my first TUBE AMP! Valves

[M Fowler]

Most young guys that test my amps always turn every knob to full on and then play. Makes me cringe but that's what they want to hear no tone just noise.

Nice to hear a young man want to find tone, keep at it.

[10thTx]

Nice to hear a young man want to find tone, keep at it

1+ Yes, very cool!

[zsimmen]

Well thanks guys. What else is there? I just don't want to be another drone out there sounding like the next guy. So after some research I've heard that replacing a 12AX7 with a 12AT7 is not a good idea. But it would be best to either replace it with a 12AY7 or 5751 in the v1 position. Thoughts?

[statorvane]

Depends how much gain you want from the stage. I agree 12AT7 - not a great musical tube. I've used 12AY7s before and really like them for a lower gain - EH12AY7. I've never tried the 5751.

[zsimmen]

Well. So I guess there's only one way to find out. I just ordered a couple NOS 5751 RCAs and a 12AY7 Raytheon brand.

[statorvane]

The 5751 will have more gain than the 12AY7. If you stay with tubes, you will soon have a collection. Sometimes rolling different brands, or even identical brands of tube will show different characteristics. Maybe not night and day, but different. For current production, I am happy with the EH consistency in their preamp tubes. I only have a few NOS tubes - Sylvania, RCA, and an unknown 12AU7. Now there's a low gain tube that can really transform a preamp.

Have fun!

[Structo]

In the mean time, here is a list of reading materials that should keep you busy for a while.

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.php?t=9023

[beasleybodyshop]

Welcome to the forum! I second using a 5751 in V1. I picked a few up recently, and I have been very pleased with them in my Fender type amps.

[zsimmen]

Those are awesome links! Thanks man! I'm going to spending a lot of time on those.