Attenuators & power soaks.. gain without the pain

[Coma]

Re: Attenuators & power soaks.. gain without the pain

Can you put a volume pedal or something in the effects loop
And lower the volume that way?

Instead of a power soak or attenuation

I've done that with an EQ with a volume slider in order to get more usable range out of the amp's volume knob. The problem is it doesn't actually attenuate the signal, so the inherent (tone) problems you run into when trying to run a tube amp at very low volume are going to persist.

[ibanezrocks]

Re: Attenuators & power soaks.. gain without the pain

I use that Eminence speaker with the attenuator knob on it with my supersonic 22. Does take off a little top end and dynamics at full attenuation but it's an articulate speaker to begin with so it ends up sounding really good though most of the dial
They stopped making them I guess.
I've used it in 40w Marshall and was not enough to bring it down to apartment levels but did sound good.

I do sometimes want to replace the reignmaker speaker though because while it does what it's supposed to, I think there are many speakers that have overall better tone and more character

They still make them. The eminence maverick and reignmaker.

I also got one and ended up stacking it with a homemade attenuator. The speaker alone takes off about 2/3 of the volume without appreciably changing the sound (speaking purely subjectively on both).

I think it's a great idea (technically) that fails to actually solve a problem, which is why they're not more popular. Dropping the speaker efficiency doesn't come close to an actual attenuator. It might help if you're looking to dial in stage volume while staying in the sweet spot on the amp.

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[jeremy]

Re: Attenuators & power soaks.. gain without the pain

thats exactly what i used my maverick for. set the amp volume where i want it and adjust the speaker efficiency to get the stage volume i want and it worked great for that. i think they do what they do very well and the 8 db range of efficiency is useful. is it the same as being able to drop down to bedroom volume with an attenuator, no but it sounds like crap when you do that. there is a company fluxtone (i think that eminence licenses their tech for the maverick and reignmaker) and their speakers have a much wider range but its expensive and looks clunky to install

[Jacew]

Re: Attenuators & power soaks.. gain without the pain

How small are we talking? Even at 10 watts a tube amp designed for distortion will most likely be too loud to play if you have neighbours. Unless you just love that fizzy tone you get when it's set too low.
Marshall have a few 1 and 5 watters, but most lunchboxes seem to land around 15.

Funny thing with 15 watters is they're not enough to work in a band setting (well, aside probably said AC15 I've heard), but they're still too loud for home use.

I prefer good master volume.

[Coma]

Re: Attenuators & power soaks.. gain without the pain

Funny thing with 15 watters is they're not enough to work in a band setting (well, aside probably said AC15 I've heard), but they're still too loud for home use.

I prefer good master volume.

That depends, doesn't it? I had a 15 watt orange that sorta worked in a band setting but wasn't great. But if everyone uses something similar and you mic up all the cabs, it would've probably been fine.

But I see what you mean. If I were to venture a guess, I'd say the slightly higher wattage (as opposed to say 5 watts or so) is due to headroom more than anything else.

That being said, that Orange had a step-down switch to 7 watts and I ended up never using it because the whole amp sounded noticably better in 15 watt mode.

[ehdwuld]

Re: Attenuators & power soaks.. gain without the pain

My Bugera G5 has a an attenuation switch on back
.01 watt , 1 watt, & 5 watt
It comes alive on five watt

Not so much one the lower settings

[jeremy]

Re: Attenuators & power soaks.. gain without the pain

put a good loud speaker in a 15w amp and it will hang with a drummer fine. hell, a blues jr with a cannabis rex is pretty loud

[Demanic]

Re: Attenuators & power soaks.. gain without the pain

put a good loud speaker in a 15w amp and it will hang with a drummer fine. hell, a blues jr with a cannabis rex is pretty loud

That depends on the drummer.

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[jeremy]

Re: Attenuators & power soaks.. gain without the pain

true, and how clean you need to be at that volume. there isnt a ton of difference between a 15w amp and 30w amp but the amount of clean volume you get from the 30w seems significant

[Jacew]

Re: Attenuators & power soaks.. gain without the pain

That depends on the drummer.

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Yep.

true, and how clean you need to be at that volume. there isnt a ton of difference between a 15w amp and 30w amp but the amount of clean volume you get from the 30w seems significant

I had Orange TT earlier pushing G12H30, (100 db eff.). No need for cleans, but I had a lot of trouble keeping the feedback in check because I had to run the amp wide open to keep up with drummer and bassist.

My current Rebel 20 is just enough.

[Ascension]

Re: Attenuators & power soaks.. gain without the pain

Funny thing with 15 watters is they're not enough to work in a band setting (well, aside probably said AC15 I've heard), but they're still too loud for home use.

I prefer good master volume.

You have never heard a PRS MT 15 cranked then. Will knock your socks off I swear it will stand toe to toe with both my Carvin X 50 and my boogie DC 5 on a 4/12!
Check this clip out of one on a big stage and these tones!!

https://www.facebook.com/tim.torrens/videos/10158194251730579/

My problem is that mine is so freakin loud it's hard to find a place to really play it!!

[Jacew]

Re: Attenuators & power soaks.. gain without the pain

You have never heard a PRS MT 15 cranked then. Will knock your socks off I swear it will stand toe to toe with both my Carvin X 50 and my boogie DC 5 on a 4/12!
Check this clip out of one on a big stage and these tones!!

https://www.facebook.com/tim.torrens/videos/10158194251730579/

My problem is that mine is so freakin loud it's hard to find a place to really play it!!

Good to know! I suppose 6L6 power section has something to do with it?

There's quite many factors to it and acoustics matter too. I think TT might have been loud enough with 4x12 or something instead of 1x12 directed at feet.

Egnater Rebel 20 I have know also is ridiculously loud to be 20 watter. But that also has advance of having 4 power amp tubes.

[Jacew]

Re: Attenuators & power soaks.. gain without the pain

That depends, doesn't it? I had a 15 watt orange that sorta worked in a band setting but wasn't great. But if everyone uses something similar and you mic up all the cabs, it would've probably been fine.

But I see what you mean. If I were to venture a guess, I'd say the slightly higher wattage (as opposed to say 5 watts or so) is due to headroom more than anything else.

That being said, that Orange had a step-down switch to 7 watts and I ended up never using it because the whole amp sounded noticably better in 15 watt mode.

I actually modded my Orange to improve 7 watt mode in it. It sounds bad because it has side effect of cutting the bias of power amp way too cold causing fizziness.

It did work, but I needed fx loop so I sold it soon after

[Coma]

Re: Attenuators & power soaks.. gain without the pain

I actually modded my Orange to improve 7 watt mode in it. It sounds bad because it has side effect of cutting the bias of power amp way too cold causing fizziness.

It did work, but I needed fx loop so I sold it soon after

That's cool. What did you do to it?

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[EC Strat]

Re: Attenuators & power soaks.. gain without the pain

I use a Weber mass attenuator 50w for my PRRI and a high efficiency eminence speaker. It works great - the unit adds back the treble I have the amp set at 6 and the Weber at 1-2 bedroom volumes and it sounds really good.