The article talks about five things to gain stage your tube amp. The term “gain staging” describes the balancing of every element in a signal chain at which gain can be added or cut . Achieve the same output levels—keeping EQ the same throughout—with Drive. With vintage amps, try to hit the sweet spot for best effect. Gain attenuation can be a difficult task to complete but it is worth it to try.
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GuitarPlayer: Five Things About Gain Staging Your Tube Amp