Re: [Harp-L] Champ Tube Swap Suggs

["Splash!" <celtiac@xxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message ----- 
Champ Tube Swap Suggs


> '78 SF Champ - loving the tone. Any recommendations for tube swap specific 
> to this amp? Muchasgrassyassmuchachos.




Yeah.  Which ever ones sound best.

That might sound facetious, but that was my honest reaction.  No snark 
intended.

If you're loving the tone, why swap?

And whichever tubes sound the best are the ones you want, right?

I'm an old radio afficionado, and go to swaps and tailgate fleamarkets where 
I find tubes in other radio guys junque-boxes usually for a few bux ea max. 
So I have an assortment of tubes to play with.  I'm always on the lookout 
for audio tubes buried in amongst the RF stuff.  I only pay a cple bux, so 
if the tube is a dud, no big loss.

This is what I do.  I'll get a bunch of potential replacement preamp tubes 
and output tubes ready, marked with a small piece of tape V1 -A  V1 -B 
V2 -A  V2 -B etc. and start swapping.  It all depends on what the amp is 
being asked to do.  Regarding vintage amps and tubes, each individual amp 
will have it's own peculiar characteristics, and each individual tube also 
has a bit of it's own attitude.  I can put the tubes on the tester and test 
electrical properties, but until I put them inside an amp, I won't know how 
they sound.

You just have to find a combination that you like and will do the job asked 
of it.

I have a Kalamazoo II for example:  There's a Sylvania mid-60s 6BQ5 in the 
output. Inside the back of the amp is a box of spare tubes.  If I'm playing 
harp, I have a late '40's Navy Jan 12AU7 I put in V1 and use one of my 
JT-30's early 60's shell & late 50's CM.  That combination just honks!  Like 
you say, "loving the tone."

If I use it with my '54RI Strat I'll pull the 12AU7 and put in a Mullard 
12AX7 that, in combination with the strat, and an original 808 Tube 
Screamer, I'll get the most amazing Strat tones you can imagine.  I'm not 
just "loving the tone," I'm dying for it!  Gimme more baby, gimme more.  I 
have a GE blackplate 12AX7 that is more twang-friendly to my Tele.

A funny story, I went to a jam with just the strat chainsaw case in one hand 
and the Zoo in the other.  I overhear a guy at the bar say, "What the hell 
does he think he's gonna do with that little thing?"  So I ignored and went 
and signed in.  My turn, I get up, take the SM-58 out of the back and plug 
into the PA snake, attach the Git to the tube screamer and set the mic in 
front of the amp.  I do my 2 numbers and put it all away and then go over to 
the bar where this same guy says, "Hey man, what is that little thing?"

It's all about the tone!

It just depends on what you want out of the amp.

Start Swapping!




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Splash!