I've been longing for a tube amp but don't want it to just collect dust since I can rarely play loud. I've been using a ZOOM G3Xn in the loop of my katana 100 for effects, but also to step down the volume of the katana for better tones at lower volume. Could I have a similar experience with a low-watts tube amp? (Blackstar HT5-R, VHT SPECIAL 6 ULTRA) or is it possible to add an attenuator and achieve whisper-ish quiet tones? Say an attenuator on a Blackstar HT1-R mini stack or something similar?
Bedroom level tube amp hack?
- Thread starter Npinedo13
- Start date
LonePhantom
New member
Re: Bedroom level tube amp hack?
The HT-5 sounds great at low volumes, plus can get quite loud too. I used it for mic-ed stage work, and small stage work with no issues. Treated it like a single channel amp, and rolled back my guitar's volume for clean tones. But for bedroom work you'll be golden.
The HT-5 sounds great at low volumes, plus can get quite loud too. I used it for mic-ed stage work, and small stage work with no issues. Treated it like a single channel amp, and rolled back my guitar's volume for clean tones. But for bedroom work you'll be golden.
Re: Bedroom level tube amp hack?
Between an attenuator a volume box and your guitar's volume pot, you can drop volume as low as you'd like and then some.... whether or not the sound will be to your liking depends on the amp and what you want from it
5150-types' preamp-heavy distortion can be turned whisper quiet while keeping it largely sounding like itself with a mere volume box through the FX loop
Parallel loop stuff like Mesa's will need some more effort/investment or a little tinkering to hush
And some amps have built-in attenuation or variable wattage or output level knobs on the back built in
Between an attenuator a volume box and your guitar's volume pot, you can drop volume as low as you'd like and then some.... whether or not the sound will be to your liking depends on the amp and what you want from it
5150-types' preamp-heavy distortion can be turned whisper quiet while keeping it largely sounding like itself with a mere volume box through the FX loop
Parallel loop stuff like Mesa's will need some more effort/investment or a little tinkering to hush
And some amps have built-in attenuation or variable wattage or output level knobs on the back built in
Last edited:
Coma
Well-known member
Re: Bedroom level tube amp hack?
Having just picked up my first lunchbox tube amp for home practice, I was hoping I could make do without an attenuator. Sadly wasn't the case. Even at 7 watts, I can barely touch the volume knob, provided I don't play it completely Fendery clean. Ordered a chepo attenuator from Thomann, should be here in a few days. Can report back with how well it works, if you're interested.
Having just picked up my first lunchbox tube amp for home practice, I was hoping I could make do without an attenuator. Sadly wasn't the case. Even at 7 watts, I can barely touch the volume knob, provided I don't play it completely Fendery clean. Ordered a chepo attenuator from Thomann, should be here in a few days. Can report back with how well it works, if you're interested.
Re: Bedroom level tube amp hack?
It gets alot of good hype so I'm thinking that the HT5-r might do the trick, and I can always step the volume down through my zoom pedal if necessary. Definitely considering that, but am also interested in hearing comas experience with attenuating a 7w
It gets alot of good hype so I'm thinking that the HT5-r might do the trick, and I can always step the volume down through my zoom pedal if necessary. Definitely considering that, but am also interested in hearing comas experience with attenuating a 7w
L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Coma
Well-known member
Re: Bedroom level tube amp hack?
Sounds like the product is working as advertised
Maybe trade it for a sig of someone less known for obnoxiously loud gobs of ultra gain?
Sounds like the product is working as advertised
Maybe trade it for a sig of someone less known for obnoxiously loud gobs of ultra gain?
Coma
Well-known member
Re: Bedroom level tube amp hack?
I've tried it alongside the Dual Terror, Mini Recto and PRSMT15 and none of them are capable of delivering clarity at bedroom levels with enough gain for t3h br00tz.
If you play classic rock or anything mostly clean you won't need an attenuator.
Actually, it's just a one channel rockerverb with el84s in the power stage. And being a metalhead, I'd actually prefer it with more gain on tap.
I've tried it alongside the Dual Terror, Mini Recto and PRSMT15 and none of them are capable of delivering clarity at bedroom levels with enough gain for t3h br00tz.
If you play classic rock or anything mostly clean you won't need an attenuator.
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: Bedroom level tube amp hack?
I use two methods for getting valve amps down in level for playing in a small room/low SPL situation:
METHOD 1: ZERO COMPROMISE. This method involves using a Randall iso cab, moving blankets, an Auralex GRAMMA, a hall closet, bungie cords, and some long cables. I drilled two small holes (1" each) in the wall just outside the closet door. When I need a loud guitar part but have to keep it under control I set up my guitar amp at my desk with powered monitors and run long speaker and mic cables from my desk into the closet. Inside the closet I set up my iso cab onto the GRAMMA. The iso cab only attenuates about 25-30dB of level from the amp, so I then wrap moving blankets around it and secure it with bungie cords. This gets the iso cab waaay down in level; with the closet door closed (and you can close it fully because the wires are not going through or under the door/doorway) the sound coming out of the closet is very low; in my NYC apartment you can barely hear it one room over and can easily watch TV without interruption and more important it doesn't affect my downstairs neighbor!
