Tube Advice needed
Bob Luneski
I've had a Matchless Chieftan for about 8 months now. I was in love
with this amp for the first 6 months, but lately the tone seems to have
changed and seems especially harsh when playing through my Strat. I
read several messages on Harmony Central that this amp tends to eat
power tubes. I have a few questions and any advice would be extemely
appreciated.
1) Recommendations on brand of power tubes to replace the current ones
(EL34)
2) Good source for the tubes
3) I have heard that replaceing the 12AX7's in the pre-amp section with
12AT7's will mellow th etone and create more clean headroom on this
amp? Comments or suggestions on this? Brand suggestions
4) Suggested EQ settings to a more "Fender tone" out of it when I feel
like it.
Thank you for your assistance.
Bob Luneski
Mark Garvin
>1) Recommendations on brand of power tubes to replace the current ones
>(EL34)
I like Svetlana EL34's. They sound much like old Mullards to me.
Some others like Teslas, but I find them relatively thin. And
others like the newer Sovtek EL34WXT's--rounder, but again they
are not my own choice. As always, a matter of taste.
>2) Good source for the tubes
Here are some vendors for tube and amp electronics:
Antique Electronic Sup 602-820-5411 F:602-820-4643 www.tubesandmore.com
New Sensor 212-529-0466
MOJO 800-927-6656
Hoffman amps 800-566-8458
Ruby Tubes/Magic Parts 800-451-1922 www.rubytubes.com
Check the svetlana website. I believe there are websites for the
vendors above, too, but I don't remember the URLs. Try the obvious
or search via yahoo.com.
>3) I have heard that replaceing the 12AX7's in the pre-amp section with
>12AT7's will mellow th etone and create more clean headroom on this
>amp? Comments or suggestions on this? Brand suggestions
You could put it that way. Or you could say that 12at7's will thin
out the sound and reduce gain. Try 'em both. They're cheap.
Again, a matter of taste, tho. I like 12ax7's. Especially those used
in the space station Mir laundry appliances, now endorsed by Giri
'Hednirx' Iyengar, the dyslexic guitar genius. At least I believe him
when he says he's a genius. OK, so I'm meandering. Still more enter-
taining than the "Epiphone sux" threads, innit?
>4) Suggested EQ settings to a more "Fender tone" out of it when I feel
>like it.
Well, Bob. You gotta do some of this yourself, ya know. <g>
Aw, OK, here's a hint: In general (not just for your amp)--If you're
working with a graphic EQ or a parametric, you can try to simulate
Fender-type controls by creating a shallow notch around 320 hz. By
shallow, I mean 6db-per-octave slope, so make gradual changes from
slider-to-slider or keep parametric Q settings low.
Dip mids at 320hz and don't bring the bass slope up as far as the
treble. At 6db-per-octave, the Fender's bass response does not have a
chance to rise much from the 320hz notch. The low E string (82hz) is
about 2 octaves down from the mid notch, so Fender controls can only
raise bass by 12db or so (6db * 2 octaves) with resp to the mid notch.
(IMO), it's not the highs so much as the high mids that define the
characteristic Fender tone, so try slightly varying response in the
crucial 640hz to 1000hz region until you get something workable.
With simple 3 knob controls on most amps, you're limited, so just try
scooping mids a bit and hope for the best.
Other factors (speakers, type of pickups, etc) are such a big factor
that it's impossible to say how to precisely dial in a given tone.
MGarvin
Still posting technocrap for Coleman, who has a plate in his head.
I knew a guy who got caught in a hurricane and got a flying spoon
stuck in his head. Could not be removed. He wears a hat. Carrrl
has Tupperware -- a very sporty skull! Mumble mumble...zzzzz
Patrick F. Coleman
>MGarvin
At least it's a pre cbs plate!
and I'll try the above advice on the boys strat copy today.
thanks.
Twang!
prairie lakes internet sucks