Tube amps that need a master volume

[Frodebro]

I think that's a big overstatement.



Here you can hear the Friedman Plex with its (afaik PPIMV) turned down. Soundwise it just gets cleaner sounding, less "raw" sounding. Does the fully cranked setting sound better? Yeah, but the MV is still a usable option if it gets you to a palatable volume level without involving expensive attenuators.

I think more modern amp designs can also be voiced to sound like those classic amps without ever involving poweramp distortion.

When I had the Vox-based Victory VC35, I also tested the poweramp distortion by running it into a Fryette PS-2. Guess what was needed to replicate that behavior surprisingly well? A Dynacomp pedal up front to add some compression, and turning the amp's preamp gain up by a few notches! It was so close to its cranked sound/feel while still using its master volume to reduce volume.

I can verify that the MVs in Friedman amps are very good. I have a Twin Sister that I absolutely love.

 

[Chocol8]

If the amp was designed for an MV...

 

[Desertdweller]

Sometimes just a volume knob in the effects loop is good enough. A lot of effects processors have a volume knob and you can run that in your amp loop and bring up and down volume with a 100% series signal. I've yet to find an amp that can't be tamed by a good VP4 or G-Force in the loop.