power attenuator/power soak

[crunchee]

I'd like to run my Blackface Fender Bassman at home and explore all it's tonal variations, but I need something to bring the volume down when I go with throttle up. Any recommendations? TIA!

Edited to add, it's a loud 50 watt amp, requires a 4 Ohm load.

[JGale]

I'd like to run my Blackface Fender Bassman at home and explore all it's tonal variations, but I need something to bring the volume down when I go with throttle up. Any recommendations? TIA!

Edited to add, it's a loud 50 watt amp, requires a 4 Ohm load.

http://www.tedweber.com/

specifically http://www.tedweber.com/atten.htm

moar specifically https://taweber.powweb.com/weber/mass.htm

or https://taweber.powweb.com/weber/minimass.htm

[gorch]

Weber is it. For a 50W amp you should look for a 100W Mass. The minimass would be suitable for up to 30W tube amps.

[ToneQuest]

I've tried all the attenuators on the market. When I say all, it really is the case: DR.Z, THD, Aracom, Alex's, Faustine, Marshall...

If I were to have one again one day it would be the Alex's attenuator. It is as transparent as the hype Faustine or Aracom, but it is twice as cheap! It has fixed impedance but you can ask Alex to build a 4 ohm unit, he'll do it. Or he'll explain to you how his 8 ohm piece is good enough for your bassman as long as you attenuate at least 3dB... Great great stuff!

[ZR]

The only one I've ever used is a Dr. Z Air Brake so I can't compare, but it's always done its thing for my Zinky MoFo head at 60 watts. When I turn up the amp volume you can hear it really start kicking in at 4 (on my amp anyway) and after that you can hear the sound getting a little louder but mainly just more and more saturated...pretty cool. At its bedroom setting it's only at 1 watt.

Air Brake page

[ToneQuest]

If you get the chance to try one of these three, they're head and shoulders above all the rest:

Aracom PRX-150

Faustine Phantom

Alex's attenuator.

They all make other attenuators sound like toys for amateurs...

[jaberwock]

This is most informative: http://proguitarshop.com/andyscorner/2011/...enuation/#8206;

[gorch]

This is most informative: http://proguitarshop.com/andyscorner/2011/...enuation/#8206;

Great article. Puts it all together.

[jaberwock]

I have been thinking of trying one of these, at around one hundred, and seventy bucks considerably cheaper than most of the attenuators out there.

http://www.eminence.com/speakers/speaker-d...odel=ReignMaker

Jaberwock

[mjtripper]

I use the rivera rock crusher and it's a great unit. I've used the weber and hot plate units and I prefer the rivera over both of them. It doesn't change the tone at all - all the way down to extreme levels of attenuation. I have a youtube demo of my unit if you want to check it out.

[zzdat]

I use an old Marshall power brake with my Marshalls, sounds great. I use just one step down from full volume on the brake and it gives just a little more room to crank the master on the amp, and gives it just a tad of that brown sound also.

Cool Beans

Gene

[RCM78]

I use an Alex's Attenuator with my 5150, and my Bogner. It's completely transparent, and let's me get these amps into there sweet spots!!!

[Jakeboy]

Weber Mini Mass or Mass Lite. I have both and love them...I like NMV amps so these get a lot of use!

[polara]

I tried a Weber Mini-Mass on my old AC30. Made it sound nothing much like an AC30, even trying a lot of tone adjustments. If you just want to knock the volume down it works, but frankly it seems like it's about as cost-effective to get a small amp if the objective is good sound at low volume. And if it's for home practice when the family is asleep, a POD seems a better choice. I just didn't care for the Weber at all.

[FrankieIII]

I have an early 100 watt / 4 ohm Weber Mass attenuator I'd sell for $115:

Thanks,

Frank