The mic cable goes into my desk (SSL channel strip) and then into my monitors. You can now get the full sound of your mic'd guitar cabinet at any level you like or through headphones.
NOTE: I typically use a 2W or 5W valve head, but this works for all of my amps which range from 2-100W.
METHOD 2: IMPULSE RESPONSES. This method is much simpler but I don't like the sound of it as much. I run my amp head into a load box and then into an IR generator, then to the powered monitors. The end result is the sound of a mic'd valve amp but you can set the level as you see fit.
I hope this helps.
Unfortunately, a watt is a watt is a watt and if your speaker is very efficient, the amp will still be VERY loud.
I use two methods for getting valve amps down in level for playing in a small room/low SPL situation:
METHOD 1: ZERO COMPROMISE. This method involves using a Randall iso cab, moving blankets, an Auralex GRAMMA, a hall closet, bungie cords, and some long cables. I drilled two small holes (1" each) in the wall just outside the closet door. When I need a loud guitar part but have to keep it under control I set up my guitar amp at my desk with powered monitors and run long speaker and mic cables from my desk into the closet. Inside the closet I set up my iso cab onto the GRAMMA. The iso cab only attenuates about 25-30dB of level from the amp, so I then wrap moving blankets around it and secure it with bungie cords. This gets the iso cab waaay down in level; with the closet door closed (and you can close it fully because the wires are not going through or under the door/doorway) the sound coming out of the closet is very low; in my NYC apartment you can barely hear it one room over and can easily watch TV without interruption and more important it doesn't affect my downstairs neighbor!
The mic cable goes into my desk (SSL channel strip) and then into my monitors. You can now get the full sound of your mic'd guitar cabinet at any level you like or through headphones.
NOTE: I typically use a 2W or 5W valve head, but this works for all of my amps which range from 2-100W.
METHOD 2: IMPULSE RESPONSES. This method is much simpler but I don't like the sound of it as much. I run my amp head into a load box and then into an IR generator, then to the powered monitors. The end result is the sound of a mic'd valve amp but you can set the level as you see fit.
I hope this helps.
Coma
Well-known member
Re: Bedroom level tube amp hack?
Just got the attenuator hooked up. Busy day so only got to do a very quick check.
It does bring things down and makes the volume knob a lot more usable. The drawback being this: the JRT is very dark by design. I swapped the power tubes as well as the V1 and V2 preamp tubes and that did make quite a difference. But the attenuator brings all that brightness back to pre-swap levels [emoji1] And that's with the treble knob dimed.
I'll have more time to spend with it tomorrow. But first impression: don't use a passive attenuator unless you have extra high end on tap.
Just got the attenuator hooked up. Busy day so only got to do a very quick check.
It does bring things down and makes the volume knob a lot more usable. The drawback being this: the JRT is very dark by design. I swapped the power tubes as well as the V1 and V2 preamp tubes and that did make quite a difference. But the attenuator brings all that brightness back to pre-swap levels [emoji1] And that's with the treble knob dimed.
I'll have more time to spend with it tomorrow. But first impression: don't use a passive attenuator unless you have extra high end on tap.
Re: Bedroom level tube amp hack?
I also think at such a low volume, attenuated or not, you sort of lose the point of a tube amp. The volume is part of that magic sound. I think you can step down most tube amps, but the sound you end up with is no better than many SS amps at bedroom levels.
I also think at such a low volume, attenuated or not, you sort of lose the point of a tube amp. The volume is part of that magic sound. I think you can step down most tube amps, but the sound you end up with is no better than many SS amps at bedroom levels.
chadd
New member
Re: Bedroom level tube amp hack?
I find it interesting that you hear a difference with the Katana when using something in the loop to reduce the preamp volume.
I find it interesting that you hear a difference with the Katana when using something in the loop to reduce the preamp volume.
Re: Bedroom level tube amp hack?
I use the katana on .5 watt mode with the master volume at about 5% for bedroom playing and even then with the amount of preamp gain being used it's still considerably loud for playing at 2 a.m. once I get home from work and everyone else is asleep. And lowering the volume anymore just makes everything muddy and lacking character. So instead I set my tones up for "house to myself, middle of the day" volumes and then I lower my zooms "global volume" down to about 25 for early evening playing and 10-15 for my 2 a.m. sessions. With my 2 a.m. session set up I can play with decent sounds while my girlfriend sleeps 5 feet away, but we sleep with the TV on so it's not exactly "whisper quiet" but any quieter and the acoustic sound from a solid body would drown out your amplified sound.
I use the katana on .5 watt mode with the master volume at about 5% for bedroom playing and even then with the amount of preamp gain being used it's still considerably loud for playing at 2 a.m. once I get home from work and everyone else is asleep. And lowering the volume anymore just makes everything muddy and lacking character. So instead I set my tones up for "house to myself, middle of the day" volumes and then I lower my zooms "global volume" down to about 25 for early evening playing and 10-15 for my 2 a.m. sessions. With my 2 a.m. session set up I can play with decent sounds while my girlfriend sleeps 5 feet away, but we sleep with the TV on so it's not exactly "whisper quiet" but any quieter and the acoustic sound from a solid body would drown out your amplified sound.