Let's Talk About Relatively Extreme Attenuation

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Let's Talk About Relatively Extreme Attenuation

I'd go master volumes but attenuators might work too. Truth is both will change the tone. If you go attenuator the MASS is a great option.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Let's Talk About Relatively Extreme Attenuation

In my opinion attenuators sound worse than the worst distortion pedals.

 

[everdrone]

Re: Let's Talk About Relatively Extreme Attenuation

my Orange Thunderverb 50 amp has a built in "attenuator", its not that bad, but ya it is entering the aformentioned tone neuteringz

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Let's Talk About Relatively Extreme Attenuation

Amp 1 --> dummy load
|
line out box
|
FX
|
Amp 2

How does this method help me make one single half stack a little bit more quiet and manageable? I have ways of running two amps at once already... If I could be that loud all the time, I wouldn't have started this thread.

 

[LReese]

Re: Let's Talk About Relatively Extreme Attenuation

Amp 1 is where you run the amp flat out and get your dirt. The dummy load places a load on the amp so you don't blow it up. The attenuator can serve as a dummy load and line out box (Most have this ability). Run the line out into your delays/reverbs and then into the 2nd amp where you run it clean and set the loudness level where you want it.

Its a variation of the line out/power amp solution I mentioned before.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Let's Talk About Relatively Extreme Attenuation

That's interesting but unfortunately the OR120 is my only amp with an FX loop and its the one I need quieted. Plus everything I've read about attenuation has said running an amp full tilt into a silent attenuator burns through tubes and risks catastrophic failure. I would rather just attenuate the one amp and use the FX loop as designed but I appreciate your suggestion.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Let's Talk About Relatively Extreme Attenuation

That's great but it doesn't change the fact that I would need to buy a completely new amp to do that and I want to use my Orange by itself.

If I'm going to buy a completely new amp, it's going to be a 20w head that I can crank.

 

[Big Flannel]

Re: Let's Talk About Relatively Extreme Attenuation

If I'm going to buy a completely new amp, it's going to be a 20w head that I can crank.

*cough* Supergroup voiced Dwarvenaut.

 

[aleclee]

Re: Let's Talk About Relatively Extreme Attenuation

Trying to wrap my head around being surprised that a 120W non-master volume amp would be too loud. There's a reason why so many <25W amps have come out in recent years and it's not because people are trying to reduce their electric bills...

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Let's Talk About Relatively Extreme Attenuation

I'm not surprised by it, at all. I play very loud and heavy rock music that I write but I also play in some unoriginal bands to make money and earn drinks, and I'd like to have the option of using my big badass amplifier at lower decibels.

I was fishing for experience and opinions about various makes and models of attenuators but y'know I can handle useless condescending remarks too.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Let's Talk About Relatively Extreme Attenuation

*cough* Supergroup voiced Dwarvenaut.

*cough* Actually I'd probably have him build me a mini OD120 with a switch that turns it into a mini model T... seems like most of them are basically that design anyway.

And I was thinking purple but I really want a head that matches my Green....

 

[Demanic]

Re: Let's Talk About Relatively Extreme Attenuation

So your current rig is too loud for your band???

GET A LOUDER BAND.

Or just get a bigger room. And maybe some attenuator earplugs.

 

[everdrone]

Re: Let's Talk About Relatively Extreme Attenuation

I vote for the smaller amp then! but it will still be loud. will the hovercraft be able to handle the low end (at lower volumes with a good sized transformer for bass)? If so, then sign me up

 

[uOpt]

Re: Let's Talk About Relatively Extreme Attenuation

I wonder, did anybody record the same amp, same cap, same settings without power soap, power soak full open and power soak at half?

Would be interesting to then level the volume and do a blind test and some graphs.

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Let's Talk About Relatively Extreme Attenuation

We would get the same song and dance from a pile of members about test stringency and itll end up a giant waste of the OPs time.

 

[everdrone]

Re: Let's Talk About Relatively Extreme Attenuation

lol

 

[everdrone]

Re: Let's Talk About Relatively Extreme Attenuation

yikes! OP definitely does not want thatz

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Let's Talk About Relatively Extreme Attenuation

This thread is a dumpster fire. I have a solution in the works... Will report back soon.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Let's Talk About Relatively Extreme Attenuation

I did; about 10 years ago with a Hot Plate. Recorded each -dB setting and then completely out of the circuit.

Not really necessary, because the change in tone is obvious right there while you're playing... i.e. the effect is far from subtle (more attenuation = more compression).

Where would the compression come from?

I would have thought that the full open path into the cabinet is more compressed, as you drive the speakers into "clipping", whatever you want to call their behavior when the membranes can't follow.

If the compression you describe is a result of the impedance of the attenuator not behaving like the impedance of the speakers as power and volate increase, thereby interacting with the (relatively high) impedance output of the output transformer, well that you could solved with taking direct control of it. That would be annoying/expensive to do since you now need controllable impedance at many kHz at real power levels (cooling required). But it should be doable.

Do you happen to have those recordings so that we could look at a display of the waveforms on top of each other?

 

[jon the art guy]

Re: Let's Talk About Relatively Extreme Attenuation

FYI - I've revisited every helpful suggestion in this thread, re-familiarized myself with your gear needs, and came up with the perfect solution for you:

Go buy a POD.