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why doesn't my amp clip?

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by rexspangle, Nov 6, 2001.

  1. Nov 6, 2001 #1
    rexspangle

    rexspangle

    Feb 16, 2001
    Ontario, Canada
    I own a bass 350 and for some reason it hardely clips, i can nearly crank the master and pre and it won't clip till around max. But even before it clips it gets a distorted sound -could that be my bass?

    My Fx units clips though does that override the clip on the head?


    thanx
     
  2. Nov 6, 2001 #2
    brianrost

    brianrost Gold Supporting Member

    Apr 26, 2000
    Boston, Taxachusetts
    ANY device in the chain that clips will cause distortion.

    If your effects device is clipping you're driving it too hard.

    As far as being unable to clip your amp, sounds like a GOOD thing to me, after all you don't want it to clip
    :p

    Clipping simply means you are trying to drive the signal harder than the power supply of the device can handle. It's called clipping because it basically chops off the top of the signal waveform (easily seen on an oscilloscope). Doing this adds considerable harmonic distortion to the signal, in fact this is how overdrive/distortion/fuzz pedals work.
     
  3. Nov 6, 2001 #3
    Jeffrey A-Bomb

    Jeffrey A-Bomb Drink Coffee & Destroy Supporting Member

    Oct 14, 2000
    Silver Spring, MD
    I used to own the swr 350 head and it had a built in limiter to protect speakers (which could actually be turned off if you wanted)..