Can I remove two output tubes from my Fender Twin to get ½ power?

I get this question on a weekly basis and the answer is always the same…no…and here is why:

Removing two output tubes from a four output power amp design for lower power and volume seems like a great idea…But it’s not really that simple and not really my favorite sound. Removing two output tubes from a four output tube amplifiers does not make a tube amp 1/2 power nor does not create earlier OD or clipping from said amplifier, which is what most people are trying to accomplish when trying this. Removing two of the four output tubes also creates a primary impedance mismatch between the OT and the power tubes, which in most cases creates a less than optimum tone situation. It may seem hard to understand…but when you remove two of the four output tubes the amp then may have less available output and wattage, but the lack of two out of four power tubes actually creates more clean headroom as the power supply at this point now has less of a load on it which raises the B+ , plate and screen voltages…thus actually forcing the user to up the volume control even higher to create any clipping or OD from the amp…always better to just hit the amp with a good boost or OD pedal and control everything from the volume knob on BF style amplifiers.

Rock on!

Benjamin Fargen