I have a green stripe Mark III that I purchased new around 1989-90. For many years I ran the Master down very low so I could drive the preamp section for tube saturation and breakup in Rhythm 2. However along the way I learned the difference in preamp tube and output (“power”) tube saturation/overdrive/breakup/distortion. I have gone to running my Master much higher to drive my output tubes more which, at least to my ears, gives me a better tone. An example is 5 on the Volume and 3-5 on the Master for Rhythm 2 and Volume on 7 with Master on 5 in Rhythm 1. I dial back the volume on my guitar a little to bring the “loudness” (decibels) down to a manageable level.
That said, despite having even maxed out my Master at 10 and running the Volume at either 7 in Rhythm 1 or 5 in Rhythm 2 (and even going up to 8 in Rhythm 2 and 10 in Rhythm 1 - wearing earmuff headphones for hearing protection) I am unable to get any output tube clipping. The only breakup I get is from the preamp tubes. This is the same whether running in Class A mode or SimulClass (Class A is supposed to break up easier than SimulClass as I understand it yet it still will not break up in the power section). I have tried both 6L6 and EL 34 (Mesa 420 and 441 6L6, Electro Harmonix 6L6, and Mesa EL 34) tubes in the outer sockets, and even with the EL 34 tubes I still cannot achieve any output tube breakup.
Other "Master volume" amps like Marshall will break up in the power section, even with the (gain)Volume turned down lower, and allow the user to dial in preamp breakup, power tube breakup, or a combination of the two. Sadly with my Boogie I am only able to get preamp tube breakup no matter what I try. Has anyone achieved output tube saturation and breakup in your Mark III? Am I learning after all these years that my Mark III will only produce preamp tube saturation and breakup while the power section is simply there to amplify or make louder the tone sent to it without the possibility of providing its own tube character?
I do understand each iteration of the Mark III was different from the others, so is this something that is specific to the green stripe or is this the case with all Mark III amps and possibly other mark series amps?
I’m aware that I could simply use a pedal to create overdrive or distortion, but the whole point of a tube amp is the rich tonal character (and range of tones when an amp will clip properly) that cannot be produced by a pedal.
Last point for consideration or reference, I play blues, Grateful Dead, and a little classic rock, and am not at all looking for metal type distortion. I like an overdriven tone and up to a crisp, “classic rock” type of distortion and would like to get that out of my output tubes, or at least part of it. I can get as “dirty” or distorted as I want from the lead mode, but again that is pure preamp saturation/distortion and not what I’m seeking.
Thanks for any insight any of you may have.
That said, despite having even maxed out my Master at 10 and running the Volume at either 7 in Rhythm 1 or 5 in Rhythm 2 (and even going up to 8 in Rhythm 2 and 10 in Rhythm 1 - wearing earmuff headphones for hearing protection) I am unable to get any output tube clipping. The only breakup I get is from the preamp tubes. This is the same whether running in Class A mode or SimulClass (Class A is supposed to break up easier than SimulClass as I understand it yet it still will not break up in the power section). I have tried both 6L6 and EL 34 (Mesa 420 and 441 6L6, Electro Harmonix 6L6, and Mesa EL 34) tubes in the outer sockets, and even with the EL 34 tubes I still cannot achieve any output tube breakup.
Other "Master volume" amps like Marshall will break up in the power section, even with the (gain)Volume turned down lower, and allow the user to dial in preamp breakup, power tube breakup, or a combination of the two. Sadly with my Boogie I am only able to get preamp tube breakup no matter what I try. Has anyone achieved output tube saturation and breakup in your Mark III? Am I learning after all these years that my Mark III will only produce preamp tube saturation and breakup while the power section is simply there to amplify or make louder the tone sent to it without the possibility of providing its own tube character?
I do understand each iteration of the Mark III was different from the others, so is this something that is specific to the green stripe or is this the case with all Mark III amps and possibly other mark series amps?
I’m aware that I could simply use a pedal to create overdrive or distortion, but the whole point of a tube amp is the rich tonal character (and range of tones when an amp will clip properly) that cannot be produced by a pedal.
Last point for consideration or reference, I play blues, Grateful Dead, and a little classic rock, and am not at all looking for metal type distortion. I like an overdriven tone and up to a crisp, “classic rock” type of distortion and would like to get that out of my output tubes, or at least part of it. I can get as “dirty” or distorted as I want from the lead mode, but again that is pure preamp saturation/distortion and not what I’m seeking.
Thanks for any insight any of you may have.