First - Run this amp with the "post-gain" controls wide open, and adjust the loudness with the pre-gain.

HALF POWER SWITCH:

Remember that in a perfectly linear situation, half power only drops the apparent loudness by 10 db, which isn't very noticeable - except in the long term (your hearing loss will be slightly lower!)

Since the power amp should be set high enough to be in power tube compression or saturation, the actual loudness change is even less than 10 db.

This switch drops the plate voltage to the power amp tubes to 275 V from 550 V. Setup your 'clean steel' sound with the pregain just to the point that the power amp is rich sounding, but not 'distorted'. When you switch to your six string, switch to low power, and voila - instant power-tube crunch.

As I see it, this feature (in conjunction with the pregain setting) allows you to go from 'power-tube compression' into 'power-tube overdrive'. The actual loudness is not a lot different, however, the contribution of power amp distortion is very evident.

Note that you can pull tube 2 and 4 (I think...) and you reduce the overall power by 50%, and the low power then reduces it again. For living room use only.

SETTINGS:
First, the scorpion speakers in the stock amp are an excellent source of rock'n'roll with a six-string - but perhaps not great for steel. I have my amp output wired to the 15" BW1502 that came with my Vegas 400. However, I have bought a Blue Marvel from Peavey that will replace one of the Scorps.

More to your point - I use the clean channel with amp on high power for steel. Settings with the output sent to the BW1502
- High at 0db
- Mids cut 4 db at 800 Hz
- Bass cut 3 db (Oops...not 'to 3db')

I use the 'lead' channel purely for six-string - as it is a fully functional EQ with the bonus of a 6L6 power amp section.

[This message was edited by Tom Gorr on 09 September 2005 at 01:19 PM.]

Dan

------------------
Dan Beller-McKenna
Durham, NH
Dekley S-10, Telecaster, Guild D-35, Peavey Heritage VTX

One of the 'features' of the amp is the ability to pull the phase knob out to fix the phase, rather than having it oscillate in the knob-in position.

For the lead channel with your Tele:
1) turn the power switch to low
2) set pregain high enough to get some power amp crunch
3) pull the mid-boost on the treble knob.
4) EQ to taste.

That's what this amp is all about. Flexibility.