yep, like the topic heading says, i've bitten the bullet and dived back into the valve amp ocean! it's many years since i had to get rid of my marshall, circumstances have changed, and a Genz Benz El Diablo 60c is the partner i've chosen for my return to the fold!
i'd forgotten what it's like! the last couple of years i've been using a pod xt with studio monitors, and i'd fooled myself into thinking that it was very like a proper amp. now, in comparison to my ancient 10 watt practice amp, it is! but the Diablo is a revelation. i could never get the 7 string miracle man in my les paul to sound good through the pod, i've almost changed it several times, suddenly it sounds amazing! the mississippi queens in another Les Paul always sounded great, but they've taken on a whole new dimension now. i think they'd be even better through a more vintage style amp, but let's not get carried away just yet! i've rediscovered gorgeous musical feedback! and there's plenty of tweaking still to be done
of course, the times i can crank it up, even in it's still very loud 30 watt mode, remain few and far between, so i find myself ruminating 'pon the purchase of an attenuator. but which one? i've immediately discounted the marshall power brake, just too many stories of unreliability. the others i've found are the Dr.Z airbrake, THD hotplate, and Weber mass. thing is, if you read online reviews, every one seems to have been equally praised and damned! basically, the owners evangelise about the one they've bought and spit blood and dust on the competition. has anyone here tried any? i'm leaning towards the weber, it's the cheapest and has gotten just as much good word as the others. anyone want to stick a dagger in my credit card before it's too late? :?
