More crunch for Silvertone 1481

nick_st_hilaire · Post by **nick_st_hilaire** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 4:14 pm

Hey there, I have an old Silvertone 1481 combo amp that I'd like to get to distort at lower volumes (like you've never heard this before...) It has the original "Silvertone" 12AX tube. In fact, I don't think any of the tubes have been changed. I'd like to avoid putting a pedal in front of it. I've built some guitar effects, etc., but haven't played with tube amps. Any direction you might give?

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 4:19 pm

I have a 1483 with all but one original tube. It breaks up at a moderate volume on its own. These were made by Danelectro. Nice sounding amps.

triode · Post by **triode** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 5:45 pm

The tube with the highest gain right now is the reissue Tung Sol 12AX7 from Sovtek. This tube has 10-15% more gain and crunch than the stock Sovteks. Perfect for that Tweed Crunch sound.

soundmasterg · Post by **soundmasterg** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 6:12 pm

Most of the Silvertones that I've seen have really low plate voltages in the preamp. If you feel like modding it, and know what you're doing to be safe, you can change some dropping resistors, cathode resistors, and plate resistors, and add a cathode cap, which will get the gain up a lot more. Don't do it if you don't know how to be safe around tube amps and high voltages please.

nick_st_hilaire · Post by **nick_st_hilaire** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 4:12 pm

My exp. with modding tube amps is low, so I'll try the Tung Sol tube, thanx for the suggestion.