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I've heard of cases with the "power brake", really
fucking up an amp. Stress?

tgavin wrote:I was hoping to get the sound of the amp on the edge of distortion, where you can control the amount of break-up from how hard you play.

Yeah, that's what I'm looking for. The amp does sound nice at live volumes, and I use a Fulldrive 2 to push it a little harder when needed. At apartment volume, the FD 2 still helps give it a bump, but more in the way of some nice coloration, not breakup. That's the problem: none of the pedals I've used sound very good as a source of breakup/distortion. Turn up the gain, and they get too fuzzy-buzzy sounding with the Deluxe Reverb. The only one I've found that might have potential is the Blackstone Mosfet OD. What's a dude to do?

Lazybones wrote:What's a dude to do?

Head over to the practice space and play at the proper volume.

You can use highly inefficient speakers, that's one way of working the amp harder at a lower volume. You get get speakers that are heavily doped as well. You can hook up another speaker cabinet that's stuffed in a closet full of pillows.

Head over to the practice space. Don't be such a lazybones!

I use a Weber Mass attenuator with a Selmer head (50w) and it works very well. At extreme attenuation the sound is certainly darkened, but at less extreme settings it's not noticably coloured...

I don't want to pull your thread apart, but you might want to consider a different amp. I really like power tube distortion, and after pulling power tubes, playing with power soakers, etc. I ended up buying a VHT Pitbull Special 30 combo. It has a single 12" speaker, and starts breaking up nicely at around 4-5 on the master. In fact, it distorts so nicely that it is nearly impossible to get a clean tone out of it - even on the 'clean' channel. Kind of Vox meets Hiwatt. It is rather loud for its size, though. I'm not sure, but I read somewhere that this amp runs rather high plate voltages to get its tone. Check it out.

rayj wrote:I don't want to pull your thread apart, but you might want to consider a different amp. I really like power tube distortion, and after pulling power tubes, playing with power soakers, etc. I ended up buying a VHT Pitbull Special 30 combo. It has a single 12" speaker, and starts breaking up nicely at around 4-5 on the master. In fact, it distorts so nicely that it is nearly impossible to get a clean tone out of it - even on the 'clean' channel. Kind of Vox meets Hiwatt. It is rather loud for its size, though. I'm not sure, but I read somewhere that this amp runs rather high plate voltages to get its tone. Check it out.

Only problem with this suggestion...

Lazybones wrote:There's only 2 6V6 tubes in there.

You're suggesting that he buy a very expensive amp that's higher wattage, and is "rather loud for its size". D'OH!

scott wrote:Don't be such a lazybones!

Hey! You...

No, I think you're right. The only way this thing is going to sound like it does at breakup volume... is to play it at breakup voulme. Shit, maybe I should check out one of those Z.Vex Nano Heads or something. You know, keep the Fender for what it's good at, and use the Nano for recording/playing heavier stuff at home. Anyone got an opinion on the Nano Head? I mean, I'll just go down to Willie's Guitars and try one sooner or later, but like my handle suggests...

Yep. The VHT Special 30 is a 30-watt combo with 4 UL84 power tubes. It also costs more. And it is suprisingly loud for the power. I just wanted to mention it as an effective alternative for someone who liked power tube distortion...

rayj wrote:I just wanted to mention it as an effective alternative for someone who liked power tube distortion...

Thanks, guy. I will check one out, if only out of curiosity. Got to watch the kale, you know.

Lazybones wrote:Shit, maybe I should check out one of those Z.Vex Nano Heads or something.

That was going to be my recommendation, even though I haven't heard one. I've heard good things. And I'm very interested in knowing how that amp performs.

My other suggestion would've been a Traynor BassMate YBA-2/2A/2B... but since you're already running pretty much the lowest wattage amp you're gonna get with two power tubes, and that's too loud for your place, then I don't think another similar amp makes any sense.

The Nano into an inefficient speaker cab could probably sound great at a low volume. But since I've yet to hear one, I can't say. If you check it out, let us know though!!