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I know an SS amp will send silicon shards into the audience after offering 30 seconds of Rogue-like ass tone after being cranked all the way, but what about tube amps? The distortion gets better when cranked, but can you seriously put them all the way up? If so, how long can they stay like that?
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Re: How healthy is it to crank a tube amp to full?
"Eleven"... when setting to "ten" simply won't do. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]
How often do you need to crank, honestly? I've only ever cranked one amp, and it was a tiny little ultra-compact practice combo with a 6" speaker and 5 watts. My 25 watt Mesa combo and 50 watt Marshall combo (both with 12" speakers) are thunderously loud with the master volume at 2 or 3. I think I'd be deaf at 4. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] -
Re: How healthy is it to crank a tube amp to full?
Ran my SS head at full for 5 hours once, never had a problem. [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]Comment
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Re: How healthy is it to crank a tube amp to full?
I dime amps all the time, no problem.Comment
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Re: How healthy is it to crank a tube amp to full?
If an amp can't handle going to 10, then it shouldn't have 10 on the dial. [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]My future band shall be known as "One Samich Short Of A Picnic"!Comment
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Re: How healthy is it to crank a tube amp to full?
Not healthy for your ears.Comment
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Re: How healthy is it to crank a tube amp to full?
yeah, but those music earplugs will do the trick if you still want to shake walls and split everyone else's ear.
-NickComment
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Re: How healthy is it to crank a tube amp to full?
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If an amp can't handle going to 10, then it shouldn't have 10 on the dial.
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Thoroughly agreed, but I think we've all seen our fair share of amps that can't handle their own power. It's so stupid.
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How often do you need to crank, honestly?
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In terms of a 100W head, really never, or at least I won't have to worry about that for a long time. I have to crank my Bandit quite a bit to be heard over the rest of the band, even in a small club. 50% volume usually cuts it, but it doesn't sound so good as it gets cranked. Put on ten would be totally unnecessary, not to mention it would sound horrible anyway. The amp seems to be plenty loud when I play on stage by myself, but with the rest of the band it needs to go higher.
It's funny how your amp starts to seem quieter at rehearsal than it does in the bedroom...
Thanks for the replies. I was just curious, thanks for the help.Comment
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Re: How healthy is it to crank a tube amp to full?
I have had my SS Laney PL100HR Pro Linebacker head dimed out many times. I haven't had a single problem although if I did I couldn't hear it.Comment
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Re: How healthy is it to crank a tube amp to full?
i dont think it would be a problem with the amp, as long as the tubes are in good shape, and the amp has no real problems
the real question is, is can your speakers handle it? you dont wanna dime a 120watt tube amp when you're running greenbacks or somethingComment
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Re: How healthy is it to crank a tube amp to full?
From Paul Gilbert's bio on racerxband.com:
1978: I got a used Gibson Les Paul and a Fender Vibro Champ of my own. The woman in the music store told me "If you turn the amp up past 3 it will BREAK!". I was on 10 within a week. It didn't break.Comment
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Re: How healthy is it to crank a tube amp to full?
My old Carvin X100B had no problems going up to 10. Damned thing was LOUD, too. Had a 4x12 cab with Celestions, though I don't know which model. This was back in the day when you either had Celestions or "Not Celestions"--all this stuff about Greenbacks, V30s, and such I had no idea about.Comment
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Re: How healthy is it to crank a tube amp to full?
With the old Marshalls that is how you got the distortion. They didn't have master volumes back in the day. I used to have one. I would have to keep the cab turned around backwards with blankets over it and a mic shoved in the blankets. But man...it sounded good. This would be 4 or five hours a night 5 to 6 nights a week.Comment
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Re: How healthy is it to crank a tube amp to full?
I have yet to see or even hear of an amp dying from being turned up too loud. Sure, tubes die eventually, but whatever. They do that anyways...Comment
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Re: How healthy is it to crank a tube amp to full?
Q: How healthy is it to crank a tube amp to full?
A: For the amp? The amp will be just fine.
For you? You can seriously damage your hearing. Remember, when you ears start to feel funny they're try to tell you that it's too loud and every time your ears "ring" your losing more of your hearing.
NickComment
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