering the size and costs involved though there are some very cost effective ones available here.
If 4x12 cabs are simply too impractical I would suggest that one at least ry to get a chance to experiment with 2x12s. Try it with close or open or even partial open back with various speaker configs and miking techniques. Most manufacturers won't tell you this unless you actually do ask them specifically. Speakers and the Cabs make bigger tonal differences than tubes.
Speaker Cabs are the most overlooked aspect of tone sculpting in guitar gear I feel and quite understandably so considering the size and costs involved though there are some very cost effective ones available here.
If 4x12 cabs are simply too impractical I would suggest that one at least ry to get a chance to experiment with 2x12s. Try it with close or open or even partial open back with various speaker configs and miking techniques. Most manufacturers won't tell you this unless you actually do ask them specifically. Speakers and the Cabs make bigger tonal differences than tubes.
embryo
New member
Peavey 5150
Having worked on quite a few of these amps up till lately I have to say that these are actually one of the most toneful amps readily available to us here locally.
The most common issue with these amps like most other modern full tube amps is heat related or rather thermal stress. Another thing I've noted is that most users usually use only the "Lead" channel thinking that's where the real juice of the amp resides when in actual fact for the 5150 amps it's really at the "Rhythm" channel. The Peavey 5150 is probably one of the highest gain cascade designed full tube amps but because of the "Rhythm/Lead" Channels often mislead owners and players who often result in complaining that the Lead Channel is especially Fizzy sounding.
If you are a 5150 owner try this;
Switch off all drive pedals! Bypass them if you prefer.
1. Use the Rhythm Channel
2. Switch off the Bright and Crunch push buttons
3. Set the Mids at 12 o Clock with Bass at 1 o Clock and Treble at 2 o Clock
4. Roll off the Resonance and Presence knob.
5. Start with the Rhythm Gain knob at 12 o clock and adjust up or down to suit your single coil or humbucker's output.
6. Set Post Rhythm Volume knob to taste.
Listen to the saturation level as you strum with the neck or bridge or in between pickup positions. Try hitting the strings hard and then soft and then finger pick arpeggios. Adjust your guitar's volume knob down to see if you like the dynamic change of the amp's saturation and adjust to taste.
The above setting is a general guide for setting and testing the amp. Explore the big differences in tone and saturation character with at first subtle and then extreme retweaking of the bass and mids and also the fine balancing between the pre and post volume knobs. The amount of sag or tightness lies in the balancing between the pre and power section.
You'll surprise yourself just how toneful the 5150 amp's Rhythm Channel is compared to the Lead Channel.
....and now the 5150 MkIII by EVH! OMG! :lol:
Having worked on quite a few of these amps up till lately I have to say that these are actually one of the most toneful amps readily available to us here locally.
The most common issue with these amps like most other modern full tube amps is heat related or rather thermal stress. Another thing I've noted is that most users usually use only the "Lead" channel thinking that's where the real juice of the amp resides when in actual fact for the 5150 amps it's really at the "Rhythm" channel. The Peavey 5150 is probably one of the highest gain cascade designed full tube amps but because of the "Rhythm/Lead" Channels often mislead owners and players who often result in complaining that the Lead Channel is especially Fizzy sounding.
If you are a 5150 owner try this;
Switch off all drive pedals! Bypass them if you prefer.
1. Use the Rhythm Channel
2. Switch off the Bright and Crunch push buttons
3. Set the Mids at 12 o Clock with Bass at 1 o Clock and Treble at 2 o Clock
4. Roll off the Resonance and Presence knob.
5. Start with the Rhythm Gain knob at 12 o clock and adjust up or down to suit your single coil or humbucker's output.
6. Set Post Rhythm Volume knob to taste.
Listen to the saturation level as you strum with the neck or bridge or in between pickup positions. Try hitting the strings hard and then soft and then finger pick arpeggios. Adjust your guitar's volume knob down to see if you like the dynamic change of the amp's saturation and adjust to taste.
The above setting is a general guide for setting and testing the amp. Explore the big differences in tone and saturation character with at first subtle and then extreme retweaking of the bass and mids and also the fine balancing between the pre and post volume knobs. The amount of sag or tightness lies in the balancing between the pre and power section.
You'll surprise yourself just how toneful the 5150 amp's Rhythm Channel is compared to the Lead Channel.
....and now the 5150 MkIII by EVH! OMG! :lol:
