Attenuator suggestions?

3

357Magnum

New member
Hi folks, been a while since I've posted. Hope everyone had a great holiday.

My main amp is a Blackstar HT-50 Club head and 4x12 cab. I'm looking for the safest way to cut the power down enough as to not have the neighbor lady bust through the wall with a ball-peen hammer and put a hole in my skull.

Normally when I'm working out a new riff or song I use my U.S.A. Peavey Transtube Studio Pro 112, which is probably the best sounding SS amplifier I've ever played on. It has a great sound to it but is quite different from the Blackstar. I'd like to be able, once I get something molded, to play it through the BStar to see just what it would sound like on stage. It (the BStar) does have an emulated output that I can run into the PC but in all honesty it just doesn't do enough justice to the real thing.

I'm interested in some kind of attenuator but I've heard horror stories about shoddy units frying heads and others sucking tone.

Anyone out there who has some experience with these things please feel free to make a reccomendation, all opinions are greatly appreciated. I'd much rather not have to break the bank with the purchase but at the same time there's not much point in saving some money if I'm going to end up having to buy a new head lol.

Thanks in advance everyone.

Rock On brothers and sisters!
 
Last edited:
Re: Attenuator suggestions?

Look out for a used Hotplate. Could also talk to the guys at Weber.
 
Re: Attenuator suggestions?

Since it's a 50 watt amp, why not get a little 1X12 & throw an Eminence Reignmaker (rated at 75 watts) in it?
 
Re: Attenuator suggestions?

I'd scope out the Weber MASS model appropriate for the wattage.

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
 
Re: Attenuator suggestions?

Weber Mass is considered he best. I didn't care for the hot plate
 
Re: Attenuator suggestions?

When I was looking for an attenuater several years ago I was using an 8ohm 2x12 and a 16ohm 1x12 cab, so I went for the 100w Weber mass as it has switchable impedence.

I've not used mine in some time, but for times I drag out my old non MV Carlsbro 50-Top, it's a life saver. Doesn't seem to change the tone too much either, unless you go for alot of attenuation if trying to turn an amp on 10 down to bedroom levels :D
 
Re: Attenuator suggestions?

i'd like to get my hands on an Alex attenuator, but you have to contact the guy through TGP, and i think i've been banned from there.
anybody got Alex's contact info?
i had a MASS lite, and maybe (probably) i didn't know how to use it properly, but i thought it really altered the tone quite a bit
 
Re: Attenuator suggestions?

Thanks for all the suggestions folks. I'm checking into a Weber, that's probably the route I'll go.

Rock on brothers and sisters!
 
Re: Attenuator suggestions?

I tried every attenuator out there.
Found most of them unusable, until I tried the Aracom.
It's the only attenuator that doesn't sqaush the highs, retains the tone, and most important, the feel of your amp all the way down to bedroom levels.
 
Re: Attenuator suggestions?

Don't use one. Build a soundproof closet and mic it to a smaller amp.
You will fry your sh##.
PC
 
Re: Attenuator suggestions?

+1 For the Weber. Have one and it does the trick.

-All attenuators will 'suck tone' don't care what anybody says, not as much air pushing, doesnt sound the same. Certainly helps though.

-I don't know how loud you can play on your own but I dont know if an attenuator is really going to help your situation that much better...extreme attenuation sounds garbage no matter what. I personally think you just have too big of an amp for home application, save it for the jamspace. Your SS amp will be better at lower volume, invest in a 57 and you'll smoke your emulated out (which are always terrible) easy!
 
Re: Attenuator suggestions?

Braciola said:
I tried every attenuator out there.
Found most of them unusable, until I tried the Aracom.
It's the only attenuator that doesn't sqaush the highs, retains the tone, and most important, the feel of your amp all the way down to bedroom levels.
Click to expand...
+1 He nailed it!

It's pricey, but you get what you pay for.

If that's too steep check out the Rivera Rock Crusher as someone else had mentioned as well.

As you crank your amp you get speaker distortion which becomes part of your tone, that will be decreased or eliminated by how much you attenuate the amp.
 
Re: Attenuator suggestions?

it sucks :D

i would get a weber mass. if you run your amp volume high for extended periods of time, id get the 100w version. the bigger the power handling the more heat it will dissipate.

i have not seen a prx150 to try but for that price you could buy another amp
 
Re: Attenuator suggestions?

I couldnt afford some of the pricey ones like the Weber, so I ordered these units off of ebay and have had real good luck with them and they were reasonably priced. I ordered 2 and there have been times when I needed addl reduction, I daisy chained them together and that worked cool too. Ill look later to see if I can find them on ebay again. (been a few years) Sounds like you are opting for one of the better units, but I thought Id offer the info anyhow..
 
Re: Attenuator suggestions?

What about getting a 2nd cab that is only a 1x12 and get a 16ohm lower efficiency speaker and just use that cab for home use?
 
Re: Attenuator suggestions?

An EQ pedal in the FX loop and a less efficient speaker would be my suggestion as well. I tried a MiniMASS with my Mini Recto, and the experience was underwhelming to say the least. Definitely way too expensive a gadget for home use. I guess an attenuator or a load box, with a line-out option to a mixer to a PA or computer might do it.. at which point I realized how futile my attempt at great tube tones was. At low volume levels, that is.
 
Re: Attenuator suggestions?

Braciola said:
I tried every attenuator out there.
Found most of them unusable, until I tried the Aracom.
It's the only attenuator that doesn't sqaush the highs, retains the tone, and most important, the feel of your amp all the way down to bedroom levels.
Click to expand...

I totally agree. I use the Aracom with all my amps and it works perfectly. Yes, it's expensive, but the ability to use the amps I want anywhere I want is worth it to me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top