One Tom Scholz/Boston pedal/effect?

Re: One Tom Scholz/Boston pedal/effect?

LTF said:
I had a few of those half-rack units back in the day... the Sustainor, the 10-band EQ and the Chorus/Delay IIRC. They're not "connected" per se; just different "Rockmodules" (items of the same set).

The Power Soak is, again, just a power attenuator to keep a raging tube amp quiet... nothing to do with getting that tone.

If I were to pick which of those you listed would get close to Boston sound, I'd go with the Sustainor. This would shape your distortion. But you would need a power amp and speaker after it in the signal chain, as the Sustainor is only a preamp. You could plug the Sustainor in front of an amp; however, but you would also be getting the amp's EQ in the mix - which may or may not mix well.

If you already have a tube amp with distortion, just stick the MXR 6-Band (set as in picture) in front.
Click to expand...

Thanks.....I will try for these and begin bidding. Is there a more preferred power attenuator available on the market today?

Thanks!
 
Re: One Tom Scholz/Boston pedal/effect?

AVOID the power soak. It was notorious for getting fried. They were on the market for a very short period of time.
 
Re: One Tom Scholz/Boston pedal/effect?

I have read that power amps in guitar amplifiers are built to run into an inductive load, and can be damaged by just running into a resistive load.
The THD and some of the other power attenuator boxes out there account for this. I'm not sure if the Power Soak did. I knew a guy who had one in the 80's. Through the vents on the top of it, all I recall seeing inside were power resistors.
Info on the web confirms that.
http://www.amptone.com/scholzpowersoak.htm
I'd be concerned about possible damage to any amp it's hooked up to. Maybe one of the amp gurus on here can comment on this some more.

If you get one, read the manual and hook it up correctly.
http://www.tom-scholz.com/Manuals/PS2.pdf
 
Re: One Tom Scholz/Boston pedal/effect?

The Weber Mass attenuators are another popular series of attenuators that are reactive, there are various models that handle different power ranges, and there are many options available. They use an actual speaker motor in their design. Here's a good article on the Weber pages that explains the difference between Resistive and Reactive attenuator designs:
http://www.tedweber.com/atten.htm

Al
 
Re: One Tom Scholz/Boston pedal/effect?

Aceman said:
MAny studios used Rockman Rack mounts. Again - while cliche now, that sound was AMAZING at the time.
Click to expand...

I had the rack (20 years ago) and returned it after 3 rehearsals. It sounded great but was noisy as all hell.
 
Re: One Tom Scholz/Boston pedal/effect?

Scholz believed there was a way to get the sound without a raging MArshall Stack. Even a Power Soak requires the stack for the sound. SO that is stack + one more piece of gear.
 
Re: One Tom Scholz/Boston pedal/effect?

Diminished Triad said:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/acce...no-signal-pad-attenuator-guitar-effects-pedal
This is a Electro-Harmonix Nano Signal Pad Attenuator Guitar Effects Pedal...............seems like overly simplified based upon all of the points and guidance above. Thanks for sharing some good info.
Click to expand...

The EH Pedal isn't an attenuator in the way you're thinking of compared to the Power Soak/Marshall Power Break/THD Hotplate/Weber Mass etc.

All that EH pedal is meant to do is if used infront of your amp think of it as a preset reduction you'd get by turning the volume control on your guitar down. It's meant to lower the input going into your amp to clean the sound up, not for between an amp and a speaker.

I'd be VERY wary of using it between an amp and a speaker as I think you could blow the pedal, and worse so, your amp.

As for Attenuaters I have an older model Weber Mass 100 and have never had an issue with it. I don't use it so much nowadays as I have amps that have good master volume controls, but it's always there if I need it.
 
Re: One Tom Scholz/Boston pedal/effect?

Prolly not,although my Rocktron Voodu Valve has some presets that are pretty close,as well...
 
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