Bass head runing without a speaker load... harmful?

[elwuss]

so, you're trying to say it's "OK" to have it turned on if there is no cable connected to the head speaker output?

the bad thing is if the speaker cable IS connected to head but not to the cab?

I think I tried both option - nothing happened.

 

[B-string]

so, you're trying to say it's "OK" to have it turned on if there is no cable connected to the head speaker output?

the bad thing is if the speaker cable IS connected to head but not to the cab?

I think I tried both option - nothing happened.

You were lucky, your odds are better in Vegas if you really like to gamble. The "quality" of the transformer means a lot less than some may think.

The shorting feature is there to protect the output transformer and output tubes. Non shorting jacks are less expensive and Fender would have used them if they didn't consider it critical.