There is a lot of confusion between 12AX7 vs 12AT7 tubes, what they do and where they can be used. Most people hear that one has more headroom. They then jump right in, sometimes only to be disappointed by the result. The main difference is the gain factor. The 12AX7 has a gain factor of … Read more
There are several power tubes available for guitar and bass amps, but two stand out the most. The 6L6 vs EL34 tubes have been rivals for many years, but what’s the difference? The main difference between the 6L6 and EL34 tubes is that they have different sounds. The EL34 is much more scooped sounding and … Read more
Amplifiers that use 6L6 tubes are high-voltage appliances. They can be dangerous if you are not experienced working on them. If you are not sure, it is always best to take it to an experienced technician. Proceed at your own risk as this can be dangerous! The bias point for 6L6GC tubes depends on the … Read more
When a preamp tube begins to fail, it can be hard to know how to troubleshoot the fault. If your amp has more than one, this makes it even more difficult. A bad preamp tube will become very noisy and produce hiss, crackle, and pop sounds, or create volume drops or loss. In some rare … Read more
Every guitar player rolling a tube amp hears the sound differently. Some people like a bit more of a crisp, bright tone, while others prefer something deep and warmer. Normally when seeking a warmer sound, you need to figure out what it is exactly that you like. Bass content is much different from mid-range, and … Read more
If you own a tube-based guitar, bass, or even a Hi-fi audio amplifier, chances are you will find a 12AX7 being used in them. Maybe even a few of them. The 12AX7 is the first choice for tube amplifiers. This is because of its high gain and relatively low noise characteristics. But which are the … Read more