Tube Pulling Question (TRRI)

lchyi · April 6th, 2006, 01:58 PM

I keep hearing about pulling alternate tubes in tube amps to reduce volume, decrease clean headroom, and increase "break-up" territory. Is it really as simple as just yanking every other pre-amp tube and that's it, no electronic modifications or anything? I want to try this with my TRRI and see if it actually has any "break-up" room. Or just play with it at softer room levels.

FMA · April 6th, 2006, 02:15 PM

I think when they talk about pulling tubes from a Twin Reverb, they usually mean power tubes, either removing, I believe, the inside pair or the outside pair. I'm not sure what pulling pre-amp tubes would do, but I'm guessing it wouldn't be good...
Even with pulling a pair of power tubes, though, your not going to get soft room levels with a TR...

lchyi · April 6th, 2006, 02:47 PM

Oh power tubes... yea, that could have been bad. Well, if I pull those, will I be able to OD a TR?

Scott S · April 6th, 2006, 07:19 PM

It will get quieter, but not as much as you think. All else being equal, halving the output will decrease the volume by 3dB.

Better to just use a smaller amp, methinks. Save the Twin for the clean stuff.

zombywoof · April 6th, 2006, 11:14 PM

Pulling preamp tubes would definitely not be good. The preamp shapes the tone. 'Bout all you would want to do is maybe to go to a lower gain tube like we recently discussed in another thread.
My guess is pulling power tubes makes the amp easier to overdrive though I agree - just go buy a less powerful amp.

April 6th, 2006, 01:58 PM	#1 (permalink)
lchyi Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 144 3 Photos	Tube Pulling Question (TRRI) I keep hearing about pulling alternate tubes in tube amps to reduce volume, decrease clean headroom, and increase "break-up" territory. Is it really as simple as just yanking every other pre-amp tube and that's it, no electronic modifications or anything? I want to try this with my TRRI and see if it actually has any "break-up" room. Or just play with it at softer room levels.

April 6th, 2006, 02:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
FMA Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,174	Ummm... I think when they talk about pulling tubes from a Twin Reverb, they usually mean power tubes, either removing, I believe, the inside pair or the outside pair. I'm not sure what pulling pre-amp tubes would do, but I'm guessing it wouldn't be good... Even with pulling a pair of power tubes, though, your not going to get soft room levels with a TR...

April 6th, 2006, 11:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
zombywoof Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Back in the Heartland Posts: 2,923 17 Photos	Pulling preamp tubes would definitely not be good. The preamp shapes the tone. 'Bout all you would want to do is maybe to go to a lower gain tube like we recently discussed in another thread. My guess is pulling power tubes makes the amp easier to overdrive though I agree - just go buy a less powerful amp. __________________ "I don't play a lot of fancy guitar. I don't want to play it. The kind of guitar I want to play is mean, mean licks." John Lee Hooker

April 6th, 2006, 02:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
lchyi Tele-Meister Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 144 3 Photos	Oh power tubes... yea, that could have been bad. Well, if I pull those, will I be able to OD a TR?

April 6th, 2006, 07:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
Scott S Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SW CR IA US NA PE Age: 28 Posts: 1,916	It will get quieter, but not as much as you think. All else being equal, halving the output will decrease the volume by 3dB. Better to just use a smaller amp, methinks. Save the Twin for the clean stuff.