Re-tubing a Twin

[Donk70]

I'm trying to get a better overdrive and distortion out of my Twin. I've tried both my TS-9 and my Marshall Guv'nor and I'm not happy with the results. I asked a fellow guitarist and he suggested that I get new tubes for the amp. I'm no Techie so I have no idea on how to change the tubes, let alone what kind to buy. Does anyone have any suggestions on what kind of tubes to use, and will the amp have to be rebiased?

[BIG GINGER GIT]

I'm trying to get a better overdrive and distortion out of my Twin. I've tried both my TS-9 and my Marshall Guv'nor and I'm not happy with the results.

WOW :eek: I'm surprised at that as it's an awesome combination :dude:
Saw Robben Ford with this set up and a fantastic unknown Brit player Eddie Tatton and they both smoked. Eddie Tatton used to play for UK band Out Of The Blue, very modern funk fuelled blues and he's a cross between Robben Ford and Larry Carlton on acid, one of the best players I've ever seen or heard :D

[BIG GINGER GIT]

Some are essentially loud clean amps, others have overdrive channels - like the one Robben Ford uses, which is a red-knob "The Twin" I think.
Yep, that's right John, he does use the red-knob version as does Eddie Tatton.

[Donk70]

This is a 1996 Twin. 2 channel, classic OD and gain with reverb.

[Stratmeister]

Donk70, it might be tough to get that overdriven sound in your head from a Twin. Basically that's a clean toned amp. What speakers are in it? Start with hot pickups...

Changing the tonal profile of a Twin will include options such as preamp tubes, different speakers (I highly recommend Weber Blue Dog Alincos for this...), biasing the power section hotter, and installing a tube rectifier (Do you have a tube rectifier in this amp?) If so you can change to a lower voltage rectifier very easily, but this may also require rebiasing.

I would suggest rebiasing those 6L6's hotter and see what that does for you. Raise it 5ma or so to start with and watch the plates. If that doesn't do it, a reduction in the plate voltage (the rectifier option) will cause earlier breakup. Finding preamp tubes you like that breakup earlier (ask Bob at Eurotubes for some hot 12AX7's) should be easy to do. Preamp tubes are just plug and play, no rebiasing necessary. And finally those Webers or something similar that break up earlier will also do the trick. Maybe some of these options in combination to get where you want.

Do you use both channels? I haven't seem the schematic recently, but most "vintage" Fender designs will allow you to pull the preamp tube from the channel you're not using (channel 1 probably, V1 that is) which will change the preamp bias on channel 2. This will also give more gain and hence overdrive.

Changing power tubes probably won't give you more overdrive unless you play way up near 8-10 which is very loud on a Twin as you know. And then it's power tube saturation you're hearing which can be flavored with different brands of tubes. Yes, if you change the power tubes you should definitely have the bias checked, and tweeked if necessary.