Members blake_ryan Posted December 20, 2006 Members Share Posted December 20, 2006 I have a 100 watt custom head built on Fender Bassman specs. It has four 6CA7 power tubes. GREAT tone, but way loud. Someone told me I could remove the 2 outside power tubes to lower the output and headroom. Can I safely do this and play without damaging the amp? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitarmiester Posted December 20, 2006 Members Share Posted December 20, 2006 You'll be able to hear if you took out the wrong tubes, you'll get crossover distortion. Simply put, it will sound like crap. A common misconception, most people think taking the two tubes out will make a 100watt amp become 50watts. The wattage will become less, but it's not going to make that big of a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mrbrown49 Posted December 21, 2006 Members Share Posted December 21, 2006 How do you feel about attenuators? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Prages Posted December 21, 2006 Members Share Posted December 21, 2006 I pulled two tubes in my JCM 800 and even with the tubes pulled, it's still too loud to get the master volume above 2 and hear the drummer. I'd suggest an attenuator as well (I've got a Weber Mass on order). Also, when you pull tubes, you change the impedance, so if you're running into a 16 ohm cab, you have to set the amp's impedance to 8 ohm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitarmiester Posted December 21, 2006 Members Share Posted December 21, 2006 Originally posted by Prages Also, when you pull tubes, you change the impedance, so if you're running into a 16 ohm cab, you have to set the amp's impedance to 8 ohm. Good call, I forgot to mention that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blake_ryan Posted December 22, 2006 Author Members Share Posted December 22, 2006 thanks, wanted to try it but didn't want to blow my amp... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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