question for tube amp/pre amp users?

Well, i have a tube pre-amp, but i dont have any distortion. even when i crank the tube, there is none, even though i wish there were. it only makes my peak light scream like no tomorrow.

 

When tube amps are operated within their linear operating range, they don't distort any more than solid state amps. They only take on "that tube sound" when they are pushed beyond their linear range.. Ask anyone who owns an Aguilar whether it's hi fidelity or not Like I said in another post I'll challenge anyone to tell the difference between a solid state and a tube amp in a double blind test, when both are operating in their linear ranges.

 

More or less. I mean you have to compare apples to apples. Every amp has a "sound" of course. An Ampeg sounds like an ampeg, for example. The solid state and tube Ampegs both have the "ampeg sound". No, a tube preamp won't sound overdriven if it isn't being overdriven. Unless it's been particularly designed to sound like that. I think the Ampegs have a drive control that simulates this. You might be able to hear a difference in sound between two bass amps, because most of them are designed to have a "sound". But there's no way to tell which one is tube and which one isn't unless they are being overdriven. I own a tube amp, and I like the sound when it's slightly overdriven. Not everyone digs this of course. To make a long story short, tube preamps/amps do not inherently distort more than SS amps. Hope this helps. I tried an SVP-pro and thought it sounded pretty clean with the drive control down.
cheers