Tip of the Week: swapping preamp tubes

A recent question on the forum has inspired this tip. When substituting preamp tubes in an amp to help with volume, tone, and (especially) feedback, remember that it is the change in gain that really makes the difference. Sonic differences between say, various brands of new and vintage 12AU7s can be subtle, especially for beginning players, but subbing any 12AU7 in place of a 12AX7 will really make a big change. So don't worry about buying the "best" tube, just grab a handful and start experimenting!

Skip Simmons