The Rectifier Circuit-preamp vs. ouput distortion

[mrkrausman]

I am used to running Non master volume amps with an attenuator. I much prefer output tube distortion to preamp tube saturation. My question is how to use an attenuator with a dual rectifier to get similar results. For instance is it the Master or Gain pot that is most comparable to lets say the volume pot on a Marshall JTM45? And how does the Active Master pot effect the result? In summary I would like to bring distortion from the 6L6's and not the preamp tubes. Thanks in advance for the clarification.

 

[YellowJacket]

Don't crank the gain too high, and run both the channel volume and the master volume high.

We just had a several post discussion about this and apparently the moral of the story is that the louder a tube amp is, the better it sounds. Apparently self appointed experts claim that you have to turn up both of the volume knobs, not one or the other, to get the best possible tone!

(I have a two channel dual so I don't have the problem with multiple volume knobs)

 

[groovebelly]

with the attenuator hooked up, max the master amp volume and the channel volume and then slowly bring up the gain. you should hear a mix of post and preamp gain characteristics.

if the efx loop is hard by-passed, then max the channel master. Add the gain to flavor. This is as close as you can get to primarily power tube distortion

Boogies in general are designed around preamp gain and bold, cleaner/clearer sounding power amps to project that pre-amp gain. There is not usu a big expectation of power amp characteristics with high gain MB amps.