Telecaster Guitar Forum - View Single Post - Biasing questions? Lower current is hotter?

Wally · March 21st, 2003, 11:11 AM

The larger current draw is running the tube hotter than before. Some folks would think that 46mA is close to the hot end of the range for that 6L6 tube. Shorter tube life is the price to pay if you like the thicker, more distorted sound at that setting. Some would feel that the first setting is preferable. Use your ears (and eyes for those red plates!) in addition to the numbers. Go much hotter and you will see the plates turn red. Go to the other extreme and you will have a cold, harsh sound. Somewhere in between, you will find a setting that does what you want and hopefully can afford...if its the heat that you want. Have a good one.

March 21st, 2003, 11:11 AM	#2 (permalink)
Wally Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Lubbock, TX Posts: 3,772	Hotter... The larger current draw is running the tube hotter than before. Some folks would think that 46mA is close to the hot end of the range for that 6L6 tube. Shorter tube life is the price to pay if you like the thicker, more distorted sound at that setting. Some would feel that the first setting is preferable. Use your ears (and eyes for those red plates!) in addition to the numbers. Go much hotter and you will see the plates turn red. Go to the other extreme and you will have a cold, harsh sound. Somewhere in between, you will find a setting that does what you want and hopefully can afford...if its the heat that you want. Have a good one.