If I'm running a GNX3000 through a tube amp and use the Tube Screamer overdrive, will it really overdrive my tubes like a legit pedal or will it \"copy\" the tone?
A tube screamer emulates the overdrive of power tubes. It uses a chip that acts like a tube when a signal is passed through.
To truly get power tube overdrive you drive a tube amp hard. This is most typically a class A type Amp without a master volume.
Most amp distortion from tubes comes from the preamp tube. This has been the case for decades. I have an original TS 808 that i got in 1980 when I started playing and the GNX4 sounds just like it when i use the Screamer stompbox.
Most class A amps are small wattage... and I like the old Fender stuff from the 50's and 60's.
There is a lot of technical stuff on the web about tube amps and how they work. The difference between the pre and power amp tubes etc.
Power Tube overdrive is much less distorted than the kind of drive from the pre amp and most heavy players find it weak. Blues guys love it.
I hope this is clear. I am still learning the science behind all this myself.
Tubes are amazing things.
zoo was right in everything he said.
except, the main thing to rember is whith a tube amp, you need to set up the gnx's out to distort the way you want it when chosing a stong clean patch you program in.
then use the gnx volume pedal.
poof.. instant distortion with no change in tone.
not too gritty, but with a nice blues or cutting sound.
The TS808 (TS9, TS10 etc.) doesn't really simulate power tube distortion at all. Power tubes (in Class AB, which most amps are) are pretty linear until they hit the rails then they clip hard, along with some funny interaction with the output transformer.
Tube Screamers don't clip hard, they let the guitar's dynamics through. This sets them apart from most other stompboxes. Their output is pretty hot, and this is what brings out the 2nd harmonic distortion in the tube amp's preamp. That combination works really well if you're after an overdrive-y sound.
tubes do not hard distort untill you get past the sweet sound.
a tube driven near max will act almost like a compressor as in it starts to sqash the signal. it's a much more harmonic distortion.
as in you can play a whole chord, and still hear it, with a little chunk added in.
fet op amps almost do the same thing. but you can't beat a tube amp for touch dynamics or tone.
just my opinion, i'm a rock player that has been a pro audio tech for over 20 years, but with a gnx in front of it, a tube amp sounds better.
Comments
To truly get power tube overdrive you drive a tube amp hard. This is most typically a class A type Amp without a master volume.
Most amp distortion from tubes comes from the preamp tube. This has been the case for decades. I have an original TS 808 that i got in 1980 when I started playing and the GNX4 sounds just like it when i use the Screamer stompbox.
Most class A amps are small wattage... and I like the old Fender stuff from the 50's and 60's.
There is a lot of technical stuff on the web about tube amps and how they work. The difference between the pre and power amp tubes etc.
Power Tube overdrive is much less distorted than the kind of drive from the pre amp and most heavy players find it weak. Blues guys love it.
I hope this is clear. I am still learning the science behind all this myself.
Tubes are amazing things.
except, the main thing to rember is whith a tube amp, you need to set up the gnx's out to distort the way you want it when chosing a stong clean patch you program in.
then use the gnx volume pedal.
poof.. instant distortion with no change in tone.
not too gritty, but with a nice blues or cutting sound.
Tube Screamers don't clip hard, they let the guitar's dynamics through. This sets them apart from most other stompboxes. Their output is pretty hot, and this is what brings out the 2nd harmonic distortion in the tube amp's preamp. That combination works really well if you're after an overdrive-y sound.
M.M.
a tube driven near max will act almost like a compressor as in it starts to sqash the signal. it's a much more harmonic distortion.
as in you can play a whole chord, and still hear it, with a little chunk added in.
fet op amps almost do the same thing. but you can't beat a tube amp for touch dynamics or tone.
just my opinion, i'm a rock player that has been a pro audio tech for over 20 years, but with a gnx in front of it, a tube amp sounds better.