ot calling tube amp gurus...R.G??

[swt]

Maybe this is a stupid question...but...can i try parallel diodes like in the big muff, with isolating cap, and maybe a series resistor, with a preamp tube, to achieve kind of an overdrive sound?. Or should i stick to the traditional diodes to ground?. What i mean is back to back from plate to grid, with series cap and resistor. Ideas for the resistor value??. Can i damage the tube??. Thanks a lot for any replies!!.
Ps: i tried this in a bluemagic to get more drive, and it works perfectly with fets, provided the blocking cap.

[Peter Snowberg]

Grid current is really small so as long as you don't have a DC path from the plate to the grid, and the coupling cap in series with your plate-grid diodes as well as the diodes themselves can handle the voltage you should be just fine.

Because the signal is much larger, try zeners in series.

[swt]

Well Peter...Thanks a lot!!!. I'll try it and let you know how it worked out.

[R.G.]

Peter is correct in many respects.

To make this work properly, you need a series resistor going into the grid and your feedback network also connecting to the grid. Leave off the 470K feeback resistor or capacitor couple the whole mess - no plate DC voltage back into the grid.

When you do this, the tube-y-ness largely vanishes, as the feedback diodes are now the determining factor in the output. And the output is limited to the +/- diode drop that the diodes let the plate move.

[swt]

Thanks R.G!!. i've already tried it, and i didn't like it. You are right, it lack the organic feel of the tube. I've also tried the tut 1 method and didn't like it. So...i'll have to tried more gain stages and interstages attenuators to get the sound i'm after. Thanks for your kind replies fellas!!