Hi.  I love the thick grimy sound at low levels out of this amp but new project requires more headroom. 

This is an 18 watt TMB EF86

At very low setting, this amp breaks up quite a bit even with volume knob rolled back on the guitar.

Would changing out tubes give me more headroom?  Should I add an effects loop?

I'm needing to use delays and re-verbs for live settings.  It just doesn't work in front of  a dirty amp... 

...I've heard I should swap the ef86 for an e80f.

Any thoughts for the 12 ax7's?  I've heard 12 au7's are good replacements?  Which 12 ax7 do I change (as there are 3 after the ef86)?

Thanks so much for your help!

First of all, I just want to thank you all VERY much for taking the time to answer my question.  I'm not sure why I can't really get across what I want.  I guess that I was assuming people would pretend that I have some common sense and I'm not a complete idiot.  I guess I really have to spell everything out...   

I thought my question was pretty simple.  Is the sound quality going to be night and day.  Will it be very different in terms of quality.  Not - will I like it more or is one better than the other.  But, If I sit down with and in two seconds say "holy cow, this amp sucks compared to this other one", that's what I wanted to know.  Tone is subjective but what I am wanting to know is NOT subjective, at least I don't think so. 

Thanks CMoore for your answer, it was very helpful.  Yes, these are variations and takes on the same thing.  I'm not convinced one is better than the other.  But again, my Teisco Del Rey guitar compared to my Gibson is night and day.  EVERYONE would agree because the Teisco doesn't stay in tune, the strings are a foot off the fretboard and the volume pot is very scratchy.  The Gibson is all quality and doesn't have any of the problems that the Teisco does. 

And the comparison on cars, yes I see your point.  If I'm on a farm, I would prefer a Tundra.  Again, with some common sense (if you could read my mind) I am comparing driveability, quality.  A Lexus will outdrive and outperform and outhandle a Toyota ANY day of the week.  No contest.  As SOON as you get in the Lexus, it is NIGHT and DAY.  Night And Day...  So.  That's what I wanted to know.  If it still doens't make sense what I'm asking then I need to take a class on conveying ideas better...   hahaha....

Again, thanks SO much for your time and help.  I think I feel a little more confident which is really what I wanted.  I didn't want to be sacrificing or loosing out on something by just sticking and being happy with my Ceriatone.  I have two of them so obviously I'm not sold on the other amps.  I want to just KNOW that I am playing with big boy toys and can comfortably hang with some of the higher priced boys.   

Any additional thoughts and comments would be very much appreciated. 

Thanks again!
J

No.  I haven't played them, just read reviews and listen online.  Plus, they have a lot of cool features that I asked Nik for which he cannot do.

As I said, I know they are different.  I'm not asking for a comparison.  I'm not asking you to tell me which amp I will like better.  My question is if I plug them up side to side, will the other amps blow this Ceriatone out of the water.  Ceriatone is cool.  But soundwise.  Will these other amps smoke it.  Will they sound better.  Like, a Peavey vs a Marshall, I think it's easy to say that most Peavey's will not sound as nice.  Will a Dan Electro Distortion pedal sound better than a fulltone?  Will driving a Toyota be more impressive than a Lexus? 

Yes, these amps cost more, I do not have a problem with that.  If they are going to smoke my Ceriatone, I don't mind throwing some more cash down.  Unfortunately, I don't have anywhere close to try these out side by side.  Thought someone would have some constructive feedback. 

Hey guys.  CUrious about something...

I KNOW and not comparing but I've been curious if I would be happier with something else.  I really like my Ceriatones but haven't really ever tried 65 or Divided amps.  I know they're different.  BUT>  If I put the Ceriatone up next to a 65 or D, would the difference in quality of tone be dramatic?  Even though they sound different and the Ceriatone isn't designed to be LIKE the others, would the others blow it out of the water as far as vibe, mojo, tone etc??

Thanks again for the replies.  I guess I'll try replacing all of the tubes...  Bummer since I paid extra for these tubes to be sent along with the amp straight from Nik.  New tubes within a few months?  I guess I will just buy my own tubes next time to avoid this.  Thanks!

Curious on one more thing...  Should the tone knobs be pretty significant in changing the tone?  It's almost like all the way down and all the way up make a change but not much in the middle.  It's like their not very reactive.  Compared to my Mesa Mark II for example that I can just barely nudge the tmb controls to make a big change.  Does that make sense?

Yes, I've talked to Nik but haven't gotten a good suggestion as to how to fix it.  He said to try and change tubes around and see if that fixes it.  No, not really familiar with working on amps. 

Also, when i say they don't sound that much different, I guess I mean drastically different.  I guess I was expecting to hear a more drastic difference between channels/amps and the tone knobs.  It seems that newer models are more reactive in regards to the  on board tone knobs. 

That's awesome guys.  Thanks for the replies!

So...  I like your thoughts on the Marshalls.  I played a JMP50 combo which was pretty awesome.  I already have a 50/100 watt Mesa Mark II which I need to use an attenuator with.  I would like something that will overdrive without blowing people out and without an attenuator or distortion pedals.  Is this even possible without a channel switching amp?

These tubes are pretty new.  I got them from Nik a few months ago.  The amp was built by Nik

Whoops.  Just found the replies..  Thanks!

So, I'm wanting more of the Marshall sound than Fender?  Thoughts on going Marshall?

Anyone there?

Is there anyone out there?

SO.  I've had my 18 watt for some time now and have some lingering questions.

1.  The tone knobs don't do much.  Don't seem to change the tone much.  Thoughts?

2.  The EF86 TMB and the other channel don't seem to be too different.  Thoughts?

3.  When I crank up the gain, I get a phase type sound when I hit single notes.

4.  When I unplug the chord from the input channel, it continues to make noise for a few seconds.  A lingering white noise type sound. 

5.  The Super Champ and the 18 watt don't really sound that much different.  thoughts?

Just thought I'd see if anyone who has experience with these has any thoughts.

Thanks in advance!

So.  I have an 18 watt EF86 TMB and Super Champ amps.  The clean headroom is pretty negligible on both and definitely not enough to keep up with a drummer.  I need a new amp to play with a band and have plenty of clean headroom for small to medium size venues.  Sometimes I think of just buying an AC30 and calling it a day but, they're big, heavy and I dunno, just can't pull the trigger...

So.  I'm thinking a JMP 50 would be the wya to go.  What do you guys think?  Enough clean headroom? 

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!