Musicians Roadhouse

Why is it that you lose much of the distortion on the YJM when turning down on the EPA?

While I would love to have a YJM I don't. But it seems to me that the EPA is simply a different way to attenuate. When you do this the power is cut to the power tubes thus loosing gain, less gain equals less distortion since the tubes are not at 100%.

Reviews I have read on the YJM find that most like this EPA option, but having owned a 1959HW some years ago I found that they simply have to be turned up to get the best out of them.

It's my understanding that the EPA sucks the current off the power and PI valves, hence why you get less overdrive.
I find it to be a no issue as long as you don't put the EPA below 12-1 o clock.
Lower than that and you will want to make up for the lost territory with a good (clean) booster.
And there's of course the physics that tell you the tone sucks when you're not moving enough air.

I believe the EPA is done with the voltages od the power valves. Don´t Think it really works like an ordinary attenuator. The EPA at 12-1 O´clock is pretty loud. Too loud for most players i guess.