Lets talk ohms - 5150 with only 2 tubes question.

[guitarguru777]

God such a confusing topic .....

So, here is the deal.

I have a Marshall Cab that runs at 16ohms and I just popped 2 power tubes out of my 5150. So the question is what should my 5150 be set to? 16 or 8 ohms?

 

[::XeS::]

Popping tubes out of the amp is the useless thing ever. Anyway I think you have to use 16

 

[guitarguru777]

This is not the case at all as I can tell you the tonal difference is quite noticeable. The point of it is to get more power tube saturation which is already lacking in the 5150 till you crank it.

Popping 2 tubes out and halving the power allows earlier power tube saturation, so there is a use for it.

 

[Mikaël-ange]

Simple rule: if you run your head at 16ohm with all tube (4), divided ohms by 2 without two tube so 8ohms in this exemple case