is single-ended the secret to touch response?

P

PRNDL

Member
Messages
498
In my quest for tone, I've designed and built several push-pull amps (6V6, EL84, 7868 and 6AK6 output tubes), and have tried several types of coupling caps (orange drops, Mallory yellows, paper-in-oil, teflon and vintage).

My latest build is a 1 watt single-ended 6AK6 amp that I call the Tweed Mini Champ. I think the sound is absolutely fantastic. Here are some clips using a Samick Les Paul copy with DiMarzio Tone Zone and the PAF Pro pickups (no effects).

http://www.naturdoctor.com/Chapters/Amps/Sounds/MiniChamp/Breakdown.mp3
http://www.naturdoctor.com/Chapters/Amps/Sounds/MiniChamp/Superman.mp3
http://www.naturdoctor.com/Chapters/Amps/Sounds/Fanton1.mp3

I also have a push-pull 6AK6 amp that sounds great, but it's not as dynamic as the Mini Champ.

http://www.naturdoctor.com/Chapters/Amps/Sounds/DynaMite6AK6_1.mp3
http://www.naturdoctor.com/Chapters/Amps/Sounds/DynaMite6AK6_2.mp3

Here's the web pages for the amps
http://www.naturdoctor.com/Chapters/Amps/MiniChamp.html
http://www.naturdoctor.com/Chapters/Amps/DynaMite.html

I've heard that single-ended amps are more dynamic, and that push-pull amps have that "big" sound. This does seem to be true with my prototype builds.

Have you found this to be true, or does it depend on the amp?
 
Miles

Miles

Member
Messages
3,967
I have found any tube amp well pushed to sound 'big'. It almost sounds like the guitar is actually blossoming. The actual notes seem to resonate and ring. In front of a mic, through a mixer, you can make just about any tone sound good or "big", but mic's naturally seem to love a pushed amp at reasonable volume. You don't have to worry about signal clipping and it gives live tone some breathing room. This is why many lower wattage amps are used. I prefer the crispness and response lower wattage (5-30) watt amps for any genre due to the response. There is nothing wrong with other higher wattage amps, but I just don't enjoy the sound or volume level demands since I like to get a good mix of everyone on stage, not just my own guitar.

I have also heard a lot of push/pull amps not pushed enough on the power amp side sound small and unresponsive.

With single ended amps, there is something more simplistic and more "un-doctored" about the tone. I actually prefer that kind of tone for any sort of music simply because of the response.

Tone, in my opinion, is not only about the actual sound, it has to do more, for me, with how it feels to play.

When it comes to the actual physics and reasoning, I have no clue.
 
D

DavidH

Member
Messages
2,370
I find single-ended amps to be the most dynamic and expressive,for me.Love 'em.and you get a direct,straight-through kind of feel and clarity that's only there in simple single-ended amps.I find them addictive and fun.

Mini Champ sounds great BTW,good job!
 
D

DanD

Member
Messages
320
DavidH said:
I find single-ended amps to be the most dynamic and expressive,for me.Love 'em.and you get a direct,straight-through kind of feel and clarity that's only there in simple single-ended amps.I find them addictive and fun.

Mini Champ sounds great BTW,good job!
Click to expand...
DavidH,
My 59 bassman circuit w/four broken in 10"s, good tubes dialed in, a good overdrive, a good clean boost, and a beat up tele or strat.
Turn it up, set tone to taste.
A soft touch, spank it hard.
I just can't get enough of it.
Just like everyone else.

Good luck,
DanD
 
K

KarlH

Silver Supporting Member
Messages
957
Nope... the SNIDER amps are cathode biased 2xel-84 amps and they are among the most touch sensitive I have played.
 
W

wbfree

Member
Messages
175
Prndl and all
Not the player that you'll are but this is true of my present amps. I have a Mesa Boogie 5:50 and a single ended Stephenson Octal amp in which I am running a JJ 6V6 at the moment. Guess what the amp cover is on. This little LJ-5 is one nice amp.

It's always better for your health to find a single woman.:D
 
fusionbear

fusionbear

exquirentibus veritatem
Platinum Supporting Member
Messages
10,871
My TW clone that i built has bloom and touch response and is push/pull
 
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