If you had an amp that seemed a tad "harsh" on the highs . . . .

[etawful]

And you believed that a pre-amp tube swap (3 x 12AX7) might fix it . . . what pre-amp tube would you consider?

 

Something with less gain would be good (currently have new Tung-Sol tubes in my Tweaker, but it seems a bit harsh. . . any ideas?)

[Engl Kramer]

JJs

[ΨWindingΨ]

Try a 5751 in V1. Also you might check your presence which is power-amp related not preamp. Even biasing can affect it. There can be many reasons for harsh highs, not all is to do with the tube.

[etawful]

 

Try a 5751 in V1. Also you might check your presence which is power-amp related not preamp. Even biasing can affect it. There can be many reasons for harsh highs, not all is to do with the tube.

 

 

I'm not sure how I would check presence or even biasing with a Tweaker (I thought they were fixed bias).

[cratz2]

Most folks seem to feel that JJs are slightly darker than average so that may be worth a try.

 

I've only own two 5751s... when I put one in my Tweed Champ, it definitely took some of the top end off and took some gain off.

 

Personally, if my right was only a 'tad harsh' on the top end, I'd probably just barely tweak the EQ of the amp or roll the volume or tone pot on the guitar down just a teeny bit. Try it, but give yourself 30 minutes or so of play time after making the adjustment so your ears can also make the adjustment. Almost any player, esp a high-ish gain player, will feel the sound is muddy when you turn the volume knob on the guitar from 10 to 7 (or whatever numbers are appropriate for your particular guitar), but that maybe exactly what you need for your overall tone to improve.

[MichaelSaulnier]

12AT7 instead of 12AX7 in V1, (the main preamp tube), could be what you're looking for.

 

Another low cost, easy to use fix... eq pedal.

 

M

[etawful]

 

12AT7 instead of 12AX7 in V1, (the main preamp tube), could be what you're looking for. Another low cost, easy to use fix... eq pedal. M

 

 

Hehehe, I was kind of thinking of going the EQ pedal route, I guess it's still an option.

[billybilly]

A different angle but does your amp have vintage 30's? My amp came with Vintage 30's, got rid of them, problem solved. I could have gone the tube route but vintage 30's were just not for me.

[Sheraton]

Lotsa variables to tinker with. Picking a speaker that matches your desired sound is important. I've used 5751's to great satisfaction for a little "sweetening". The good thing is they look just like a 12AX7 to the amp. Tone knob or EQ adjustment, yep, absolutely. For just plain differences in 12AX7's I've found that "long plates" are audibly sweeter, less harsh sounding than short plates. JJ and other current mfgrs have started to sell long plate versions lately. Otherwise it was GE, RCA, Tung-Sol and various NOS tubes that came in a long plate design.

[Orange Jackson]

That, or maybe place a thick blanket over the cab.

[Davo17]

12dw7.