• From: Santa Barbara, CA
  • Registered: 2011-09-02
  • Posts: 110

Topic: Tube amp overdrive

I've discovered the key to cranking the power tubes of an amp at manageable levels. You need a distortion or overdrive pedal. Bring the gain down to 0. Turn the tone all the way up. Turn the level all the way down. Crank the amp. Bring up the level on the pedal slowly to the volume you want. This gets you power tube saturation at quieter volumes. It's like having a power attenuator. But make sure you have the pedal in the FX loop if you have one. If you don't have one, just plug it into the front of the amp. I got a really good sound from my 55 watt tube amp at a super quiet bedroom level. Just thought people might like this.

2 Reply by dave_5150 (edited by dave_5150 2011-09-11 03:51:59)

  • Registered: 2010-02-01
  • Posts: 175

Re: Tube amp overdrive

That's just using your pedal in the loop as an addition master volume.

It isn't getting the benefit you're perceiving (ie attenuation of a cranked amp) but it is a useful way of adding a master volume control to any amp without one that has an effects loop.