no, that is definatly a tube acting up...

please don't... you're putting the amp at risk... powertubes in a fixed bias amp should ALWAYS be biased... in this case it might even be more damaging if you place those mesa's unbiased in your amp (what model is it, by the way?) mesa selects tubes, so that they perform good in their amps... in oth...

kissfanps wrote: Im sure that the AFD would sound killer in a live setting or jamming with a band, but you feel there is something missing when playing alone.

the AFD100 is great for live situations and recording...

better yet, when installing new tubes, always set the bias at it's coldest setting before firing them up... then make measurements and set the bias according to plan...

yes..
voltage fluctuations will be noticed much better on electronic attenuated amps...

Yes I was surprised how little distortion there is with the EPA, with a Les Paul if I dig in I can get to break up a bit. Thanks to Dooley my power sagging problem seems to have gone but I struggling to enjoy the amp. I'm no YJM fan but I love the the sound of old Marshalls and I thought this would...

donnyboiler wrote: Maybe I should do a shootout of the three brands in my VM preamp. Would anyone be interested to hear that?

of course... but i'd like suggesting a "blind test"...
many people have biased opinions when it comes to different brands... takes the placebo-effect completely away

perform the autobias process as described in the manual... when it's done, look on the back if any leds are lit... if so, you got a faulty tube... the powerattenuator hasn't got any known issues, but it starts acting up, when other components (most likely tubes) are faulty... also, with very low pow...

yup, correct

The AFD is a high gain amp where as the YJM is not. Output distortion has less affect on the tone on high gain amps. Think the AFD woulsd sound good even without the EPA. true, it does... but the extra compression of the 6550's on a diet with the EPA gives it a nice touch... like to try EL34's as t...

Welcome Big Dooley. Always wanted to go to Holland to see the girls and the pretty country side, I hear the beer is pretty good too. erhm... we're famous for our coffee, though :smoker :wasted when you're at it, try belgium beer... lots of different flavours :winking :welcome Big Dooley! We all hav...

if there is a difference, it doesn't matter anymore really... the ECC83S is the only one for sale for the last few years (along with the ECCC803 of course) so whether you say ECC83 or ECC83S, it's the same tube

is everybody talking about the ECC83 S (S stands for selected i think),and not just ECC83´s,hope yall get what i mean? Or im i just a dumb Swede? :o) nope, there is just some confusion going on... a few years back (don't know how many... it could be more then a decade) JJ produced their ECC83... la...

ok, so for him to be on the safe side he would have to set the bias at it's coldest setting before firing up the amp with 6550/KT88's and see where he's at with them in place, correct?

from what i can tell with the AFD100 it's great...
although i like it, that the AFD has a master volume... i like to turn the master a bit down... the YJM doesn't have a master

i've never used an attenuator, so i can't compare both to eachother though