SFDR - 2nd channel, 2nd jack

[robbysturgis]

On my Silver Face Deluxe Reverb, in the Vibrato Channel, the second input sounds significantly less decibels on the same setting as the first.

Is this normal?

[chabby]

No - thats not normal from any experience I've ever had. Could be anything from bad tube, to caps or a combo.

[Dacious]

If you're talking about an amp with two inputs per channel, yes it is. This is because the 2nd input has less input resistance than the 1st channel, which has a 1 meg resistor to ground. It is intended for high-output pickups like hummers, to help get a good clean tone out of them - remember, this is how Leo and Co. were thinking back then, clean not overdrive.

On lower output pickups like single coils the buffer of the higher input impedance helps the pickup to generate a stronger signal. Today you'd probably use it for active or very low-impedance pickups.

[Steve McGinnis]

Originally Posted by Dacious

If you're talking about an amp with two inputs per channel, yes it is. This is because the 2nd input has less input resistance than the 1st channel, which has a 1 meg resistor to ground. It is intended for high-output pickups like hummers, to help get a good clean tone out of them - remember, this is how Leo and Co. were thinking back then, clean not overdrive.

On lower output pickups like single coils the buffer of the higher input impedance helps the pickup to generate a stronger signal. Today you'd probably use it for active or very low-impedance pickups.

+1
All the old fenders work like this. I always put Humbuckers in #2 and fenders in #1

[J.Rodney]

yes this is normal.#2 is always less volume.In my experience with several different Fender amps this has always been the case.I play in#2 a good bit.

[mellecaster]

Also back in the Jurassic era, it was suggested by them to use the 2nd input for Microphones.

[robbysturgis]

Originally Posted by J.Rodney

yes this is normal.#2 is always less volume.

Would this be a way to use the second input to play at top tube distortion, but at less than peak volume, in say a smaller club or rehearsal studio.

[PhatTele]

It doesn't really work that way. Although you're decreasing the gain of the input slightly, like turning down the volume on your guitar, it doesn't effect the output produced by the power tubes. So, the effect would be a cleaner tone but at the same output volume. You'll still be loud...just cleaner. I suppose by turning up the volume you'll drive the power tubes harder, but it's not like having a master volume or clean boost.

As others have mentioned, you use the second input to tame hot PUs which might be overdriving your preamp too early or to thin out the input tone. I know some soul/R&B guys that use them with their Strats to enhance a thin procrussive rhythm...then they step on a clean boost for leads.

[teleamp]

Originally Posted by robbysturgis

On my Silver Face Deluxe Reverb, in the Vibrato Channel, the second input sounds significantly less decibels on the same setting as the first.

Is this normal?

Yes, when plugged into the #1 input (normal or vibrato) the signal I going through two 68K resistors wired parallel, so the signal is seeing only 34K ohms resistance and when you plug into the #2 input the signal is going through one 68K ohm resistor so less signal is hitting the preamp tube.

Originally Posted by robbysturgis

Would this be a way to use the second input to play at top tube distortion, but at less than peak volume, in say a smaller club or rehearsal studio.

Not really, power scaling or an atenuator will do that for you.

[Joe M]

Originally Posted by Steve McGinnis

+1
All the old fenders work like this. I always put Humbuckers in #2 and fenders in #1

Yup, that's what I've always done also. Plus, if you have a single coil guitar with very bright pickups (Texas Specials, eg.), it tones those down by using input #2 also, takes some of the bite out of them.