- Oct 31, 2006
- 1,375
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I have a mesa f50 combo amp which is 50 watts. Is there any way to make it less watts? I heard if you take out a power tube it lowers it or something? Any info would be appreciated.
Taking out power tube to lower wattage?
- Thread starter Ericlingus
- Start date
VH100R
Member
power tubes should be taken in pairs.
I've done it with my laney.
4 tubes = 100W on the laney
I took out the 2 inner tubes (you can take the 2 outer ones) = 50W
there isn't much of a volume difference, Its just that the amp reacts differently because of the early break up.
The clean distorts sooner and the drive channels saturate sooner.
to do this safely, You have to adjust the impedance on the amp.
BEFORE:
100W -> amp @ 16 ohms connected to cab @ 16 ohms
NOW (power tubes removed):
50W -> amp @ 8 ohms connected to cab @ 16 ohms
For you mesa F-50 I don't know If its possible to do that.
If it has only 2 power tubes, taking out just one might engage the protection circuit and blowing the protection fuse.
Inform yourself with Mesa first.
take care
LG
I've done it with my laney.
4 tubes = 100W on the laney
I took out the 2 inner tubes (you can take the 2 outer ones) = 50W
there isn't much of a volume difference, Its just that the amp reacts differently because of the early break up.
The clean distorts sooner and the drive channels saturate sooner.
to do this safely, You have to adjust the impedance on the amp.
BEFORE:
100W -> amp @ 16 ohms connected to cab @ 16 ohms
NOW (power tubes removed):
50W -> amp @ 8 ohms connected to cab @ 16 ohms
For you mesa F-50 I don't know If its possible to do that.
If it has only 2 power tubes, taking out just one might engage the protection circuit and blowing the protection fuse.
Inform yourself with Mesa first.
take care
LG
VH100R
Member
power tubes should be taken in pairs.
I've done it with my laney.
4 tubes = 100W on the laney
I took out the 2 inner tubes (you can take the 2 outer ones) = 50W
there isn't much of a volume difference, Its just that the amp reacts differently because of the early break up.
The clean distorts sooner and the drive channels saturate sooner.
to do this safely, You have to adjust the impedance on the amp.
BEFORE:
100W -> amp @ 16 ohms connected to cab @ 16 ohms
NOW (power tubes removed):
50W -> amp @ 8 ohms connected to cab @ 16 ohms
For you mesa F-50 I don't know If its possible to do that.
If it has only 2 power tubes, taking out just one might engage the protection circuit and blowing the protection fuse.
Inform yourself with Mesa first.
take care
LG
I've done it with my laney.
4 tubes = 100W on the laney
I took out the 2 inner tubes (you can take the 2 outer ones) = 50W
there isn't much of a volume difference, Its just that the amp reacts differently because of the early break up.
The clean distorts sooner and the drive channels saturate sooner.
to do this safely, You have to adjust the impedance on the amp.
BEFORE:
100W -> amp @ 16 ohms connected to cab @ 16 ohms
NOW (power tubes removed):
50W -> amp @ 8 ohms connected to cab @ 16 ohms
For you mesa F-50 I don't know If its possible to do that.
If it has only 2 power tubes, taking out just one might engage the protection circuit and blowing the protection fuse.
Inform yourself with Mesa first.
take care
LG
Why don't you just get an attenuator? That seems to be the easiest thing aside from opening up your amp. That's if your combo has an FX loop. Which it probably does.
