Expensive Tubes In a Cheap Amp! - Is It Worth It?

Is upgrading the tubes in your amp worth the expense?
Today I test out some popular tubes in my cheap $200 tube amp!
If you found this video helpful, be sure to like and subscribe :)

T-SHIRT STORE:

TAB STORE:
Songs, Lesson Worksheets, and Guitar Techniques!

DARRELL'S GUITARS & GEAR LIST!

MY AMPS:

PATREON:
Become a Patron to be eligible for exclusive monthly Gear Give-Aways and Lesson TABs!

ALBUM:
iTunes:

SUPPORT:
If you want to give back to help keep the channel going, you can help me out here:

INSTAGRAM:

DARRELL'S FAVOURITE GEAR:

Part 1- Tube/Amp Walkthrough
Part 2 - Tone Test: 4:34
Part 3: - Final thoughts: 9:55

Soli Deo Gloria!

[suhaibawad]

Really informative channel. So glad I subscribed
Great video by the way

[RickGreyson]

I just received mine, direct from Monoprice. $279.00 + tax, free shipping. Ordered 3/1/22 and received 3/7/22 via Fedex. Came double boxed and unharmed. I had ordered from Amazon for $9.99 (while waiting for the amp) and received a set of Kaish vintage "aged white" chicken head knobs to replace the amazing CHEAP-ASS plastic knobs that came on the amp. HUGE improvement in quality, and they look great!! The amp came with 3 JJ 12AX7 preamp tubes and two "no-name" EL84 power tubes. I ordered 2 JJ EL84's to replace them. As a 71 year old ex-rocker turned blues player, I enjoy the sound of this amp. I may replace the speaker eventually, but for now, it sounds fine to old tired ears!

[FraterAlex]

As an "amp guy", I recommend changing out the cathode capacitor to a different value. The result will be more dramatic than changing the tubes.
I do agree that changing the "first" tube (preamp tube-usually a 12AX7 variety) in the circuit will make almost all the change, a tube swap will make. (provided the other tubes are in decent shape)
A capacitor, located on the "other side" of the tone knob cuts treble and can be removed, or value changed, this is often a round, ceramic capacitor.
Resistors in the tone circuits move the response, they work with the tone knob's resistance values. Old resistors often can be found at different values, from degrading over many years.
All of these are covered in many videos so, please obtain the schematic for your amp, and if your not sure contact a local tech!

[DarrellBraunGuitar]

I know a lot of you guys were waiting for this one!
Enjoy :)

[calenmoerman]

Darrell is always so enthusiastic and cheerful. This is yet another excellent video where we could hear shockingly subtle tone differences only because we heard exact samples back to back. Still so many videos out there where someone riffs for 2 min and then plays 2 min of other riffs on the other piece of equipment and there's no hope of picking out a difference even when a great difference exists. This channel delivers real results.

[charlesbell]

I really enjoy your channel. I began playing in 1962 but I quit playing about 3 years ago. Watching your channel has helped me to want to start playing again. Thank you.

[yodhanhunter]

Finally, someone who uses the exact same audio for a shoot out. Thank you! O have always wondered why people don’t do this with a simple looper pedal or reamping for pedal and amp shootouts. It keeps the control and makes the outcome much more accurate.

[norvillerodgersspeaks]

Good channel you got here. No fluff, no marketing puffery, a decent sense of empiricism. Good for you m8.

[rayschoch]

Thanks, Darrell! For a hobbyist like me, the cost / gain issue is an important one. The differences between tones with different tube sets are there, but not dramatic enough (for me) to justify the cost of a full set of replacements.

[MrAndersonmm]

The thing people often get wrong is worrying about how good their gigging amp sounds. The drunks at your local club/bar/whatever you're playing at don't care if you've got name brand aftermarket tubes/speakers/etc, and even say a 15-25% improvement in tone will go largely unnoticed, and the last thing you want it so haul your $2000 Fender/Marshall amp to a gig and have it get ruined. Save those bad-boys for the studio and find a workhorse amp that's cheap to replace.

The real question to ask yourself is would you rather spend $220 on this amp or like $400 on a Bugera/Blackstar/cheap Fender. Maybe you can find a 2nd hand one of those for the same price, but unless you know what to test and the right questions to ask about 2nd hand gear I don't recommend it.

Amp sounds really good for the price. I may end up with one of them myself for gigging in the future.

[ThunderBassistJay]

Very clear explanation and comparison, as usual.
Back in the day I designed and built transmitters using tubes. Just for fun I also built an amp. The quality of the tubes really contributes to sound quality as well as longevity. Using tubes in push-pull configuration requires them being well matched. In the seventies there was still a variety of tube manufacturers, like Siemens and Philips.

[paulnormandin]

I had a question from the original video when I saw you handling the tubes bare handed but you answered it right away in this video. Thank you, I have been looking for something like this little beauty!

[ironfossil]

That stock clean tone is just sick. This seems like a really great pedal platform with that effects loop.

[ricardoa]

Honestly the stock tubes sound very good, I would NOT change them 👍 very good video

[DBSG]

Fascinating video as always. I was told to buy a tube amp when I first started playing and I got lucky with my Fender '68!

[ginoames]

Great video. Fun little FYI- Electro Harmonix owns the New Sensor tube factory

[jorgejnoguera]

I bought a Monoprice 15W and I am happy with it as delivered, it's all I need for now and I don't predict any additional needs by me in the immediate future. At 63 this amp will no doubt outlive me, my grandson will inherit it along with all my standard and strange instruments. It's a good buy, a solid piece of equipment. It's affordable and actually performs really well. This an excellent video, and it does take headphones to hear the difference in performance. But in my opinion the difference is minimal, only an advanced player or extreme connoisseur could detect it. I won't spend more money just to gild a lily. I am glad I took the chance and bought one, $226 is a minimal investment for an excellent return.

[noahballou]

You’re always so happy I feel like you could be the next blues clues host

[ourbackyardwildlife]

I purchase both the 5W and 15W Versions of this amp from monoprice and i have to say I’m really happy. the 15W I initially received had microphonic issues with the tubes I contacted their support and immediately got an RMA.The replacement is perfect couldn't be happier.

[michaelbasich]

Your the most genuine kind human, you’re always smiling.