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What is the difference between a tube amp and a valve amp?
If you hear somebody talk about valve amps, they’re the same as tube amps. “Valve” is an English term, while “Tube” is an American term. They both refer to the vacuum tubes/valves in the amp. Compared to the other types of guitar amps covered later, tube amps use ancient technology.
What is a tube amp sound?
Tube sound (or valve sound) is the characteristic sound associated with a vacuum tube amplifier (valve amplifier in British English), a vacuum tube-based audio amplifier. Many electric guitar, electric bass, and keyboard players in several genres also prefer the sound of tube instrument amplifiers or preamplifiers.
Does a tube amp sound different?
In reality, tube amplifiers tend to have enough distortion that does make them sound different. Frequency responses vary, and output impedances certainly vary wildly from one kind of amplifier to the next which has a big impact on the sound.
Why do tubes sound different?
Actually, it’s not the just tube— The difference you hear is tube/amp interaction. A certain tube only sounds a certain way in a certain amplifier. And to make things even more complicated, no two tubes will react exactly the same way in the same amp. It’s due to minute physical differences in the tube’s structure.
How do you diagnose a tube amp?
Questions to help diagnose your broken amp
- The amp doesn’t turn on.
- The amp makes no sound.
- The amp passes signal but makes strange, non-musical sounds.
- The amp passes signal that sounds distorted.
- The amp is extremely noisy.
- The amp has low volume.
- The amp smells like it’s burning.
- The amp’s effects don’t work.
How do you know if a tube is 12ax7?
Plug the tube into an electrical device to check its glow. Turn on the machine to activate the tubes, and look for an orange, red, or purple glow. If the heated filament inside the tube glows orange like a setting sun, it’s usually a sign that the tube is healthy.
Is Orange Crush a tube amp?
Crush Pro – A Tube Amp Without the Tubes – Orange Amps.