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Post subject: Will this hurt my amp? Hasn't so far.....
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 3:03 pm
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hey guys, using a Fender Classic Volume Pedal in the effects loop on my SS22
( Classics Series Volume Pedal Specifications:
Input Impedance: 250kOhm
Output Impedance: 0 to 62kOhm, (Varies with Pedal Position))

BUT, here is what I am doing with it:
I set the pedal to LOW volume in the loop and crank the AMP volume to 8-10.
I noticed that I get this great breakup distortion at much lower volumes now. And to me, sounds better than the amp's dirty channel distortion.
My drummer isn't very loud so I usually use the amp's dirty channel and just roll the guitar vol back to clean it up a bit to sound like a tweed breaking up or close.
NOW, by using this vol pedal in the loop, I can get this breakup without drowning out my drummer. If this doesn't make sense, forget all that (sorry to drag on)
just wondering if anyone knows if it is ok on my amp
AND I know that I will go thru power tubes faster (ok)
My transformer wasn't any hotter than usual after playing a rehersal.......
Thanks~

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Post subject: Re: Will this hurt my amp? Hasn't so far.....
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 3:14 pm
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I doubt that any harm will result.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Will this hurt my amp? Hasn't so far.....
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 4:57 pm
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No harm will result because all you are doing is using the pedal as a master volume control for the clean channel. All you are getting by turning the pedal down low and the clean volume up high is preamp distortion. Your power tubes are not really working at all. Preamp distortion is mostly even harmonics while power amp distortion is mostly odd harmonics. They sound very different from each other.

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Post subject: Re: Will this hurt my amp? Hasn't so far.....
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 6:35 pm
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you should be able to get the same effect by raising your gain and lowering the master.

Lot of boxes sold on ebay that have a variable resistor to put in the effects loop especially for this.

The guys are right - you're not wearing out your power tubes. To do that, you'd need a speaker attenuator, such as the Dr. Z Brakelite SA, which goes between the speaker output and the speaker.

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Post subject: Re: Will this hurt my amp? Hasn't so far.....
Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 9:17 pm
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nedorama wrote:
you should be able to get the same effect by raising your gain and lowering the master.

Lot of boxes sold on ebay that have a variable resistor to put in the effects loop especially for this.

The guys are right - you're not wearing out your power tubes. To do that, you'd need a speaker attenuator, such as the Dr. Z Brakelite SA, which goes between the speaker output and the speaker.


The gain and master controls only work in the Burn channel. TB is using the Vintage channel.

http://support.fender.com/schematics/gu ... ematic.pdf

Yes, those cheap volume boxes will do the same thing as a pedal in the effects loop. Since he already has the pedal, there's really no need to buy a volume box.

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Post subject: Re: Will this hurt my amp? Hasn't so far.....
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 3:15 pm
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THANKS guys!
i also thought about trying out some 6v6GT rated for 2 I saw for sale online-early early breakup
maybe get some good breakup on the clean channel at lower volumes, dunno
I think i am trying to make this amp a 5E3, and of course it isn't!
oh well, g.a.s.~

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Post subject: Re: Will this hurt my amp? Hasn't so far.....
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 3:32 pm
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twirlyboggs wrote:
THANKS guys!
i also thought about trying out some 6v6GT rated for 2 I saw for sale online-early early breakup
maybe get some good breakup on the clean channel at lower volumes, dunno
I think i am trying to make this amp a 5E3, and of course it isn't!
oh well, g.a.s.~


Save your money. The SS22 has a bias adjust pot (R156). Measure the bias voltage at TP40 and TP41 and the plate voltage at TP42 and TP43. Multiply each tube's bias voltage (actually current) with it's plate voltage and adjust the bias pot until you are as close to 70% maximum plate dissipation as possible. For a 14 watt tube you should be looking for about 10 watts. With factory tubes, if the bias is adjusted per the schematic, that is about what you will get. Don't go any hotter than that.

http://support.fender.com/schematics/gu ... ematic.pdf

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Post subject: Re: Will this hurt my amp? Hasn't so far.....
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 4:37 pm
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thanks bluesky~
i have several times through changing 6v6's biased this amp based on 60, 70, 80, 90 %
and finally I just would bias it by ear it is about 80 % now.
it really is a great sounding amp. I just am too loud for the fam and for the drummer for that matter when I play it on 8 ...... oh well i guess life goes on
p.s. I take my champ and open a bathroom cabinet up and back it up to that and it makes up for the almost no bottom end and then dime it and it sounds great for me & the wife 8) :D


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Post subject: Re: Will this hurt my amp? Hasn't so far.....
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 5:03 pm
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twirlyboggs wrote:
thanks bluesky~
i have several times through changing 6v6's biased this amp based on 60, 70, 80, 90 %
and finally I just would bias it by ear it is about 80 % now.
it really is a great sounding amp. I just am too loud for the fam and for the drummer for that matter when I play it on 8 ...... oh well i guess life goes on
p.s. I take my champ and open a bathroom cabinet up and back it up to that and it makes up for the almost no bottom end and then dime it and it sounds great for me & the wife 8) :D


Ummm, 80% is too high and is going to shorten the life of your tubes. You shouldn't go above 70%.

A little technical, but a good article:

http://www.aikenamps.com/Why70percent.html

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