Explaining Tubes

[fendervox]

Okay, I have a question regarding tubes, more specifically tubes in the power amp. How much of an affect on the tone do power amp tubes play? In other words if I had a Mesa Studio Preamp (or any tube preamp), would there be a difference in sound between a tube power amp or a solid state poweramp driving the preamp?

On the same note, amps such as the Fender Champ 25 SE, I believe use 2 6L6's and 1 12ax7. How much of an affect does 1 preamp tube affect an amp as well?

Anyways, more questions to come later I'm sure, but any help is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Blue Strat]

...a single-ended (SE) amp typically only has one output tube, not two, unless it's a parallel-SE design amp.

...preamp tubes get the first crack at flavoring the sonic tones, while the output tubes have the last crack at coloring/shaping them...and, "yes," different power tubes have different sonics, ie: 6V6 and 6L6 vs. EL84 and EL34, etc.

And different brands of the same type of power tube (6L6, EL34, etc) can affect tone as well.

 

[fendervox]

Hmmm, okay I see... so what would be the difference in an amp with 1 power tube and 1 preamp tube (say an Epiphone Valve Jr) and a Triple Rectifier that has 1,532,624 tubes. Or, 'why' would it be different, know what I mean?