Preamp Tube Swapping and Making a 5150 II Cleaner

MidnightFlamed · #1 08-22-2002, 02:18 PM

I heard that SRV would swap one of the 12AX7s in his Fender out for a 5751 preamp tube to clean up the clean tone. What I was wondering is if anyone knows whether this is possible on a Peavey 5150 II amp? Is it possible to swap a preamp tube to clean up the clean channel without affecting the high-gain channel at all? And if it is, what kind of tube would be best to use? I appreciate any knowledge offered by Jemsiters!

Lonely Raven · #2 08-22-2002, 02:53 PM

I might have gotten bad information, but I thought SRV swapped out
the preamp tubes with lower gain preamp tubes so he could drive them
differently (I think harder with less distortion).

Or is that what we are talking about here and I'm missreading you?

One good source for SRV amp info is AnalogMan.com and go to the
Forums. The SRVs amp tech hangs out there and answers a lot of
questions...

As for specifics on your amp, you would probably have to take the amp
to a very serious mod shop and have them evaluate what tubes might
work for you. You could also ask this over at the other forum

pri0531 · #3 08-22-2002, 03:08 PM

I used a 5150 and put eurotubes in it. They really helped clean the amp up. Go to www.eurotubes.com and check them out.
Out,
GP

Vaibanez · #4 08-22-2002, 04:16 PM

Why would you want to make the amp something it's not??

The 5150's were never designed to be SRV clean.
They were desigend to sound EVH clean...and survuve a Hieny spilled on them...

MidnightFlamed · #5 08-22-2002, 05:49 PM

I heard SRV just swapped preamp tube #2 to drive the amp differently (and cleaner) but that it only would affect the clean tone. I love the 5150 for the high-gain channel, but would kill to have a more clean clean channel, and so I was wondering if there was a possible way to swap a tube that would affect the clean channel but not the high-gain.

I'm not really sure it's possible, but I read that the 5150 has one of its preamp tubes dedicated to the clean channel, so I was thinking if I could put a tube there that doesn't breakup as easily I might be able to grab the best of both worlds with a smooth, clean clean channel and a roaring metal high gain channel. Am I crazy?

MidnightFlamed · #6 08-22-2002, 05:51 PM

I'm not trying to recreate an SRV tone, I just would like a cleaner tone. I just heard he did this, so I was using it as an example. I love a tweedy blues clean sound.....

Lonely Raven · #7 08-22-2002, 05:59 PM

I totally follow you brother. If I could get a glassy clean and dirty
saturation out of one amp, I'd be in Heaven!!