Can anyone recomend a good attennuator?

[theodie]

I am looking for one so I can crank the power on my amp and still have reasonable volumes. Please recomend one and please tell why that one is better and also the price tag if possible. With an attenuator do I have to worry about it coloring tone? Thank you very much for your posts.

 

[some_dude]

Re: Can anyone recomend a good attennuator?

I use a THD Hotplate (price).

Everything colours your tone. I mean, the whole point of an attenuator is that it lets you crank your tubes at a lower volume, which is a form of colouration.

But personally, I'd take a slightly colour cranked power tube tone over that of a preamp into a clean poweramp.

 

[theodie]

Re: Can anyone recomend a good attennuator?

Will an amp sound better with the attenuator and the power cranked versus and amp with out an attenuator at the same volume levels?

 

[some_dude]

Re: Can anyone recomend a good attennuator?

Will an amp sound better with the attenuator and the power cranked versus and amp with out an attenuator at the same volume levels?

Mine does to me.

Tone's subjective, so that's about the best answer I can give.

 

[guymanperson]

Re: Can anyone recomend a good attennuator?

Drz air brake is su[[osed to be the best available ---> www.drzamps.com

 

[theodie]

Re: Can anyone recomend a good attennuator?

bump

 

[y2stevo]

Re: Can anyone recomend a good attennuator?

Will an amp sound better with the attenuator and the power cranked versus and amp with out an attenuator at the same volume levels?

I'd have to agree with screamin' also,I use the Weber Mass,I find that it only really overcolours the tone if I use it at extremely high attenuation levels i.e if you wnt to fully crank the amp but be able to talk over it..

 

[theodie]

Re: Can anyone recomend a good attennuator?

bump

 

[tiefightertk069]

Re: Can anyone recomend a good attennuator?

I've owned a Airbrake, a THD Hotplate, and I spent a week with one of the Ultimate attenuators.

I'd rate them as follows:

3. THD: Overpriced, takes more away from your tone than it add via attenuation, and not very versatile.

2. Airbrake: clean, clear, compact. At higher attenuation adding an EQ brought back some quality to the tone. More realistic than the THD.

1. The Ultimate Attenuator: Worth every penny, and lives up to it's name. Virtually no deadening of tone at reasonable attenuation, EQ brought back the mild darkening of tone at extreme attenuation settings. VERY versatile, and very true to un-attenuated tone.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Can anyone recomend a good attennuator?

i have a weber mass and i think it works great, at higher levels of attenuation you lose some high end but you can get a treble boost option. for the money i think its fantastic, cost me under $200 shipped to my door

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Can anyone recomend a good attennuator?

I agree with Jeremy; I've got the maxed out, all options Weber MASS for approx $200.00 Keeps everything color free except @ extreme levels of attenuation...but who uses/wants that????

 

[theodie]

Re: Can anyone recomend a good attennuator?

Thank you folks!!

 

[Hellion]

Re: Can anyone recomend a good attennuator?

If you can find one, Scholz Research & Development (SRD) made a Power Soak back in the 80's. They're about as transparent as you can get. Seems like Marshall makes one, too, but I don't know much about those.

 

[B2D]

Re: Can anyone recomend a good attennuator?

I just ordered a HotPlate... we'll see how it works.

 

[B2D]

Re: Can anyone recomend a good attennuator?

1. The Ultimate Attenuator: Worth every penny, and lives up to it's name. Virtually no deadening of tone at reasonable attenuation, EQ brought back the mild darkening of tone at extreme attenuation settings. VERY versatile, and very true to un-attenuated tone.

HOLY SHEEEEIIIT those are expensive!!!! :eyecrazy:

For that price they better sound like GOD. WTF are they made out of? Solid Platinum?

 

[StratTom]

Re: Can anyone recomend a good attennuator?

I got a HotPlate and it works for me.

 

[tiefightertk069]

Re: Can anyone recomend a good attennuator?

HOLY SHEEEEIIIT those are expensive!!!! :eyecrazy:

For that price they better sound like GOD. WTF are they made out of? Solid Platinum?

It's the last attenuator you'll ever need, it handles everything and anything... and it does let you sound like god

But yeah, a lot of money. That's why I passed on it...

 

[aleclee]

Re: Can anyone recomend a good attennuator?

I think this thread on The Gear Page is a pretty good discussion, especially at the end where Leon discusses how different attenuators work better with different amps. He's owned just about everything and has at least tried the few things he hasn't owned.

IMO, all the "name" attenuators are good. Which one is for you depends on your amp and your ears. Finally, any attenuator is gonna strangle tone at more than about 8 dB of attenuation.

 

[tiefightertk069]

Re: Can anyone recomend a good attennuator?

I think this thread
IMO, all the "name" attenuators are good. Which one is for you depends on your amp and your ears. Finally, any attenuator is gonna strangle tone at more than about 8 dB of attenuation.

Yes and no... I really felt that the THD had poor clearity even at the lowest attenuation levels it offered, and didn't offer very much in the way of flexability. At that price point the Wber Mass is a much better product.

Excellent point about the effects at higher levels of attenuation though. I think it's important for someone to actually hear how an amp sounds and reacts under the attenuation level they're desiring... as with any gear, preferably their amp.