Hey guys, I just received my single recto that I won on ebay and am totally loving it. However, when my woman is home, she is not loving it. So I think I would like to check out a cheap attenuator so that I can get that great tone without pissing everyone off around me. Could anyone recommend me a cheap one that would get the job done. I don't mind if it colors the sound or anything since I really just want to be able to play guitar when people are around.
attenuators?
- Thread starter booyah14
- Start date
Matt Crooks
www.fools-game.com
I don't think I would go cheap with an attenuator since if it goes it can take your amps' output transformer out with it.
I have heard, and like, the THD hot plate. It's about $250. I have heard good things about the Palmer box as well, but I have no experience with it.
AVOID AT ALL COSTS the Marshall Power Brake. I know too many people that have lost their output transformers to these boxes.
I have heard, and like, the THD hot plate. It's about $250. I have heard good things about the Palmer box as well, but I have no experience with it.
AVOID AT ALL COSTS the Marshall Power Brake. I know too many people that have lost their output transformers to these boxes.
Now how exactly does this happen? The only thing I have heard bad about cheapo ones is that they don't really have that cranked sound. But thanks for the heads up about this, I never heard about damage concerns.
Matt Crooks
www.fools-game.com
I can't explain all the technical details... but basically the attenuator is providing a load for the output transformer. An amp without a load on the OT can windup blowing the OT (a pricey fix). If the attenuator goes bad it can make it so that there is no load on the OT, and bang! smoke! fry! your amp is dead.
JeffTD
Senhor Testiculo
I've had great results with: THD Hot Plate, Weber MASS, Dr. Z Airbrake.
Weber is the cheapest, and has selectable ohmages, as well as not coloring the tone at all.
Just remember that even with an attenuator, you have to have some speaker movement going on to get that "cranked" tone.
Weber is the cheapest, and has selectable ohmages, as well as not coloring the tone at all.
Just remember that even with an attenuator, you have to have some speaker movement going on to get that "cranked" tone.
sorceron
ken
if you dont care about having the cranked tone why waste money on one of these things? why not just turn down the volume and not have the cranked tone. i would not mess with the output tranformer its not a cheap fix, i speak from experience there.
well say it is during the day and my fiancee walks in the door, she isn't exactly thrilled to walk into a wall of dbs. or at night time. but jamming and recording i crank it up and love it. so yea that's why. but thanks for all the suggestions and warnings. i'll have to research this a little more than i thought. thanks guys!
Torniojaws
They call me Juha
At night, I usually doodle with a guitar amp emulator (SimulAnalog, Guitar Rig, Amplitube and such).
Matt Crooks
www.fools-game.com
For less than the cost of an attenuator you can get a used POD 2.0 which you can play at any volume and is protable if you want to take it with you on vacation.
I always practice with the POD or an emulator. For band rehearsal, live gigs and recording I blast one of my tube amps.
I always practice with the POD or an emulator. For band rehearsal, live gigs and recording I blast one of my tube amps.
You know that is a very good point. I've always wanted to check out one of these as well since I've heard some surprisingly good tones coming from them. Thanks for the suggestion.
cobrahead1030
Member
- Nov 16, 2005
- 756
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if it's just for quiet practice sessions the behringer v-amp2 ($99 new, or around $50-60 used on e bay) is an untouchable value...they really don't sound half bad either; i had one for about a year and was reall happy with it, then i upgraded to the rackmount version...i use it when i wanna jam without bothering anyone, or if i wanna record some demo tracks, random ideas, or whatever
