Best cheap attenuator for a 100 watt amp?
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Re: Best cheap attenuator for a 100 watt amp?
For under 100 bucks you may find some type of off brand resistive attenuator but unless you get lucky on a real good deal for a used Weber or something, I don't think you'll have much luck on a reactive attenuator. Or even a brand name resistive unit for that matter.
For under 100 bucks you may find some type of off brand resistive attenuator but unless you get lucky on a real good deal for a used Weber or something, I don't think you'll have much luck on a reactive attenuator. Or even a brand name resistive unit for that matter.
eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
Re: Best cheap attenuator for a 100 watt amp?
Weber is probably your best bet. The resistor based attentuators always seemed to degrade tone pretty significantly if used for more than 4 or 8 dB reduction. I used first an Altair Power Attenuator & then a Scholz Powersoak back in the 80s; if you only want to take a little off the top you might be able to find one of those used pretty cheaply since they've been superceded by more modern gear. But for any significant amounts of reduction you'd do better to pay a bit more for something that's a reactive load like the Weber.
Weber is probably your best bet. The resistor based attentuators always seemed to degrade tone pretty significantly if used for more than 4 or 8 dB reduction. I used first an Altair Power Attenuator & then a Scholz Powersoak back in the 80s; if you only want to take a little off the top you might be able to find one of those used pretty cheaply since they've been superceded by more modern gear. But for any significant amounts of reduction you'd do better to pay a bit more for something that's a reactive load like the Weber.
Re: Best cheap attenuator for a 100 watt amp?
I too want to get a quality attenuator. luckily, with my splawn I can use the effects loop as a master volume. So I can get a decent sound at low volume, so prolly not super important with that amp. BUT, it makes a very unappealing noise when you have it set like that but try to roll on a good bit of volume. But... At that level, I could prolly use it as normal.
I did buy a couple of inexpensive attenuators off of ebay. From a placed called something like recycled sounds. They work pretty well. Used with my JCM 800. They don't bring things down a tremendous amount, so I chain 2 of them together for acceptable levels.
They used to offer 50 watt and 100 watt ones and claim they are safe to use as long as long as you don't use anything over that wattage level. So, never tried one with my PV Ultra plus cuz its rated at 120watts
I too want to get a quality attenuator. luckily, with my splawn I can use the effects loop as a master volume. So I can get a decent sound at low volume, so prolly not super important with that amp. BUT, it makes a very unappealing noise when you have it set like that but try to roll on a good bit of volume. But... At that level, I could prolly use it as normal.
I did buy a couple of inexpensive attenuators off of ebay. From a placed called something like recycled sounds. They work pretty well. Used with my JCM 800. They don't bring things down a tremendous amount, so I chain 2 of them together for acceptable levels.
They used to offer 50 watt and 100 watt ones and claim they are safe to use as long as long as you don't use anything over that wattage level. So, never tried one with my PV Ultra plus cuz its rated at 120watts
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NecroPolo
New member
Re: Best cheap attenuator for a 100 watt amp?
If you apply a main power boost like 360 volts and bypass the fuses it would attenuate the power of your amp infinitely.
Apart from that, I'd have another call for the Weber. It would be rather difficult to find anything useful around the price. Anyway, I'd recommend throw in more bucks and get a THD, a Palmer or the like. Your tone will be grateful for that.
If you apply a main power boost like 360 volts and bypass the fuses it would attenuate the power of your amp infinitely.
Apart from that, I'd have another call for the Weber. It would be rather difficult to find anything useful around the price. Anyway, I'd recommend throw in more bucks and get a THD, a Palmer or the like. Your tone will be grateful for that.
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: Best cheap attenuator for a 100 watt amp?
I've heard so many bad things about attenuators and there are so many good sounding small amps these days that i have a hard time recommending any of them.
Weber attenuators aren't prone to failure but if they do fail, they're likely to take your transformers and power tubes with them. So add a $600 replacement transformer, at least $100 in tubes and whatever fee your local competent amp technician is going to charge you to fix that mess to the potential cost of an attenuator, and it becomes easier to justify a little 1-5w amp or similar lower volume solution.
I've heard so many bad things about attenuators and there are so many good sounding small amps these days that i have a hard time recommending any of them.
Weber attenuators aren't prone to failure but if they do fail, they're likely to take your transformers and power tubes with them. So add a $600 replacement transformer, at least $100 in tubes and whatever fee your local competent amp technician is going to charge you to fix that mess to the potential cost of an attenuator, and it becomes easier to justify a little 1-5w amp or similar lower volume solution.
Rich_S
HomeGrownToneBrewologist
Re: Best cheap attenuator for a 100 watt amp?
The problem with big attenuators is that there's no way to make them cheap. Big watts simply require big pieces to dissipate lots of heat. Paying $$$ for a 100-watt power section and then paying more $$$ for a big, honkin' attenuator to turn it down is just a bad idea. Better to spend the money on a small head to use when 100 watts is overkill.
