Thermally-Induced Hiss
Noise is an important consideration in preamp design, particularly in the first stage. Thermal noise is generated by the individual movements of electrons in the preamp's resistors.
The calculator below computes the RMS thermal noise voltage based on the resistor value, its temperature, and the audio frequency bandwidth (the range of frequencies amplified by the guitar amp.) It assumes the resistor is in thermal equilibrium, thereby maintaining a constant temperature.
Reference
1Richard Kuehnel, Vacuum-Tube Circuit Design: Guitar Amplifier Preamps, 2nd Ed., (Seattle: Pentode Press, 2009).
