Maxing amps- how long is ok?

[Dave H]

Ok can I condense it right down to this? I can understand that the louder it is the more the speaker is being worked, & the more the preamp is being worked. But if some one says the power amp section is flat out all the time regardless of the preamp level fed to it (is it? is that true? Im deluged by info Im not sure if this is true).. then that implies a set of power tubes will go pop whether a spotty teen is tinkering away at whisper levels.. or a hairy axe monster is going hammer & tongs at the amp at 10. Ive read on numerous times, that pushing power tubes will likely result in their life being less. Ive just got to try and find out why this (seemingly factual) bit of info is true.

I see this thread has gone downhill since I last checked in

I think whoever said the power amp was flat out all the time was just saying that it doesn't have a volume control so it's always effectively on 10. Forget that, it's confusing. Don't over think it. It really (nearly?) is as simple as I said in post #14. To put some numbers on it, even when it's not being played the power tubes are already idling at 70% of max power. When you play hard it could go up to 100%. The only way to significantly extend power tube life is to not switch it on but where's the fun in that?

[J M Fahey]

Yep I don't want to censor reality but those guys don't need any more publicity. They need ridicule in a different media place. Regards Joe.

Tell that to CNN, FOX news, the Washington post, etc. (plus Hollywood) .
Those are the ones hammering this on our minds nonstop.

Anyway the point was not making anybody famous, but on the contrary, using somebody already VERY famous (read above to see WHO is responsible for that) to push some idea on SC thick skull.

Should have I used Bambi or Hello Kitty for that?