TUBE GURU's... do the harmonics come from the Preamp tubes or the power tubes?

[Floridabwoy]

I have a question. I picked up an Ampeg v4, which i liked some things about it, like the harmonics, and how every string just had that same oomph to it... what i didn't like about it was the volume. It sounded beautiful, but my VTBass->YamahaPB1->Crown power amp got almost the same tone and way more volume.


So i found a Peavey Mace for cheap. It has a SS preamp, and 6 power tubes for 160 watts instead of 100 watts. Will i loose those harmonics with a SS preamp or do they come from the power tubes...

Thanks in advance for the advice!

[billfitzmaurice]

All tubes act in a similar fashion. In amps with gain/master controls most of the clipping, and the harmonics thus generated, takes place prior to the power amp stage. If you can only have tubes in either the pre or the power amp section most will prefer them in the pre.