Quote:
Originally Posted by PJL
A solution for taming volts that does not create extra heat and is easily reversed is a bucking transformer. We have 250V mains here...
It also keeps the LT voltage correct and does not mess up the recovery time after being driven hard (apparently critical in guitar amps) .
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In opposition to what is said there, guitar amp manufacturers went back to using valve rectification around 30 years ago to re-introduce 'sag' in the HT when the amp is driven hard. This provides a degree of 'natural compression ' and other tonal artifacts much loved by guitarists.
As an aside, the subject of guitar amplifier sounds covering distortion characteristics and tone is vast and one that is discussed and debated in many places by tonal obsessed guitarists. A guitar amp isn't just an amp that distorts like a buzzy fuzz box, it's one that morphs from crystalline clarity into 'nice sounding', harmonically rich distortion, with different designs providing different types of distortion depending on the needs and desires of the musician. In short, distorted guitar amplification is a huge, healthy industry of dedicated manufacturers and designers.