The 6SN7 is a medium gain tube (similar to a 12AU7) while the 12AX7 is high gain. The closest octal dual triode match for a 12AX7 would be a 6SL7 and even then there are differences. For preamp designs, I've always had good success with the circuits in the back pages of RCA tube manuals. The zesty flavor of tone the cathode follower delivers results in an amp that’s a pretty awesome combination of old and new – a time-tested guitar amplifier circuit, the cathode follower, paired with a tube-driven power amp, a power soak and the game-changing Red Box AE.
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To this end, I am thinking of an amp using a 6U8A pentode/triode that feeds a 6SN7 output stage. The pentode will have a fair amount of gain (much more than the usual triode stage) and accept feedback on the cathode. The triode will directly couple to the pentode amplifier stage and act as a phase splitter. The 6SN7s are a push-pull stage.
Boutique amp enthusiasts will probably like this feature since the 6SN7 tubes are older and may have more of a vintage amp sound. Fortunately, the 6SN7 is still easy to acquire. This amp has been 'tuned' for good sound, the bias settings of all of the tube stages were tweaked while a guitar was plugged in. Emery Sound also does the octal thing.
I’ve never seen another amp that uses the 6SN7 as an output tube and it is really interesting to hear the differences in all of the brands and types. 6SN7 is certainly a rich tube type to pick through, and if you want to know just how a particular type of 6SN7 sounds, this is the amp for you.
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Guitar Amp 6sn7 Sound Effects
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Guitar Amp 6sn7 Sound Machine
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