I would really appreciate help with clarification of tube performance
in my amp. Though my application is a guitar amp perhaps this question
applies to any amp with a similar front end.

My amp has 3 12ax7's, V1,V2, & V3, V3 being the phase inverter.

I tend to like long plates in V1 for their extended range. My question
is;

What could one expect in terms of the sonic qualities of a long plate
if it were placed in V2 and or V3? This could apply to any favorite V1
choice regardless of construction. Just how would your fav V1 tube
sound in the remaining slots?

I've tried a lot of tube swapping but would really appreciate hearing
the technical side.

Thanks for any help with this question.

JZWest wrote:

I would really appreciate help with clarification of tube performance
in my amp. Though my application is a guitar amp perhaps this question
applies to any amp with a similar front end.

My amp has 3 12ax7's, V1,V2, & V3, V3 being the phase inverter.

I tend to like long plates in V1 for their extended range. My question
is;

What could one expect in terms of the sonic qualities of a long plate
if it were placed in V2 and or V3? This could apply to any favorite V1
choice regardless of construction. Just how would your fav V1 tube
sound in the remaining slots?

I've tried a lot of tube swapping but would really appreciate hearing
the technical side.

Thanks for any help with this question.

Sorry if I burst your bubble, but there really isn't a "technical side."
At least not in the sense that you can quantify in numbers or even
qualify in absolutes.

"Sonic qualities" is a highly subjective assessment, even at the best of
times. The only thing I can recommend is to experiment and reach your
own conclusions -- if any!

Cheers,
Fred
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JZWest wrote:

I would really appreciate help with clarification of tube performance
in my amp. Though my application is a guitar amp perhaps this question
applies to any amp with a similar front end.

My amp has 3 12ax7's, V1,V2, & V3, V3 being the phase inverter.

I tend to like long plates in V1 for their extended range. My question
is;



"Long plates" don't always mean "extended range" Tubes by themselves
have bandwidths
up into tens of MegaHertz. The circuits around them are usually the
limiting factors. If by
"range" you mean "dynamic range" the build quality in manufacture
dictates how linear the
tube will be. This will vary from one factory to another, and likely
from one batch to another.
Good circuit design will tolerate these variations better than other
designs.

There's also a placebo effect in that you think it must sound better
with what you believe
are the better tubes, but in reality it doesn't sound any different.
Also human ears can get
"tired" so a really good tube or amp will end up sounding poor. A good
night's rest can
usually fix that.

You forgot to add...

There's also a placebo effect...LINE BELOW... in that you think it must sound better
with what you believe are the better tubes, but in reality it doesn't sound any different.

which is directly proportional to the amount you've spent on said
tubes and tweaks.