Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum

Amp Stuff => Tube Amp Building - Tweaks - Repairs => Topic started by: Ghetto_Soundwave on March 07, 2013, 12:07:01 am

Title: Describe your ideal tone and how to achieve it
Post by: Ghetto_Soundwave on March 07, 2013, 12:07:01 am
Title states it.  I assume most people build an amp with their tone quest in mind whether it is one of the classic manufacturer circuits (ex: 5E3) or a personal design. What approach do you take for the end goal?

 My ideal tone is best represented by Jeff Beck's tone of the past few years. Very clean with mild distortion with great sustain. I can't really achieve that at home levels but my current setup keeps me content. Preamp: 12BH7, PI: 12AY7, Push-pull EL84's at 365v plate. Oversized 1 x 12" open back cab, American made Fender Tele. The amp starts mild distortion at 50% vol pot rotation and reaches a medium (early marshall type) overdrive tone at 100%. I've tried many preamp/PI tube combinations including the spec'd 12AX7's for in both slots, but for my taste it was distortion overkill (and very loud).

Title: Re: Describe your ideal tone and how to achieve it
Post by: HotBluePlates on March 07, 2013, 12:16:57 am
Apparently, Beck was playing Pro Juniors at the Iridium (http://www.vintageguitar.com/9486/jeff-beck/) and otherwise makes liberal use of the guitar's volume to clean things up.

Describe your ideal tone and how to achieve itTitle states it.  I assume most people build an amp with their tone quest in mind whether it is one of the classic manufacturer circuits (ex: 5E3) or a personal design. What approach do you take for the end goal?

I have to pick just 1 ideal tone?

Right now, I have 3 electrics that each sound very different. I also have 2-and-a-half acoustics, again because they each sound different. 2 flavors of tweed (low- and medium-power) and a customized Standel 25L15.

Different tools for different jobs is how I see it.
Title: Re: Describe your ideal tone and how to achieve it
Post by: Ghetto_Soundwave on March 07, 2013, 04:51:01 pm
Not limited to one type of tone. Trying to get a gauge on what types people are into on this site. I 've spent time on AX84 and most seem to be into higher gain amps.
Title: Re: Describe your ideal tone and how to achieve it
Post by: Colas LeGrippa on March 07, 2013, 05:02:43 pm
Great post, buddy !

My ideal tone is a SE amp,  one 12ax7, one el34, one gz34 with 60uF reservoir and choke, no tone stack, just one volume, mid boost with a .68uF ,  300V @ 85mA , one EMINENCE The Governor 8 ohm 12 in speaker, Heyboer PT and MM 4,5k OT. KILLER TONE, with a Seymour Duncan trembucker.

Colas