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Reducing output by removing tubes
- Thread starter awilkie84
- Start date
Either just turn the volume knob down at home...or buy amps suited for different situations. I have amps here at home that will never leave, they are just for practice. Then I have amps sized for small-to-medium gigs. Then I have amps suitable for big gigs. Hey everybody needs tons of amps!
Better than abusing a good amp though. For the cost of retubng your amp, you could buy a used small amp.
Better than abusing a good amp though. For the cost of retubng your amp, you could buy a used small amp.
I don't have the cash for a second amp and to play with it at home I have to turn the gain to 2 in order to set the amp to 1. For large gigs, it's great. Honestly, I wouldn't have it if I hadn't got a crazy deal on it (effectively what I'm selling it for). Most bass players in my area use silly little solid state rumbles, so they're not even interested in buying a tube head.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,042
- 45,890
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- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
Some food for though from an old TB thread: http://www.talkbass.com/threads/switchable-max-output-mod-for-a-300-w-tube-amp.238662/
I haven't reviewed how this panned out, and remember having reservations about some things claimed in there at the time, due diligence needed as always...
I haven't reviewed how this panned out, and remember having reservations about some things claimed in there at the time, due diligence needed as always...
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Silly is buying an amp that is way more powerful than you need when a silly little solid state rumble gets the job done. I play solid state amps because I can't find a tube amp that breaks up soon enough for my small gigs. I haven't tried any hybrids but I'm thinking they might break up at a lower volume if you wanted them to. Of course I have zero experience with the topic but the idea/possibility popped into my head. I know the argument about the power tubes being very important for the tone, but I also see a lot of people arguing the opposite on talkbass. Good luck finding that perfect balance.
Can't you get a power soak/ attenuater that plugs between the amp and speaker?
That's what a lot of guitar players used to use, before amp makers started adding the reduced wattage switches/knobs.
That's what a lot of guitar players used to use, before amp makers started adding the reduced wattage switches/knobs.
What cab/s are you using?
I found I could quite easily get the YBA300 to overdrive nicely into smaller cabs that could handle the power. Eg a good strong 115 or 212. I've found that managing a 300w all tube amps power is very dependent on the cab you use it with.
Into a large multi driver cab = very loud.
Into a smaller cab - quite manageable and able to drive them pretty hard without excessive volume
I found I could quite easily get the YBA300 to overdrive nicely into smaller cabs that could handle the power. Eg a good strong 115 or 212. I've found that managing a 300w all tube amps power is very dependent on the cab you use it with.
Into a large multi driver cab = very loud.
Into a smaller cab - quite manageable and able to drive them pretty hard without excessive volume
Try turning the volume down on your bass and leaving the amp to do its thing. A volume pedal may help, or a compressor.
If you are unfamiliar with the concept or options (or risks of pulling tubes in the amp), see this:
http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/quiet_please_attenuators_and_their_many_uses
Roland GR 88
Commercial User
That's a nice head and it would be a shame to fry it. Call Yorkville and talk to the designer - they have great customer service and will give you an honest answer. A Fryette Power Station or Bad Cat Unleash is really what you need. They're expensive but real useful for situations where you need to turn down and keep the tone you want and with a 12 tube 300w monster like the YBA that could be most of the time.
Another option is to trade it at your local L$M for a smaller one and finance the difference which could be as little as $300.00 if you go with the YBA-200.
Another option is to trade it at your local L$M for a smaller one and finance the difference which could be as little as $300.00 if you go with the YBA-200.
You have a lot of amp there. Pulling tubes isn't the answer with this amp. As has been mentioned, when tubes are pulled, this affects the load on the power supply. The voltages will get higher and could damage the amp.
As others have said, an answer may be in the volume control. You say that you barely open the volume and it is too loud. There are a couple of options. The volume pots are log based and the curve is too steep which turns up the volume too quickly. Maybe the pot can be changed for one that allows more control at lower volumes. A hail mary pass might be to install a resistor across the two outer legs of the gain volume pot to change the ballistics of the pot, making it more linear and the output controllable. You won't know if this will work till you try it but it is a simple experiment. Option two is trying the same thing with the master volume pot.
Without modifying the amp, you can build a master volume control that plugs in between the effect send and return jacks. This adds a second master volume that might allow you to have more control over the level. See below. The pot should have a linear taper. Experiment for the best value.
As others have said, an answer may be in the volume control. You say that you barely open the volume and it is too loud. There are a couple of options. The volume pots are log based and the curve is too steep which turns up the volume too quickly. Maybe the pot can be changed for one that allows more control at lower volumes. A hail mary pass might be to install a resistor across the two outer legs of the gain volume pot to change the ballistics of the pot, making it more linear and the output controllable. You won't know if this will work till you try it but it is a simple experiment. Option two is trying the same thing with the master volume pot.
Without modifying the amp, you can build a master volume control that plugs in between the effect send and return jacks. This adds a second master volume that might allow you to have more control over the level. See below. The pot should have a linear taper. Experiment for the best value.
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Darn yous guys - this place is worse than an alcoholic hanging out at the local dive barThanks. I didn't know about those ashdown amps.
.I ended up ordering a CTM-30 last night:
https://8thstreet.com/Product/Get/70246/ashdown-ctm-30-30-watt-all-tube-bass-amp-head
$459.15 delivered with the 12% off promo code.
There's a nice restored B25B on fleaBay for about the same but I'd rather have new and light. I play a lot of early (Woodstock era) rock when guitars were clean and bass was overdriven through a B15. I normally run my SVT clone with the master on "1" and the gain on 2 o'clock or so.
You can but those premade on fleaBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Vo...-taper-master-volume-attenuator-/200925904844
As an eBay Associate, TalkBass may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
Not a bad price.
In this case I was hoping that the higher valued pot might help knock down the level better in this case. Often you find 25-50K linear pots in these boxes.
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Weber sells a power dump that is good for 200W. Still limiting in this case.
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[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Turning the volume down on the bass makes the sound more muffled and not desirable. What Traynor has suggested I do is this:
Traynor said:
WE got WAAAAAY to far into this thread before this suggestion was brought up.
OP, turn the volume DOWN on your BASS. Problem solved. Then you can drive the crap out of the tubes because the input signal is so much weaker.
Could you probably make this amp somewhat workable using all kinds of complicated tricks with your bass dimed? Maybe. But why bother when it is just stupid simple to turn down the bassor run a volume pedal and let the head eat all it wants to?
What kind of bass/pickups do you run that sounds different at different volumes on the bass itself? I have never run into this.
