volume/gain/playing style--HELP!!

[brodiek]

i play pretty hard so there are always loud peaks when i am strumming/playing/whatever.
so i am to afraid to turn up my ampegBA210 combo more than halfway due to blowing the speakers, how much gain/master volume should i allow myself?
thanks

 

[RickenBoogie]

Gain @ half for starters, volume to taste, but so it still sounds good, and work on your technique. Maybe try a compressor or limiter inline.