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So I'm looking at starting small and build a bass preamp based off of the Ampeg B-15. If it is successful, I may attempt a power amp to match.

I generally understand the sonic qualities that a tube rectifier imparts to the overall tone. For just a preamp, would there be enough current draw for it to have a significant effect, or is it primarily in the power amp that the effect occurs.

Or to put it another way, should I use a tube or solid state rectifier in the preamp?

Thanks,

Frank

Hi Frank,

Since a preamp or line amp consumes very little power (compared to a power amp), and runs class A with rare exceptions, the sonic characteristics of VT rectification are minimized. The main disadvantage is the extra minimum 600 mA of heater current you'll have to come up with, increasing the size (and cost) of the power transformer.

For instrument amplifier use--as opposed to high fidelity--I'd use regular UF1007s. They're virtually the same price as 1N4007s now, and have much improved transition time.