attenuator? hmmm?

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daveblue222

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my amp is a fender deville 4x10

its very loud! i have looked into getting a powerbrake (attenuator) so i can crank it and still have at a low volume.

i came across this a few years ago but never actually bought one

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ATTENUATOR-FO...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2eaa311ecd

i spoke to a few people and they reckon its just a glorified volume knob, and that it doesnt actually allow for the tubes to be cranked. also the price is stupid compared to marshals PB 100 and similar models.

will this thing do what it says it does??
 
daveblue222 said:
my amp is a fender deville 4x10

its very loud! i have looked into getting a powerbrake (attenuator) so i can crank it and still have at a low volume.

i came across this a few years ago but never actually bought one

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ATTENUATOR-FO...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2eaa311ecd

i spoke to a few people and they reckon its just a glorified volume knob, and that it doesnt actually allow for the tubes to be cranked. also the price is stupid compared to marshals PB 100 and similar models.

will this thing do what it says it does??
Click to expand...

It's nothing more than a master volume. It lets you cook the preamp stage while lowering the signal to the output tubes. If it's power tube distortion you want, this won't do it.
 
I picked up one (no name, some guys builds them and sells them on ebay) and it does ok. There is no simple answer for "great tone at bedroom volume" attenuators can suck some tone, but just turning down the overall volume and keeping the speakers from moving as much air will affect what you hear.

So my advice is that if you are still panning on playing at louder than a home-stereo volume, an attenuator will probably allow you to run the power tubes harder and get you what you want for the most part. BUt if you want to crank your amp, but play it at volumes of the same or less than a home stereo it will suck.

Daav
 
ggunn said:
It's nothing more than a master volume. It lets you cook the preamp stage while lowering the signal to the output tubes. If it's power tube distortion you want, this won't do it.
Click to expand...

+1.

The Webers are good, as is the THD Hot Plate. The Marshall I've heard too many horror stories about.
 
Another +1 on the Weber

It's more dynamic than the hot plate.
 
I had a HotPlate awhile back (for a 4 Ohm amp that I no longer have)...very nice...but WAY TOO PRICEY for what it does...and ONLY for a given load value.

I found the Weber Mini Mass units to offer good tone translation at almost all levels unless you dime your amp and drop the Weber down to 1-2...
...and they cost a fraction of the HotPlate, plus you can use one unit for 4/8/16 Ohm amps, and the Mini also comes with the +3/+6 dB treble boost if you need it to brighten your tone when attenuating real hard.

I have 4 of the Weber Mini Mass units...two 25W and two 50W, and will probably get another 50W unit, just so I don't even have to unplug them and move them around from amp top amp. They work great in the studio.
If you dime the Weber but leave it "ON"...it still takes out a nice amount of level (like a 1/2 power switch) and has NO affect on tone.
Dialing it down to about 5 also has almost no affect on tone...then when you start to squeeze it way down, yeah, it will change your tone some, but then so will just turning your amp down! ;)
At least this way you have a lot more working level while maintaining the full crunch of the amp.
 
Hey, I'm a Hot Plate owner, and if I was in the market for a second attenuator, I'd probably grab a Weber.

I can't say firsthand if the Webers are better than the Hotplate, but I've heard a lot of really good things about them and while overall I've been happy with the Hot Plate, I figure I've heard enough good things about the Weber that I'd like to try one.

But, the consensus of everyone I've ever had this conversation with is those two are really the only options out there right now worth bothering with.
 
i use a WEBER MASS LITE

after trying a kendrick air brake, a marshall air brake, and a THD hotplate.

it reacts differently...

and


it has (2) attenuation controls, one for highs, and one for lows, so you can really dial in what you are attenuating.
 
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