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I tried cranking my amp today to about 6 and the tried 7 a bit I think maybe heard the overdrive sound, but it's hard to tell since I didn't use an attenuator and it was really loud especially since I did it in my dorm room. My amp has 2 knobs for distortion, a pre-amp and a gain sensitivity. I'm trying to find the spot where power tube distortion starts to kick in. I tried it with the pre-amp and gain low, is this what I should do and just crank the master volume? It's just hard for me to tell because I'm not sure exactly what the overdriven tone sounds like. Erikh could you tell what settings you use to get the overdriven sound on your amp, so I can get a general idea where to get my settings to.

When it starts sounding a little like the authentic AC/DC rythim sound then your getting output stage distortion. It will vary considerably from amp to amp depending on the tubes and how they are biased. Most high gain with master volume amps don't really get there with out harshness, if they get there. Also G12T75 speakers don't breakup smoothly if at all. A plexi Marshall or tweed Fender will usually start at about 4 with a humbucker. A SLX is going to be close to impossible to get the preamp staying clean enough, but still have enough power to push the power amp section into overdrive. They are designed for high gain and that means a dirty preamp and a mostly clean power amp at less than insane levels. Is the amp loaded with EL34's or 5881's? EL34's will probably start to snarl sooner.

I got el-34s in there.

Would it be okay for me to cover the speakers with something like blanket so I can decrease the volume heard while I increase the volume? I don't know if it would damage the speakers if I did that.

No Problem. IIRC, the 1936 has two 75 watt Celestions. That's 150 watts rms power handling, and the short term max power handling is even more. The 2100 will have an output of ~105 -115watts rms. The peak max will be higher, but the speakers should still be safe with everything on maxine.

Here's a simple method.

Set your master volume somewhat low (around 2-3), and turn down the gain until your amp sounds perfectly clean.

Then raise the master volume until you hear the amp overdrive/distort.

Since you know your preamp is outputing a perfectly clean signal, then you know for sure that it's all power amp overdrive you're hearing.

The hard thing is that I can set it low for pre-amp and set master vol to 10, I did that before and its just a really nice clean setting. I guess I'll try it again, but set my pre-amp a bit higher because a certain point on both the pre-amp and gain knobs the signal is the highest it gets to send to the power amp, after those spots the distortion just increases only. How about eq wise, I think its something about keeping mids, presence, and highs about 5, then lows around 3 or none at all for that ac/dc overdrive sound right? Should set my amp to low to make easier to overdrive too?

Oh, I tried a crate palmino 5w, I thinks thats what its called, anyways I used a lp standard on it. I got the volume to about 7 and gain like 5, it got kinda muddy, flubby, I couldn't tell if it was overdriving or not. I think it started overdriving earlier, but have no experience in what it sounds like in person. I know I should look for the classic rock type of distortion, but its hard to tell with the volume so loud.

It's pretty common on Marshalls to see people run the treble between 7 and 10, there bass between 7 and 10, and the mids between 3 and 10. I know I like to run them with their mids at 10 for rock....so I'd probably start there.

As for the gain thing....put the preamp gain up as high as you can before it distorts, then turn up the master volume until you hear it start to overdrive. It's a massive sound and lovely to hear....so you'll know it when it starts to happen.

The other option is to zero the preamp gain and dime the master volume....then use the preamp gain as a volume knob. You'll eventually hear it start to overdrive that way too. The early AC/DC sound is the combination of a dimed master volume and an overdriven preamp, so that'll get you there too.

Kinda makes you wish you had a lower powered amp, huh?


Originally Posted by Scott_FKinda makes you wish you had a lower powered amp, huh?

Maybe, I need hear overdriven power tubes for myself first. I'm perfectly fine with the tones I'm getting with my amp right now at bedroom volumes, even the tones when my roommates sleeps.

You can usually find a Blues Junior FEnder in just about any amp shop. Crank one up sometime and you'll hear power tube distortion. Just try to find something in the 15-20 watt range and crank it.

I think you'd go deaf and tick off a lot of neighbors if you crank that beast that often.


Originally Posted by Scott_FYou can usually find a Blues Junior FEnder in just about any amp shop. Crank one up sometime and you'll hear power tube distortion. Just try to find something in the 15-20 watt range and crank it.

I think you'd go deaf and tick off a lot of neighbors if you crank that beast that often.

Actually I tried 5watt crate tube amp today, I had no clue what power tube distortion sounded like so it just louder and louder. I don't worry about that cause everyone is gone for thanksgiving break and when I crank my amp I always wear earplugs, better safe than have ear problems later on in my life.

Do you guys think if I changed my speakers to v30's it would help me get power tube distortion earlier?

I have the same problem with you, I got my peavey classic 30 and I'm not sure what power tube distortion sounds like. I run it at like 3 at home, but at band practise i've run the post at 11 and the pre at 11. Still not sure though.

It's usually that point where you hear the tone swell up and get richer/fatter.

At bedroom levels, it just won't happen, so you've got to get the preamp sounding as good as possible, usually with an OD pedal to beef it up a bit.
The guitarist's catch 22 is that power tube gain is only attainable if your amp is in a rehearsal room, stage, or you live in a rural area! Either that, or you own a tiny tube amp.......but they don't sound all that great either, even if they do get power stage overdrive.

I guess I should try it in bigger room cause the sound bounces everywhere in my tiny dorm room.

When it comes to my 50 watt Marshall 800 head, and the 5150 and the Classic 50 heads, my 4x12's and so on.... i hardly use them at home..... They are just too loud for use at home.... jamming and bands is were i get to use these amps.... around the house i have 2 small solid state amps when people are home, and 2 small tube amps for louder rockin when i get the chance.... A Classic 30 and a 65 Fender Deluxe are what i use plus pedals in front of for dirt sounds...

For real late night practices as i am a shift worker i have a POD into a mixer with a cd player.... This is cool as i am playing mostly after 1am these days.....