Amp distortion

[scottos150]

Is it bad for an amp to play it distorted(not with an effect, just natural distortion)?

 

[MuzikMan]

not good for the speakers

 

[Petebass]

Is it bad for an amp to play it distorted(not with an effect, just natural distortion)?

What sort of Amp? If it's got tubes it's usually OK, but I wouldn't do it with a Solid State amp. You may want to research "clipping". There is loads of info right here on TB which you can access via the search function.

 

[Ty McNeely]

Tube amp distortion is totally good.


SS distortion is totally bad.


Case closed!

 

[joshsmog]

Ive had this question for a while but didnt't want to post a whole thread, is it alright to clip the tube preamp of a hybrid amp? low levels high levels make a difference?

 

[Petebass]

Ive had this question for a while but didnt't want to post a whole thread, is it alright to clip the tube preamp of a hybrid amp? low levels high levels make a difference?

Provided you don't clip the output stage, yep it should be fine. But here's the dilema. Most SS heads don't have a clip light on the output stage, so how do you know if your clipping?

If this is what you want to do, you'd be safer getting a seperate tube preamp and power amp arrangement.