Rob DiStefano
06-06-2012, 05:55 AM
I've had lots of tube amps over the last 55 years of "messing around" with electric guitars. Everything from the 4 watt tube amp my dad made back in the 50's, to half stack 100 watt beasts. These dayze, with most every venue controlled via a pa and sound board, I don't see a need for lotsa amp horsepower. I really think that a mic'd small tube amp can do it all, from clean jazzy tones to snarly rock and even metal.
My ideal tube amp is still the venerable, ubiquitous 5F1 based circuit - the Champ. For recording it's a dream to work with, and at small venues it can usually work well un-mic'd for both clean and dirty tones. Five class A tube watts through a good 12" speaker can be mighty loud. Yes, there are lotsa dependencies, such as the band and venue context, but all can be overcome with mic'ing through the pa.
The 5F1 (Fender Champ) is a class A, cathode biased amp that's simple to build, operate and maintain. A power tube (6V6 - but other octals can be used!), a 5Y3 or GZ34 rectifier tube, and a preamp tube (typically a 12AX7, but others can be used). It usually features just a volume control, but it's easy to add a passive tone control if need be (in fact, the 5F2A, the "Prince", adds that tone pot along with an additional filter cap). These little tube amps work well with a good 8" speaker, but really open up with a larger 12" driver. Most Champs can be retrofitted with a 10" speaker.
I love it when a stage band features a wall of marshall full stacks and the lead guitarist is really plugged into a mic'd Deluxe (or Champ!) hidden behind the curtains. :D
My ideal tube amp is still the venerable, ubiquitous 5F1 based circuit - the Champ. For recording it's a dream to work with, and at small venues it can usually work well un-mic'd for both clean and dirty tones. Five class A tube watts through a good 12" speaker can be mighty loud. Yes, there are lotsa dependencies, such as the band and venue context, but all can be overcome with mic'ing through the pa.
The 5F1 (Fender Champ) is a class A, cathode biased amp that's simple to build, operate and maintain. A power tube (6V6 - but other octals can be used!), a 5Y3 or GZ34 rectifier tube, and a preamp tube (typically a 12AX7, but others can be used). It usually features just a volume control, but it's easy to add a passive tone control if need be (in fact, the 5F2A, the "Prince", adds that tone pot along with an additional filter cap). These little tube amps work well with a good 8" speaker, but really open up with a larger 12" driver. Most Champs can be retrofitted with a 10" speaker.
I love it when a stage band features a wall of marshall full stacks and the lead guitarist is really plugged into a mic'd Deluxe (or Champ!) hidden behind the curtains. :D