I have a fender Tbp-1 bass preamp and i want to know if i switch up the tubes if it will have a significant effect on the tone? Also if it does have an effect which tubes should i be looking into and what kind of effect would the tube have on the tone?
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Preamp Tubes
- Thread starter StipeC
- Start date
Unless the original tube is really wonky, I don't think you'll see enough difference to justify the price of a premium tube. OTOH, do a search on "rolling glass" and you'll find a variety of opinions. What's in the pre now?
Riis
Riis
scottbass
Bass lines like a big, funky giant
A wise old tube amp builder once told me that there is as much, if not more, variation between two individual tubes of the same make and model than between tubes from different manufacturers.
That preamp has two 12AX7WA tubes. You can put any 12AX7 tubes in there. They are also known as ECC83 tubes. The two model numbers are interchangeable. 12AX7WA's are the same as 12AX7's with slightly lower gain, flat response, etc. Some 12AX7's will sound about the same as what you have in there now, some will sound very different. How to know what is what?
This site has a description of the different make/model 12AX7's that they sell:
12AX7 Tube Types Reviewed
There are many, many other good sources of tubes and information about tubes on the web. Do a search.
I have always had good luck with normal, ordinary, run-of-the-mill JJ/Tesla tubes. They seem to be pretty middle-of-the-road which means no giant surprises when you install them.
That preamp has two 12AX7WA tubes. You can put any 12AX7 tubes in there. They are also known as ECC83 tubes. The two model numbers are interchangeable. 12AX7WA's are the same as 12AX7's with slightly lower gain, flat response, etc. Some 12AX7's will sound about the same as what you have in there now, some will sound very different. How to know what is what?
This site has a description of the different make/model 12AX7's that they sell:
12AX7 Tube Types Reviewed
There are many, many other good sources of tubes and information about tubes on the web. Do a search.
I have always had good luck with normal, ordinary, run-of-the-mill JJ/Tesla tubes. They seem to be pretty middle-of-the-road which means no giant surprises when you install them.
The TBP-1 preamp is very highly regarded 'round these parts, an excellent platform for great bass tone, and unless you have bad tubes in it now, I wouldn't change a thing. Tube rolling is better left to the people who "know all" re: tubes. You could get lucky, but chances are you will hear no difference. Not worth the time/effort/money, just enjoy one of the best bass preamps ever made.
You can still pick up NOS US made tubes for not too much. Someplaces sell Sylvania and other brands which arent as legendary as GE, Mullard and RCA for not too much coin. $40-50 for a pair of tubes? That's not far off what some places try to get for a a set of strings. Tubes last years, strings, not so much.
