Home (amp tone and effects placement)

>>Can someone do a little more theoretical/practical explaining of
>>wattage/tube/etc. to me? E.g. of the common power tubes (EL34, EL84,
>>6L6, 6V6, etc.), what sort of wattage is needed to push them the way
>>they sound best? I've read RG Keen's tube amp FAQ, and I don't really
>>understand it. For instance, 6L6's are good for up to 50 watts/pair,
>>but my Super Reverb is 40 watts, right?

>Hi James,

>Those wattage ratings are only semi-relevant for gauging volume.
>There's not much difference (in terms of decibels) between a 40w
>and 50w amp, assuming that all other factors are identical.

>You'll find that speaker efficiency can make a big difference in db.

>The overall wattage is also influenced by plate voltages and
>other operating parameters.

>>But it still drives the power
>>tubes. Why hasn't anyone built a one-6L6, 25-watt amp, like they did
>>with the one-6V6 5-watt Champ vs. the two-6V6 15-watt Princeton?

>The Champ 12 is/was single-ended 6L6, right? And I believe that HiMu
>and a couple others have done it. Usually single-ended amps are
>*intended* to be low wattage, so they'll use a lower wattage output
>tube. You'll also see lower efficiencies for single-ended amps, so
>don't expect 1/2 of p-p ratings.

>>Point is, what tubes would be used in these 1-watt and 1/2-watt amps?
>>What are the logistics of getting them built?

>There were a lot of low wattage table-radio tubes at one time.
>Amp mfg's won't use them cause they're not available now.

>Mark G.

I'm buying some tube radios through the antique radios newsgroup. I want to drive small guitar speakers in a speaker isolation cabinet, mic that, echo that, then amp the final, polished signal to a quiet monitoring level.

I thought the Champ used 6V6 rather than 6L6. 6V6 is the lowest power common power tube, lower than an EL84.