Resistor in a power supply

[JRobin68]

Has any one ever heard of putting a 30 ohm 5 watt  resistor between the high voltage as it comes off the transformer and the full wave bridge rectifier?  I have an early 1970's Alamo Fury amp that has this and I was wondering why.

[cfortner]

Hi,

may be to protect the old weak rectifier diodes from current spikes while switching on (the big power supply C's start charging in this moment). Today with 1N4007 no problems.

An other possibility is to let the voltage break down a bit when playing hard, shall offer a sweeter sound/distortion on guitar amps.

[PRR]

Yes.