Power Scaling vs attenuator & power level switch
- Thread starter Burkwieser
- Start date
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Power Scaling vs attenuator & power level switch
Looks cool, but do you have to own a London Power amp?
THD Hotplate and Weber Mass will probably always be the industry standard.
Surprisingly, you can get similar results with a cheap Alesis Nanoverb - $60 used.
I know it's not the same concept as attenuation or "power scaling", but if your amp has an FX loop, you can definitely use it to bring a loud amp down to practice amp levels. If you have a DSL or Single Rec halfstack in your home, you owe it to yourself to at least try a Nanoverb. You simply dial up the same setting you would in a loud situation, then use the Nanoverb's output knob to pull the overall volume down.
At the same time, you can mix in an appropriate amount of reverb so the sound isn't so dry and "in your face." Of course you aren't smacking your power tubes with as much preamp volume, but if your amp is turned up fairly high, the preamp signal is hitting some hot tubes, so the effect is similar. You won't be damaging either your amp or the Alesis Nanoverb. I use this on my 50W Jubilee stack at home. It sounds like 'stadium' tone at a level that won't bring the cops to my door.
Looks cool, but do you have to own a London Power amp?
THD Hotplate and Weber Mass will probably always be the industry standard.
Surprisingly, you can get similar results with a cheap Alesis Nanoverb - $60 used.
I know it's not the same concept as attenuation or "power scaling", but if your amp has an FX loop, you can definitely use it to bring a loud amp down to practice amp levels. If you have a DSL or Single Rec halfstack in your home, you owe it to yourself to at least try a Nanoverb. You simply dial up the same setting you would in a loud situation, then use the Nanoverb's output knob to pull the overall volume down.
At the same time, you can mix in an appropriate amount of reverb so the sound isn't so dry and "in your face." Of course you aren't smacking your power tubes with as much preamp volume, but if your amp is turned up fairly high, the preamp signal is hitting some hot tubes, so the effect is similar. You won't be damaging either your amp or the Alesis Nanoverb. I use this on my 50W Jubilee stack at home. It sounds like 'stadium' tone at a level that won't bring the cops to my door.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Power Scaling vs attenuator & power level switch
The disadvantage of using a reverb unit instead of an attenuator, is that attenuators will produce a slightly fatter tone at those low volumes, which may be more important live. The advantage of using a reverb like the Nanoverb is that you now have low volume, plus FX, which takes the harshness off a dry amp. Plus, it's cheap and you can also use it for reverb at high volumes, not to mention your PA or recording gear.
The disadvantage of using a reverb unit instead of an attenuator, is that attenuators will produce a slightly fatter tone at those low volumes, which may be more important live. The advantage of using a reverb like the Nanoverb is that you now have low volume, plus FX, which takes the harshness off a dry amp. Plus, it's cheap and you can also use it for reverb at high volumes, not to mention your PA or recording gear.
PUCKBOY99
Irish Flagologist
Re: Power Scaling vs attenuator & power level switch
All the attenuator question threads & this is the FIRST TIME I've heard about this Nanoverb option.....My Weber MASS came in the mail yesterday!
Those amps look super sweet...but the price tag sure won't get a lot of them sold. Anyone using one of these???
All the attenuator question threads & this is the FIRST TIME I've heard about this Nanoverb option.....My Weber MASS came in the mail yesterday!
Those amps look super sweet...but the price tag sure won't get a lot of them sold. Anyone using one of these???
Last edited:
Burkwieser
New member
Re: Power Scaling vs attenuator & power level switch
I am going to check into it. I am also going to talk with Egnater on Monday about the subject. Maybe I'll have that modded into my RT2 instead of the power level switch. We'll see.
Right now I am just turning the output signal down on my Intellifex. Seems to work good. I can get the preamp tubes cooking, but lower the signal to my amp. That allows me to turn up the amp to get those tubes cooking too. It is not the best, but until I get the amp modded. It will have to do.
Gearjoneser said:
I am going to check into it. I am also going to talk with Egnater on Monday about the subject. Maybe I'll have that modded into my RT2 instead of the power level switch. We'll see.
Right now I am just turning the output signal down on my Intellifex. Seems to work good. I can get the preamp tubes cooking, but lower the signal to my amp. That allows me to turn up the amp to get those tubes cooking too. It is not the best, but until I get the amp modded. It will have to do.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Power Scaling vs attenuator & power level switch
Yeah, that's pretty much the deal. It's just a simple reverb FX unit that acts like a master volume in between your preamp and power section. It may not be as desireable as an attenuator, but it works. Not a bad option, especially if you already own a rackmounted FX unit with a input, mix, and output control. If your amp doesn't have an FX loop, you're pretty much limited to using an attenuator.
Yeah, that's pretty much the deal. It's just a simple reverb FX unit that acts like a master volume in between your preamp and power section. It may not be as desireable as an attenuator, but it works. Not a bad option, especially if you already own a rackmounted FX unit with a input, mix, and output control. If your amp doesn't have an FX loop, you're pretty much limited to using an attenuator.
Robert S.
Super Moderator
Re: Power Scaling vs attenuator & power level switch
I have a pair of Rocktron units that are inserted between my Triaxis and 2:90 power amp. The levels on the amps rarely get moved and I set my levels with the second Roctron unit in the chain.
Doing it that way I get tone at a very reasonable level.
I have a pair of Rocktron units that are inserted between my Triaxis and 2:90 power amp. The levels on the amps rarely get moved and I set my levels with the second Roctron unit in the chain.
Doing it that way I get tone at a very reasonable level.
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