Missing Pre amp tube: Holden VBL 100W

[big_bertha]

Hey guys, I finally got a 100w tube head, sounds awesome, its got two 6550s power tubes in it and what looks like 3 12ax7's but the text has worn off the tubes. However, looking at the inside of other Holden 100 watters they seem to have 4 preamp tubes, there is a plug for another tube there but the previous owner has put a little piece of tape over it... does the amp need to run off 4 preamps? although it sounds pretty good, will i get a better tone out of getting the other put in? I intend to take it to a tech at some point before i gig it, but I would like to get some experienced opinions on the matter.. Cheers

[JimmyM]

This is what I found from a quick Yahoo search:

"So… needing an amp, I came across a beautiful looking 100 watt WASP head at Tym Guitars. There was also a 50 watt WASP with KT88′s, but I like the extra power in reserve of a 100 watt head so that’s the one I went for. The amp runs on 4 6550 power tubes and 4 12ax7′s. There are two 12ax7′s in the preamp, 1 for the phase inverter and then the 4th is used as a post phase inverter boost."

guitarnerd… awesome vintage guitars, australian made guitars, guitar pedals… basically everything that is cool about guitars! » WASP amplifiers

Look around Yahoo and Google, there's a lot of stuff about Holden amps.

[big_bertha]

sweet, thanks jimmyM!