So, what's the most effective way to reduce the gain in the MV section of my amp?

[Tbone135]

Change the preamp tube? speaker? Anything else?

[Old Tele man]

...in descending order by CO$T:

#1 turn down the volume control on your guitar.
#2 turn down the volume control on the amplifier.
#3 try a different PI tube.
#4 try an attenuator between OT and speaker
#5 try less efficient speakers

[Blue Strat]

Change the preamp tube? speaker? Anything else?

What amp?

[Tbone135]

Oh yeah, sorry. I just picked up an old EL84 Bedrock that's kind of Vox-like and I'm trying to maximize it's potential. It's a two channel version. The clean is kind of bland, but the MV side sounds pretty good, but it's a little hairy for me even at the lowest setting for the gain. I'd love for it to back off just a bit more.

[greeny]

Ok sounds like you might need some lower gain preamp valves. Identify which preamp valves are used by the MV side, see what the valves are and if you have 12Ax7's than maybe change to 12Au7

[DEMENTED]

Oh yeah, sorry. I just picked up an old EL84 Bedrock that's kind of Vox-like and I'm trying to maximize it's potential. It's a two channel version. The clean is kind of bland, but the MV side sounds pretty good, but it's a little hairy for me even at the lowest setting for the gain. I'd love for it to back off just a bit more.

Thad, try a 5751 or a 12AT7 in V1 instead of the 12AX7. Oh, and make sure the fx loop is off or turned down.

[Tbone135]

Thanks Demented. I haven't really found a use for that loop yet; it's loud but noisy. I guess a supressor would go there.

I have an old 5751 at home; I'll have to try that out. Put it in V1? I'm curious because it's the secondary master volume side.