A matched quad set of Electro Harmonix valves arrived yesterday.

Had to wait until the wife and children were out of the house this morning before I could plug them in and test the amp with all four valves.

I did remember to set the output impedance back to 8 Ohms before testing.

A warm, satisfying orange glow from all four valves was all the encouragement I needed to plug the Les Paul in and give it a whirl.

I tried the low sensitivity input on the amp first and cranked the pre and master volume up half way – quite a disappointing output level, so I cranked the pre-amp up to 10 and the master to 8. A little better but not the crunch I was expecting and certainly no where near the volume
Pulled out and plugged into the high sensitivity jack – Christ ! it nearly took my legs out from under me.

Have you ever seen those films of test pilots in the centrifuge G-Force testing devices, where their faces ripple with the extreme force they are under ? Well, thats what I felt like stood in front of this amp and a 4×12 cab after whacking a power cord out
Had to leap for the master volume control before the patio doors blew out.

It works then.

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