That said, I have a Weber Mini MASS on my 18 Watter, and it works well for fine-tunning the volume. Weber has a quality design and quality guts, they just shave cost by leaving off the bells & whistles. Given that a failed attenuator could lead to a failed amp, I would not go any cheaper than a MASS. Anything less is just junk.
Instead of spending your $100 on a junky attenuator, buy a Micro Terror.
The problem with big attenuators is that there's no way to make them cheap. Big watts simply require big pieces to dissipate lots of heat. Paying $$$ for a 100-watt power section and then paying more $$$ for a big, honkin' attenuator to turn it down is just a bad idea. Better to spend the money on a small head to use when 100 watts is overkill.
That said, I have a Weber Mini MASS on my 18 Watter, and it works well for fine-tunning the volume. Weber has a quality design and quality guts, they just shave cost by leaving off the bells & whistles. Given that a failed attenuator could lead to a failed amp, I would not go any cheaper than a MASS. Anything less is just junk.
Instead of spending your $100 on a junky attenuator, buy a Micro Terror.
JeffB
Let it B
Re: Best cheap attenuator for a 100 watt amp?
I recently bought and returned a current version MASS lite. Totally neutered amp dynamics/feel and tone except at the very minimum amount of attenuation, at which point it wasnt really doing anything.
My opinion, spring for a quality high end attenuator like a Rivera Rockcrusher, or buy a lower wattage amp for when you need less volume.
I recently bought and returned a current version MASS lite. Totally neutered amp dynamics/feel and tone except at the very minimum amount of attenuation, at which point it wasnt really doing anything.
My opinion, spring for a quality high end attenuator like a Rivera Rockcrusher, or buy a lower wattage amp for when you need less volume.
dystrust
Well-known member
Re: Best cheap attenuator for a 100 watt amp?
+1
Failed attenuator = dead tubes & output transformer, so I would NEVER skimp on one. I use a THD Hot Plate (when I use an attenuator at all) with my Marshall that I picked up used for around $100. It sounds pretty good at -4db and decent at -8db; beyond that forget it. JeffB is also right that it changes the feel of the amp. It isn't a total deal-breaker for me, but I can't say I really dig my tone when using it.
I've heard that the Ultimate Attenuator is better, but they run around $400.
+1
Failed attenuator = dead tubes & output transformer, so I would NEVER skimp on one. I use a THD Hot Plate (when I use an attenuator at all) with my Marshall that I picked up used for around $100. It sounds pretty good at -4db and decent at -8db; beyond that forget it. JeffB is also right that it changes the feel of the amp. It isn't a total deal-breaker for me, but I can't say I really dig my tone when using it.
I've heard that the Ultimate Attenuator is better, but they run around $400.
crusty philtrum
Vintageologist
Re: Best cheap attenuator for a 100 watt amp?
I'm with the 'Best Attenuator For A 100 Watt Amp Is A Second, Smaller Amp' mentality.
It was my one and only thought when I saw the thread title. It's been my thinking since I was a teenager in the 1970s and big amps were the norm. (Heh, we didn't have attenuators back then, or even master volume controls. Let each amp be what it is and do what they do. If you needed a big amp, you'd also need something smaller as well).
I'm with the 'Best Attenuator For A 100 Watt Amp Is A Second, Smaller Amp' mentality.
It was my one and only thought when I saw the thread title. It's been my thinking since I was a teenager in the 1970s and big amps were the norm. (Heh, we didn't have attenuators back then, or even master volume controls. Let each amp be what it is and do what they do. If you needed a big amp, you'd also need something smaller as well).
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devastone
Well-known member
Re: Best cheap attenuator for a 100 watt amp?
This /\ You can't use an attenuator to make a 100W amp in to a bedroom practice amp.
This /\ You can't use an attenuator to make a 100W amp in to a bedroom practice amp.
dystrust
Well-known member
Re: Best cheap attenuator for a 100 watt amp?
+1
I should've clarified that I use my Hot Plate to take the edge off my 100W Jubilee when it's a little too loud for the room / stage at a gig. In the grand scheme of things 4-8db isn't that much, and attenuators sound absolutely horrible at bedroom volume.
+1
I should've clarified that I use my Hot Plate to take the edge off my 100W Jubilee when it's a little too loud for the room / stage at a gig. In the grand scheme of things 4-8db isn't that much, and attenuators sound absolutely horrible at bedroom volume.
'87 sherwood
New member
Re: Best cheap attenuator for a 100 watt amp?
The valve king is a master volume head. Not sure why you'd need an attenuator when the gain come from the preamp. My Marshall JVM410H sounds godly on stage and at low volumes at home. It's a 100w beast. On stage I don't even go above 2.
The valve king is a master volume head. Not sure why you'd need an attenuator when the gain come from the preamp. My Marshall JVM410H sounds godly on stage and at low volumes at home. It's a 100w beast. On stage I don't even go above 2.
