amp/ multi fx help

[djkakee]

hello all
i've been using an old marshal 50w bass amp fo years and it never really worked perfectly. that's why i've been connecting my Digitech BP200 to it but not through the input hole, but rather into the D.I.OUT hole, but leaving the PL insert a few cm out to recieve a sound. in that way i somehow bypassed the faulty amp head.
2 questions:
1. did this work because my multi fx had a preamp and / or a valve inside or will any multi fx do the job? (like a korg pandora?)
2. is it possible that the old digitech multi fx stopped working because the valve got fried? i plug the guitar but the signal light doesn't go on while playing and no sound comes out of the amp...
thanks alot

[JimmyM]

1. it worked because your multi is a preamp as well. the tube was immaterial.

2. very possible...always the first thing you should check.