clownpenis38 asked:


I have a 5-watt tube amp with an EL84 power amp tube and a 12AX7 and a 12AU7 preamp tube complement. I’d like to maybe increase the gain a little bit, and I’ve read on (I believe) tubedepot.com that I can substitute a 12AV7 (?) for the 12AU7 to increase the gain stage.
I’ve heard there could be bad consequences for increasing the gain stage too much, but would putting a 12AT7 or a 12AY7 in place of the 12AU7 blow my amp up? Should I instead focus on a different 12AX7 like Electro Harmonix’s 12AX7EH (higher gain, supposedly)? I had planned on at least changing out the 12AX7 anyway (it’s a cheap stock tube), but what can I do to the 12AU7? Thoughts?

Oh, as additional info, my tastes in music and my desired tone is more like 60’s psychedelic/garage tone, kinda early Pink Floyd/Later-era Beatles. So I’m not looking for massive Marshall-Mesa Boogie gain…I’m just looking for a tad bit more gain and/or “girth” to the tone.
Also, my speaker is a Celestion. It is a stock speaker, but I know Celestions have a pretty decent reputation. Should I be looking at a different brand, perhaps, or just stick with the Celestion?

Thanks!
Did I say more “girth?” I guess what I mean is just a little more bite, a little more rough-around-the-edges. Thanks for putting up with my nit-picking!

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