Dude, what you are cranking up is the preamp gain NOT the power amp gain. In that case it's neck to neck with a SS amp. You are better off using a multieffects with real tube into a SS than lugging around a back breaking tube amp head and cab.
Kala mo lang yun. Medyo di accurate pagkakaintindi mo sa silbi ng pre amp tubes at power amp tubes. Not every tube amp works that way. With a Blackstar and an Ironheart, for example, puwede ka na dumating sa sweet spot ng sane volume. Even with a JSX and a JVM. Kahit SLO100 kahit anong volume niya maganda tunog.
Ang Peavey XXXII like any amp that has power amp tube swapping capability, palitan mo ng 6L6 ang tubes, iba ang character ng tunog at distortion at any volume. Palitan mo siya EL34, iba din tunog niya at any volume. Palitan mo KT88 mas lalong magiiba tunog at any volume. The sweet breaking, clipping you hear from them is an interaction of pre amp and power amp tubes and not as singular stages like you say.
Masyado malakas para sa iyo 4 na power amp tubes? Bawasan mo. Alisin mo 2. Yung 120 watts mo, magiging 60. Puwede ka na mag clip at harmonic distortion ng mas maaga o mas mahina.
Kahit nga mga bagong Marshall DSL kaya sweetspot kahit nasa bahay ka lang ng hindi umaalog bintana mo.