Effects Loop Send

[zilla]

Hi all,

this is a trick that i've used with my other amp that has effects loop send and return levels on it: I crank the master up to about 12 o'clock to get the power tubes working, but I attenuate the signal with the effects loop send/return knobs to keep the volume at a more manageable level.

Does this trick work with the V without killing any tone?

 

[Enchilada Jones]

Isn't that just the same thing as attenuating the signal entering the power stage ie; reducing gain, channel volume and EQ, etc.?

 

[screamingdaisy]

The effects loop is prior to the power amp, so lowering the volume via the effects loop won't drive the power section any harder.

What you will do is overdrive the effects loop input buffer... which in a Mesa is another tube stage.

 

[zilla]

but if you attenuate the signal going into the power amp stage to the point where you can crank the master up to 50% you should start to get some power amp distortion, no?

 

[rocknroll9225]

but if you attenuate the signal going into the power amp stage to the point where you can crank the master up to 50% you should start to get some power amp distortion, no?

by "master", are you referring to the channel master or the output knob?

either way, i dont think that would do anything, because you're still attenuating the signal with the fx send knob, which is before the poweramp, like screamingdaisy said. to crank the power amp without actually cranking the volume, you need an attenuator such as a hotplate in between the head and cab (the key difference here is that the attenuation is happening after the power amp). i havent found any sort of attenuation necessary, though, because ive gotten my mark v to sound great at duck fart volumes. if im in the mood though, ill just use the multi-watt switches.

 

[>Photi G<]

You are doing absolutely nothing by using the Loop Send knob. In fact, it comes before the Output/Solo knobs in the chain. You can't possibly cause the output section to break up unless power attenuation is used. And quite a bit at that, because all Mark Series amps were designed with a clean-running, high headroom power amplifier that won't break up until dimed. You can significantly lower the headroom by going into Variac Power mode, and/or switching to 10W SE mode. You might get some breakup there.

 

[screamingdaisy]

but if you attenuate the signal going into the power amp stage to the point where you can crank the master up to 50% you should start to get some power amp distortion, no?

No.

 

[golfnguitarz]

You can significantly lower the headroom by going into Variac Power mode, and/or switching to 10W SE mode. You might get some breakup there.

+1
At home, I use the 10 watt mode alot. It definitely breaks up sooner.

 

[MrMarkIII]

Ha! What this thread shows is that very few, if any, can tell the difference between pre-amp and power amp distortion.
Remember that when you are tempted to spend $300 on an "attenuator".
You're better off getting some decent NOS tubes.