I'm sorry, really I am, I'll try not to do shit like that again unless it's in that type of thread.

Now that's just impractical.

I know, that only works with Marshalls, end of this conversation now.

No harm done dude. You're 10 times cooler than most of the newbs we're getting in here lately.

sorry the only Peavey amps that goto 11 are the new "Penta" series.

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Actually cranking any tube amp to the max will result is better tone for teh most part. You are driving the tubes harder.

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That was actually a joke w/ Marshalls and having knobs that go to 11, but I won't get into that.

i find that stressing your speakers is just as, if not more important than clipping powertubes...

to much attenuation just sounds gay.

a good way around this is to use less speakers, so they work more.

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I'm planning on selling my Crate GT212 for a 5150 212, so I'm trying to learn everything I can about it.

So I can just disable ( unplug ) one speaker to get some attenuation, it seems. Would uninstalling one, two or three of the power amp tubes reduce the volumous output as well? I'm thinking you would be cooking one or two tubes, but having those running at full capacity might sound better than having 4 running at 10-20% capacity. This would certainly be less expensive than having a diminuitive purple THD box atop of my amplifier.

Oh knowledgeable xdx, your thoughts?

Stressed out speaker do sound much better but I don't think they are as important it seems you are making it out to be, xdx.

It is also notworthy to say attuenation drains power tubes like a bitch.

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I think I'll forego an attenuator then. Sounds like much more trouble than its worth.

What about disabling a few of the power tubes?

I'm not sure of your situation, but I play my 5150 combo (converted to a head) through a 4x12 at like 1.5, 2 when I'm alone and it actualy sounds really good. I wouldnt worry about it, you can get a good sound at low volumes, obviously it would be the cranked tube sound, but dont worry.

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disabling speakers is not attenuation... but it will allow more managable volumes.

it's more effecient volume wise to add or subtract speakers than it is with wattage. more surface area and air being pushed with more speakers. so cut out a speaker and you cut out some volume. but not only that, you also put more stress on that one remaining speaker.

as for tubes, it depends on the amp... a 5150 combo, no, because you only have two 6l6's, and since it's a class a/b amp you need both of them because one is pushing and the other is pulling... a dual recto(for example) however has 4 6l6's and you can pull out a pair(must be either the inner two or the outer two) to cut it down to 50w. but not all amps running 4 powertubes can do this. so it just depends.

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just a testimonial on stressing tube amps, i turned my blue voodoo up to 10 the other day.... oh my god... around 9 it gets this INCREDIBLE boost, sounds like an entirely different amp, its fucking amazing

maybe my tubes are shot or i just need to crank it more. my blue voodoo has a great sound. i went in an cleaned up all solders. they were crappy so you might want to get that done. but it doesnt have the gain im lookin for. on my '59 i barely get enough distortion and theres no sustain.well not much.ok there sustain but the distortion fades out way before the rest of the sound.if i replace the tubes. do you reccomend EL34S or 6L6s.if i get EL34s im getting jj el34ls, i dont know aout 6l6s. i have sovtek 5881 in it now basically a 6l6 right? one example of the not so sound. when i tap which i do alot it barely amplifies it and there is no distortion on it at all.....so many questions...i thought i knew alot, but there's aparently alot more.

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mine has Groove Tubes 6l6B's in there now. sounds great.

Just bought 5150 combo from E-bay for 670 total, shipping and everything ...

Going to brag about it here in this post, instead of starting a whole new thread, since you guys probably hate that

does the bv have auto bias?

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670? you got ripped off.

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I would'nt exactly say "ripped off". Yes, I know some have gone for 500$, but factor in the exorbitant shipping fees for the obscene weight of the amp, and the fact that this amplifier can compete with others costing twice as much, and its not so bad. I know I could have gotten better ... but damn, I'm sick of my Crate GT212.

Either way I'm certainly going to love it.