Lower Output?

[stuey222]

I have a 5150 Combo, and I was wondering if there was anyway to lower the output wattage, so I could get the power tube distortion at a lower volume level. Could I use a variac like EVH did or something to that effect? Would it involve actually changing some circuitry?

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Lower Output?

On some tube amps you can pull out the inner or outer pair of tubes to halve the power. I think really what you are looking for is an attenuator though, something like a THD Hotplate or Marshall Power Brake. It serves as an additional load for your amp so you can turn it up higher but still have reduced volume. The attenuator works well on amps like Marshalls that benefit from Power Tubes distorting. Some amps are designed to get all their distortion from the preamp though, so as long as you can get the tubes above bedroom volumes, they are sounding like they should. Mesas are like this, I don't think you really gain anything by attenuating them other than reducing tube life. Maybe Virtual Kevorkian has some experience with a 5150 and an attenuator.

 

[stuey222]

Re: Lower Output?

I thought about an attenuator, but doesn't one suck tone a bit?

 

[kevlar3000]

Re: Lower Output?

An attenuator is your best bet. A variac won't make it quieter. If you have an attenuator at its lowest settings, you will lose some tone. Not too much different than having your stock master volume at its lowest setting. Which makes an amp sound extremely thin and buzzy.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Lower Output?

this is the reason i own various amps.... i have the original 5150 half stack but it's way too loud for home.... so i have a few SS amps, and some Modelers, and some low wattage tube amps for home practices..... i keep my 5150 and JCM800 and C50 heads for jamming band practices and gigging....

 

[aleclee]

Re: Lower Output?

The amount of tone suck depends on how much volume you're looking to cut. It's really better for taking the edge off an amp that's too loud than it is for turning a monster into a practice amp.

 

[stuey222]

Re: Lower Output?

Whofan,
I own various amps too, the main problem is that the amp is too loud for gigs even. I've played some big stages, and I haven't got the chance to really turn it up yet!

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Lower Output?

Whofan,
I own various amps too, the main problem is that the amp is too loud for gigs even. I've played some big stages, and I haven't got the chance to really turn it up yet!

ya i hear ya... even when i did a gig in front of 10,000 people i ended up using my C50 head into a 1x12...... the PA was doing all the work... it was a huge stage and i could of used the big stuff but that little rig had me covered....

my main gigging rig for a while was a 5150 head, the C50 head, a custom made head switcher so i could use both heads into a single cab... for cabs i used a 1x12 Marshall or the 5150 4x12 for bigger shows.... played a few outdoor gigs where i was not miced up and the volume on my amp never got past half way... with this rig i had a lot of soundmen *****ing about the on stage volume... and we had the cops show up to a few gigs and practices as well.... funny as hell... we did a show in a stores parking lot once for Canada Day and we had a lawyer from down the street threatening us and the store with suits... many people from the surrounding homes came to complain to the store... and i was not mic'ed up at all...

i just except the fact it's massively loud for any use.... it has a fair bit of pre gain so it still sounds great at lower volumes...

i've kind of come full circle... sure i have some Marshall heads and the 5150 but i rarely really have a need for such volume on stage.... so i ended up making up a pedalboard that works for lower volume.... i use a tube amp i grabbed cheap, a C30 combo and some Boss and Danoelectro boxes... I use a Boss Line Selector pedal so i can A/B between rythym pedal sounds and solo pedals sounds... it gives me a multi channel amp like effect... but i also enjoy the sounds of some distortion from pedals... i like tube amp distortion of course but pedals make life easier....

with my Godin i have Piezo's in the bridge.... so in my pedalboard rig i have 5 basic sounds.... Piezo Acoustic type sounds, C30 clean, C30 overdrive, C30 clean with a distortion box for marshall like rythym sounds, and C30 with a Danoelectro Fab tone for crazy fuzz solos.... plus a delay and a flannger i'm in heaven...

for sure i'd love to use my big rig all the time as it sounds great!!! but nothing is like showing up with a small gig bag with the Godin, a single 1x12 combo, and a gym bag of fx's and be ready to go home in less then 5 minutes after a gig...