I play the same as most everybody else, but half the magic of a good tube amp is sitting there in the output tubes that aren't cooking. That said, I like to occasionally back the gain down on the pre and rock the master up so I get a similar sound at volume. When you do that, you get the goodness a preamp can't give you; harmonic overtones, controllable feedback, $@! pounding lows and honest to God tube sound!!!

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60th Anniversary AD Strat, Deluxe Nashville Tele, Player's P Bass. Mesa/Boogie Mk IV combo, Marshall JCM800, 1960A cab, Genz Benz El Diablo 60, Genz 2x12" cab, too many neat little practice amps and kit projects!

I often practice without plugging in.

But every now and then it's fun to blast it loud.

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It wasn't Willy-Nilly, it was at crows.