Is this a Dumb Question?

[emjee]

Hi folks,

OK, so you have say a Marshall (Or any similar amp for that matter) with a MV. I have always heard that power tube distortion is thick while preamp distortion is thin and fizzy. My question is this: If you want POWER tube distortion, do you turn up the "gain" or the MV? IE does the gain knob operate the preamp and the mv operate the power tubes? If so, then why have a "gain knob"? Also, say you have a really high gain amp lika Mako or a Bogner or Diezel (some of which have TWO gains!) what is the reason for buying OD pedals with an amp with so much gain on tap already? Also, sorry if these are stupid questions.

MG

[Blue Strat]

The only way to get power tube distortion is to play LOUD or crank the amp with an attenuator to bring down the volume. The Master and Preamp volumes would both be up.

[clothwiring]

What he said...

The only way to get power tube distortion is to play LOUD or crank the amp with an attenuator to bring down the volume. The Master and Preamp volumes would both be up.

[strumminsix]

to expand on Mike's accurate explanation of needing to get loud...

Think of getting loud to 110db in on a MV amp via 2 ways:

1 - crank the preamp hit the power amp tubes hard they don't work as hard
2 - keep the preamp low and crank the MV to work the power tubes hard

But in reality the difference is negligible and neither will distort your poweramp tubes unless that is the volume it distorts.

[emjee]

Thanks guys! I think I get it. So the master volume operates the power tubes and the gain pushes the preamp tubes? I have just never understood why a guitarist would have a bunch of distortion pedals if he has an amp that has two or three gains on it.

MG

[rockon1]

Hi folks,

OK, so you have say a Marshall (Or any similar amp for that matter) with a MV. I have always heard that power tube distortion is thick while preamp distortion is thin and fizzy. My question is this: If you want POWER tube distortion, do you turn up the "gain" or the MV? IE does the gain knob operate the preamp and the mv operate the power tubes? If so, then why have a "gain knob"? Also, say you have a really high gain amp lika Mako or a Bogner or Diezel (some of which have TWO gains!) what is the reason for buying OD pedals with an amp with so much gain on tap already? Also, sorry if these are stupid questions.

MG

Really depends on the amp. Pre amp distortion doesnt need be thin and fizzy. I primarily use pre amp distortion while trying to get the power section working but not into saturation(distortion). At that point there is no headroom left. Generally that means the master(amp dependent ) usually is around 11-12 oclock and the gain(pre amp) is to taste. The gain knob is there to vary ,well, the amount of pre amp gain. Less is usually better for chord definition.

I dont know why anybody would buy a fine high gain amp and use a pedal unless they were dissatisfied with the amps distortion or just wanted another sound to add to their arsenal. Also many times people like to add more gain and /or distortion to the mix with a pedal. Bob

[emjee]

Thanks you guys. Sorry it took so long to respond. Bob, Strum6, you both laid it out pretty plainly.

[epluribus]

I like to pull up schematics and map out where the volume, tone, MV, and other controls fall between the gain stages. Then when you turn something up, you know which gain stages you're pushing, incl the power tubes.

--Ray

[donnyjaguar]

I have always heard that power tube distortion is thick while preamp distortion is thin and fizzy.
This is total bull. Sorry to be blunt, but my Fender Concert (modified) has the ability to produce the thickest distorted sound at any level. I'll send you an MP3 if you don't believe me. You can hear my 3 year old in background and I wouldn't have it cranked full-bore with him in the room.