Hoffman 5E3 12A type jack for Speaker. ?

[Ross]

Considering the 5E3 for my next build and I noticed in the schematic (http://el34world.com/Hoffman/files/Hoffman_5E3.pdf)
 a shorting jack (12A type) for the speaker. Is shorting the secondary preferable to having it open?

[sluckey]

Yes. Fender started doing that in the late '50s.

[Ross]

So it's a good thing?

[EL34]

No plug connected to the main jacks = output shorted to ground


An open output playing the amp is much worse

[Ross]

This: http://www.head-fi.org/t/484643/why-do-tube-amps-must-have-a-load-connected