Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Brow on November 27, 2005, 12:23:38 PM

Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: Brow on November 27, 2005, 12:23:38 PM
Hey guys.

In my thread asking about low wattage amps, a number of people mentioned that I should also consider buying a power attenuator to use with my current amps instead of buying a new, low watage amp.

What are my options when it comes to power attenuators?

I need something than can handle 30, 60w and 100w valve amps, be ohmage switchable (between 8/16 ohms would be fine) and not totally kill the tone of the amp.

The 3 options I've found so far are:

http://www.drzamps.com/airbrake.html
https://weberspeakerscom.secure.poww...weber/mass.htm
http://www.marshallamps.com/product....ductCode=PB100

I know there's also the THD Hotplate to consider, but they're not ohmage switchable so I'd have to buy both an 8ohm and a 16ohm unit.

Thanx for any help and advice

Craig
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: HJM on November 27, 2005, 12:49:26 PM
The MASS is the only switchable one I think, the Dr Z is fixed, just like the THD! :(

The Powerbreak has the worst rep for tone loss :cry:
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: indysmith on November 27, 2005, 12:59:43 PM
apparently (according to _TOM_) the MASS is pretty rubbish too  :cry:
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: TwilightOdyssey on November 27, 2005, 01:16:46 PM
I called THD before I purchased my Hot Plate. I explained that I have one 8 ohm cab and one 16 ohm cab. They told me that as long as my head is set to 16 ohms, I could use both outputs of the 16 ohm Hot Plate without damaging anything.
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: math2014 on November 27, 2005, 01:21:43 PM
Some usefull links

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1036427&highlight=hotplate+mass
http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1021295&highlight=hotplate+mass
http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1091944&highlight=hotplate+mass
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: lulusg on November 27, 2005, 01:26:58 PM
There is this site: www.ultimateattenuator.com/ . You can read the reviews on Harmony Central. Good luck :)
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: indysmith on November 27, 2005, 02:31:26 PM
Quote from: LULUSG
There is this site: www.ultimateattenuator.com/ . You can read the reviews on Harmony Central. Good luck :)

Looks great, but boy - that sure is pricey once yu've imported it!
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: Brow on November 27, 2005, 02:42:50 PM
Thanx for the posts guys.

Quote from: indysmith
apparently (according to _TOM_) the MASS is pretty rubbish too  :cry:


_Tom_ has the Mini Mass, not the Weber Mass. The Mini Mass has a lot less options and is also alot cheaper :)

The Ultimate Attenuator is totally out of my price range  :?  At the minute I'm currently going between the Weber Mass and the THD Hot Plate (providing I can mis-match the ohmage).

If I don't like the sound of my JTM60 combo after it's been repaired, I'll probably just sell it on and buy either the Cornell or Matamp low wattage amps which I mentioned in my other thread :)

Craig
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: HJM on November 27, 2005, 04:03:30 PM
Forgot about the TAD - and I've got one. Excellent unit on a par with the Hotplate, only it's fixed impedance :(  if you've had transformer problems with the Marshall I'd avoid a mismatch on the outputs! I'd be a bit wary of using a mismatched impedance at high volume, it'll probably be OK....just hope that you've got a well designed and built output transformer!
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: chrisola on November 27, 2005, 05:17:18 PM
i use the 100w Weber Mass.

Sounded really good with my JCM800, not had chance to test it with my Fireball (should be getting it next week!)

The Mass has a speaker inside it which is supposed to help.. and has tone controls for the line out, switchable ohms, high\low range switch, and switchable treble boost.

For the money its fantastic... i've never tried the hotplate.. but the guy who bought my JCM800 has been emailing me about my Mass, he doesnt seem to be getting on with his Hotplate & the JCM800 and wants to know if the Mass would be better....
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: Brow on November 27, 2005, 09:23:12 PM
Thanx for the posts guys.

At this moment, I'm considering taking the easy way out and going for the 100w Weber Mass. Because it has the switchable Ohm settings and I wouldn't have to worry about blowing anything up by mis-matching in the wrong way :D
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: indysmith on November 27, 2005, 09:34:48 PM
Weber Mass seems pretty cool actually after reading about it. Not as good as HotPlate though...
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: Peterku on November 28, 2005, 12:02:12 AM
I saw the TAD Silencer in action a few days ago. With its clever toneshaping functions it was simply amazing. 8)

(http://www.tubeampdoctor.com/images/silencer.jpg)
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: Brow on November 28, 2005, 10:35:46 AM
Thanx for the new posts guys.

As I need switchable impedance, and don't really want to risk mis-matching my amp, attenuator and speakers, I think my best (and only option that I've found) is to go for the 100w Weber Mass  :D Unless anyone know of any other attenuators that have switchable impedance?

Craig
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: TwilightOdyssey on November 28, 2005, 12:19:41 PM
You need to email THD about impedence.
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: HJM on November 28, 2005, 12:49:00 PM
Strange thing is I got an email from THD telling me it was OK to mismatch as long as you don't run the amp loud..."but that's why I want an attenuator" I said... :(
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: TwilightOdyssey on November 28, 2005, 03:24:26 PM
Quote from: HJM
Strange thing is I got an email from THD telling me it was OK to mismatch as long as you don't run the amp loud..."but that's why I want an attenuator" I said... :(

LOL

I bet that's just to protect them leagally. I've had no problems whatsoever using differing cabs and the Hot Plate ... but I tend to be a bit more lucky than Brow. :)
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: Brow on November 28, 2005, 04:34:30 PM
Quote from: TwilightOdyssey
but I tend to be a bit more lucky than Brow. :)


Yeah, just lately you seem to!  :shock:

Ah well, with all the bad luck I've had over the last few months, something good has gotta happen soon  :roll:
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: HJM on November 28, 2005, 05:26:45 PM
You sound like your going to turn into a blues player....
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: Brow on November 28, 2005, 05:33:39 PM
Quote from: HJM
You sound like your going to turn into a blues player....


I already try to be, it's just another thig I'm no good at!  :twisted:  :roll:
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: TwilightOdyssey on November 28, 2005, 05:45:03 PM
Quote from: HJM
You sound like your going to turn into a blues player....

Blues?!!

Same 5 notes over and over!!!
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: _tom_ on November 28, 2005, 06:24:13 PM
Quote from: TwilightOdyssey
Quote from: HJM
You sound like your going to turn into a blues player....

Blues?!!

Same 5 notes over and over!!!


The same could be said for some shredding  :lol:
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: HJM on November 28, 2005, 08:02:08 PM
that's the same 12 notes over and over....
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: Skybone on November 29, 2005, 12:23:56 AM
Quote from: HJM
that's the same 12 notes over and over....


As fast as you can...
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: Brow on November 29, 2005, 08:51:35 AM
Quote from: Skybone
Quote from: HJM
that's the same 12 notes over and over....


As fast as you can...


On a pink or bright green guitar!  :twisted:
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: _tom_ on November 29, 2005, 08:14:21 PM
Quote from: Skybone
Quote from: HJM
that's the same 12 notes over and over....


As fast as you can...


I forgot that bit  :twisted:
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: TwilightOdyssey on November 29, 2005, 11:24:08 PM
Okay, people, it was a JOKE.

Nothing to see here ... carry on! :)
Title: Help me with Power Attenuators Please!
Post by: 38thBeatle on November 29, 2005, 11:36:41 PM
I am saying nothing