Different brand valves

wdcw · 17th September 2010, 08:40 AM

For push pull guitar amplifiers is it ok to use valves of different brands together, say one is a Phillips & the other is Mullard or whatever can they be used together.

Or must you use valves of the same brand name.

Cheers

costis_n · 17th September 2010, 09:23 AM

Sure. Many guitarists love the sound that is produced by the slight imbalance.

DF96 · 17th September 2010, 09:30 AM

It might not be an imbalance anyway, as Mullard was part of Phillips so their valves were made in each others factories. You can buy Mullards made in Holland, or Philips made in England, or Valvo (Germany) made in France etc. Some 'Mullards' were made in India or Japan.

If you are concerned about manufacture then you should ignore the brand printed on the outside and look at the works on the inside, and the etch code. Even then you may, or may not, want to have matched valves. Matched does not mean same factory code but same characteristics - some ebay sellers get this wrong (through greed or ignorance, not sure).

wdcw · 17th September 2010, 09:37 AM

Thanks Guy's that's what I needed to hear, so basically by using differing valves we can introduce particular harmonics etc depending on what our personal tastes are.

Cheers

Wavebourn · 17th September 2010, 09:38 AM

Tubes of different brands may be aging differently, causing dis-balance in OT of PP amp on loud low notes.

wdcw · 17th September 2010, 10:11 AM

Wavebourn, Yes I took note of what you said in the other thread.

Would using an output transformer with a larger core--more Iron--Steel to stop saturation help this issue if I wanted to use differing valves for harmonic reasons.

Or are there other issues besides saturating the OPT to look out for.

What percentage of disbalance can we have in the OPT without causing problems. Or is there a way to compensate for this so we can have a disbalance for more harmonic content.

Cheers

Wavebourn · 17th September 2010, 06:26 PM

For harmonic content I would use a gaped transformer and only one tube, no negative bias.

wdcw · 17th September 2010, 09:37 PM

Thanks Wavebourn,

I see what your saying.

I am a Luthier of 30yrs & want to try a few things regarding tube amps & harmonic content, a lot of the amps fall short in the way of harmonics without a truck load of electronic gadjets to make them sound good.

I think it's worth trying a few things.

Cheers

17th September 2010, 08:40 AM	#1
wdcw diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2010	Different brand valves For push pull guitar amplifiers is it ok to use valves of different brands together, say one is a Phillips & the other is Mullard or whatever can they be used together. Or must you use valves of the same brand name. Cheers

17th September 2010, 09:38 AM	#5
Wavebourn diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pleasant Hill, CA	Tubes of different brands may be aging differently, causing dis-balance in OT of PP amp on loud low notes. __________________ The devil is not so terrible as his mathematical model! Wavebourn: We Create Creativity!

17th September 2010, 06:26 PM	#7
Wavebourn diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pleasant Hill, CA	For harmonic content I would use a gaped transformer and only one tube, no negative bias. __________________ The devil is not so terrible as his mathematical model! Wavebourn: We Create Creativity!

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17th September 2010, 09:23 AM	#2
costis_n Tinkerer diyAudio Member Join Date: Aug 2008	Sure. Many guitarists love the sound that is produced by the slight imbalance.

17th September 2010, 09:30 AM	#3
DF96 diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2007	It might not be an imbalance anyway, as Mullard was part of Phillips so their valves were made in each others factories. You can buy Mullards made in Holland, or Philips made in England, or Valvo (Germany) made in France etc. Some 'Mullards' were made in India or Japan. If you are concerned about manufacture then you should ignore the brand printed on the outside and look at the works on the inside, and the etch code. Even then you may, or may not, want to have matched valves. Matched does not mean same factory code but same characteristics - some ebay sellers get this wrong (through greed or ignorance, not sure).

17th September 2010, 09:37 AM	#4
wdcw diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2010	Thanks Guy's that's what I needed to hear, so basically by using differing valves we can introduce particular harmonics etc depending on what our personal tastes are. Cheers

17th September 2010, 10:11 AM	#6
wdcw diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2010	Wavebourn, Yes I took note of what you said in the other thread. Would using an output transformer with a larger core--more Iron--Steel to stop saturation help this issue if I wanted to use differing valves for harmonic reasons. Or are there other issues besides saturating the OPT to look out for. What percentage of disbalance can we have in the OPT without causing problems. Or is there a way to compensate for this so we can have a disbalance for more harmonic content. Cheers

17th September 2010, 09:37 PM	#8
wdcw diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2010	Thanks Wavebourn, I see what your saying. I am a Luthier of 30yrs & want to try a few things regarding tube amps & harmonic content, a lot of the amps fall short in the way of harmonics without a truck load of electronic gadjets to make them sound good. I think it's worth trying a few things. Cheers

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