1 ohm resistor on pwr tubes. Switch to 50watt Super lead

martin g · Post by **martin g** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 3:19 pm

Hi I've got a question about add 1 ohm resistor for cathode bias measure, could it change the tone of super lead if it be permanent?
I've read that removing 2 outside tubes lower the wattage from 100 to 50watt, but the impedance selector should be change from 16 to 8 ohm. I did that but i can't hear the difference - vol1 and vol 2 at 12 o'clock. Is everything all right with my amp? thanks

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 4:33 pm

Hi I've got a question about add 1 ohm resistor for cathode bias measure, could it change the tone of super lead if it be permanent?

No I dont think so.

I've read that removing 2 outside tubes lower the wattage from 100 to 50watt, but the impedance selector should be change from 16 to 8 ohm. I did that but i can't hear the difference - vol1 and vol 2 at 12 o'clock. Is everything all right with my amp? thanks

First off your not really going from 100W to 50W. A 100W isnt even 100W. Marshall 100W could be way more then 100W. To all the sudden have a 50W output youd need to change the voltages and OT as well. Even so the difference in volume between a 100W and 50W is only like 2dbs. Certainly not half the volume by any stretch. A sublte drop. But you can do it and it wont hurt anything. Well some may say so but I cant find one instance all over the net of something bad ever happening from doing it.

If your trying to save volume by doing that then dont even bother. your just wearing out your tubes at different intervals. If you must do it keep changing between 2 pairs of tubes so when theyre all in one pair isnt dead and the other new. For what its worth I pulled 2 tubes for a long time but one day I realized it wasnt really doing much. Even with a 50 watter Ive never found any place to exist were a 100W was too loud and a 50W just right. If a 100W is way too loud so is a 50W and attenuation methods will have to be used on both.

martin g · Post by **martin g** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 4:48 pm

thanks very much I've read that http://www.legendarytones.com/tone_tips_and_tricks2.htm. About 1 ohm resistors so they could stay all the time? Not solder and unsolder for bias measure?
Thanks very much

Flames1950 · Post by **Flames1950** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 4:54 pm

At the volumes 100 watt Marshalls run at, losing 2-3dB off the top really is a big help, at least to my ears!!

The one ohm resistors can stay in all the time, they're such a low value that they barely can affect the cathode current flow.

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 5:01 pm

If I was playing at home full out I might think of shaving off a couple db as somethign worthwhile. Ive never played anywhere where I wouldnt need to heavily attenuate a 50W or 100W. I dont know where you live Flames but the fact that you were able to fully open your SB clone puts you somewhere Ive never been. Even if my neighbors were gone Id have cops here in 2 seconds fromt he neighbors accross the street. Its rare Ill get a chance to play in someones single home or a single home that isnt right on top of another single home. One place Ive had in the past was a nice studio an old band rented. It was nice and everything by myself but my band would never stand for that kind of volume. Its so jarring. To be standing in front of a Marshall. Like going to a concert and being in the front side near a PA column just as the band comes on.