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mike mccann
Posted on Wednesday, March 23, 2005 - 12:34 pm:   

Is the distortion on an HD-130 coming from the solid state pre-amp or are the power tubes being overdriven? For example, if I turn up the pre-volume and keep the master vol at a reasonable level, am I getting true tube distortion or am I just driving the pre-amp as a distortion box? Thanks...
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michael kaus
Posted on Thursday, March 24, 2005 - 06:36 am:   

It's coming from the front end. The power tubes are not beingf driven to saturation with the master down.
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c.
Posted on Thursday, March 24, 2005 - 09:25 pm:   

thats why it sounds crap with your master on three
and vol on 10
id rather run a nice overdrive pedal than turn the master down - its sounds best at 10 in MY opinion.
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michael kaus
Posted on Friday, March 25, 2005 - 06:51 am:   

Well, you've hit on the problem with all the MM's. I run mine as clean as I can get it and buzz it up with three separate and highly modded distortions(modded boss ds1 and two heavily modded but differant blues drivers). Add in the chorus when needed, a digital delay, a compressor, a wah and a volume pedal and you see why I want it clean-too much crap! Any way, the MM's sound best when they are asked to do just that-reproduce clean sounds with tube overtones and get the grind somewhere else. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Mike.
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cerebral
Posted on Friday, March 25, 2005 - 08:32 am:   

I don't know if its something funny about my amp or just the style I play, I dig the distortion that comes from the preamp. At least actually on the bandstand - at home I think it is lacking. But what I have noticed over the years is, in a gig situation, you can be standing next to your amp on stage thinking it sounds great, but that greatness might not actually make it out front. We host a jam a couple times a month and I let guys play through my rig, and this amp really sounds great out front. Other players have been dieing over the amp too.. they are like "what is that???".

I have a script amp and I always run on low power though. So that is probably effecting the sound of the preamp right there because it gets less voltage.

I guess thats the neat thing though about music - everyone's tastes are different and there is no 'wrong' answer.

One of the jammers last night brought a modded ts-9 and played it through my musicman, and he sounded killer too.
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michael kaus
Posted on Friday, March 25, 2005 - 03:08 pm:   

The sad part about it- the geese don't know the differance!
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mike mccann
Posted on Friday, March 25, 2005 - 08:55 pm:   

One and All, Thanks for the feedback. Though logic dictated the obvious, my 'tubes only' prejudice "overdrove" my reason (pun intended)! I would also have to agree with cerebral and Mike K, that despite the solid state foundation, the amps tone is truly amazing when both the pre-amp AND master are cranked. At least that's my humble opinion. Also, when I need to run an outboard effects rack (which is thankfully a rare occasion) the amps cleanliness is terrific. Thanks again gents...
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admin
Posted on Saturday, March 26, 2005 - 08:25 pm:   

If it floats your boat then go for it!

Steve

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