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CAN PEDALS HURT AMPS

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10/29/1999 1:35 AM

CAN PEDALS HURT AMPS

I'm sure this has been touched on before, so sorry if its redundant,
Can using pedals damage an amp? A local Opn Jam host will not let anyone use ANY pedals with his amps (some are nice vintage) because "I don't want some bonehead who needs little boxes to make him think hes a guitarist blowing up my amps"
Now I know a severely boosted Tube Screamer or boost pedal can blow speakers (and maybe output trannies?) but this dork wont even let a chorus or delay feed into his amps. Now I know these wont hurt it, but I am wondering if any types of pedals will and if so what components or sections of an amp can be damaged.
On the same subject, i have an all original 65 fender tube reverb, and was wondering if these can be damaged by any pedals. I love 'Muffs and 'screamers(mostly to push the amps front end). I also love to push these pedals with an ocasional Eq pedal on a mild boost or with a Ratt. Now can pushing alot of gain hurt the reverb unit?

10/29/1999 4:17 AM
Don Symes	Once burned... I agree with both points of view, unfortunately. Is it possible/practical to take a small combo with you?

10/29/1999 7:33 PM

To answer your question:

Unless you are using a pedal in such a way as to push the amp's power section (and speakers) WELL past the usual saturation levels (that normally occur when playing the amp loud without using a pedal), it's very unlikely damage would result. The tube gain stages within the amp's preamp section can certainly be induced to generate 100% distorted, sharp-cornered square wave signals, but, in general, they are very forgiving of hot, multi-volt input signals. Of course, in a blues jam situation, a guitar player using a pedal is probably going to be asked to turn down the volume well before output section or speaker damage starts to occur. ON the contrary, typically guitarists often turn the gain control on their overdrive pedal too high up, resulting in an overly compressed signal going into the amp that actually might cause the amp work LESS hard, not harder.

Of course, none of these considerations are likely to have any influence whatsoever on this blues jam host. It sounds like the real issue is that he has a religious objection to guitarists using pedals of any kind for any purpose. I can understand what a bummer this might be for some jammers -- when you don't have any control over what amp you have to use, and volume restrictions prevent you from turning it up loud enough to get the tone and sustain you desire for your style of playing, a pedal can really make a difference. It's no fun if you can't turn the volume beyond 3 and a half on somebody's Super Reverb and you're trying to play a burning blues/rock solo.

I agree with the previous post -- see if you can bring your own amp. Either that, or find a different jam to go to.

10/29/1999 8:04 PM

quote:
"I agree with the previous post -- see if you can bring your own amp. Either that, or find a different jam to go to."

Seconded! All the amps you mention have been duly abused by those pedals for years, so we have a good precedence. Never use a piece of equipment belonging to someone who's so obviously mani... er... "particular" about their stuff. In fact don't even --touch-- his amp.

10/29/1999 10:50 PM

I wish there were a jam session/open mic place around here. Where I used to live in Japan had a blues place about 800 sqare feet and there were tons of amps in there. An old SVT or and acoustic 360 for bass and at least two twins maybe a dual showman. The owner was the coolest guy, he didn't care if us "kids" went up to the stage to play near metal through the amps... I actually have one of his old Super Reverbs. It has not failed me yet! And hell my parents mailed it from Japan via the US Mail... I trust it because well it has seen more abuse than I could ever dish out...

I guess if you are gonna plug something into an amp it is common sense as to whether or not it is gonna be harmful.

nic

10/30/1999 4:38 AM

Thanks for the info...
I do bring my Deluxe reverb to the jams, the whole argument pretty much started when I brought a couple pedals to play (with my amp) and he started in about guitarists who need "little boxes to make them think they can play". He's just an annoying opiniated jerk, an I wanted to make sure my argument was justified. GOD could come down and tell him he's wrong and he still wouldn't buy it!
What about the reverb unit?

10/30/1999 7:51 AM
Aron	Oh no, not one of those "all pedals stink" kind of guys! When I go to jam sessions I basically take my amp or use an amp that I know is good. Oh well. Yeah, better not even touch his amp. Aron

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