Tone & circuits

What is a series effects loop? How it differs from a parallel loop, which pedals go in the loop or in front, and why loop level and true bypass matter.

Preamp vs power amp distortion: where each one happens in a tube amp, how they sound and feel, and how to balance gain and master for your own tone.

Master volume vs non master volume: how each amp design works, how they sound different, and how to get great tube tone at the volume you play at.

The 12AX7 guitar amp tube explained: how this preamp tube adds gain, drives the tone stack and power tubes, and how it compares with a 12AT7.

EL34 vs 6L6 vs 6V6: how each power tube sounds, how much headroom it gives, whether you can swap them, and which tubes each Kool tube amp uses.

What is Plexi tone? Learn where the name comes from, how the circuit works, what it sounds like and how to get Plexi tone at a volume you can live with.