Question re: removing power tubes

[i love everyone]

I was reading a thread here recently about possible problems with removing two of the power tubes from an old Fender amp to reduce the power, and someone brought up the idea that removing different pairs of tubes (not just the inside 2 or outside 2) would not harm the amp, but would affect the sound, because a different part of the wave is being amplified.

So I thought, hey, this could be an interesting and free way to play around with the sound of my amp, but I've only really heard of folks removing tubes in old Fender amps... I'm not sure if my amp (a 120w Peavey Butcher) could handle it, so I figured I would ask on here before I try it. So basically, can you remove two of the power tubes in any amp without issues? Or would I risk frying my amp if I tried it?

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Question re: removing power tubes

You might just want to check. I was told My Marshall 100w jcm needs all four tubes in it.
The other thing you coukld do is look at installing some THD yellowjackets either as 2 of your four, or as a whole quartet.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Question re: removing power tubes

In a push/pull circuit,you do want to either remove either the 2 most inner or the 2 most outer tubes....My experience with doing that,is that the amp isn't that much lower in volume overall,plus the amp becomes dark sounding...I didn't like it but YMMV? You need to halve the amp's impedence also...The difference between 50 and 100 watts is 3 db...The 100 watt head isn't "considerably" louder but offers cleaner and maybe tighter headroom..

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: Question re: removing power tubes

You might just want to check. I was told My Marshall 100w jcm needs all four tubes in it.
The other thing you coukld do is look at installing some THD yellowjackets either as 2 of your four, or as a whole quartet.

Why? Just about every output stage of most of the common amps are the same...