Power Break / Power Soak recomendations

[bcsride]

I think I'd like to experiment with a power soak set up. I don't really want to lose that initial punch of the full 50 watts but I'd like to let the amp breathe a bit more and it is very loud. My main amp is a 50 watt point to point JCM 800 clone.

So, recomendations on a good, reasonably priced, power soak type device.

[Jakeboy]

I can recommend two:

Badcat Unleash

Weber MASS Lite

[veatch]

I preferred the Weber MASS stuff - the others are (mostly) resistive load based where the Webers are actually a speaker driver. They react more musically. When you attenuate heavily, they do compress, but it is in a musical way.

Standard disclaimer - opinions vary = trust yer own ears, if it sounds good, it is good.

[gorch]

Weber!

[mrjamiam]

Another Weber user here.

[SSII x 2]

Dr. Z Brake Light is probably the cheapest. Not sure if it

works with a 50-watt head, though. The Dr. Z Airbrake will

work with any amp up to 100 watts, but costs a lot more...

Rivera Rock Crusher works pretty well for me. Has a few

extra features, but is quite expensive...

[veatch]

^^^

Of the resistive load boxes, i liked the Airbrake the best.

[tomteriffic]

Used a Rock Crusher on some recording stuff. Worked well, but I've no other experience.

[bcsride]

That weber seems to be a good system - I'll poke around for a used one and see what I can find.

[Studio Custom]

Two Notes Torpedo

[formula73]

I've had a Weber Mass 100 at 1/2 on my Metaltronix for years and have no regrets. The only other I've used was a Hot Plate and hated the feel and tendency to cut high end nearly immediately.

[mrjamiam]

Weber recommends getting a model of double the stated wattage of the amp you're going to use it with, to ensure adequate margin. I suppose that's probably because amp wattage is related to power put out at maximum undistorted level, and who stops there?

[JES1680]

Haven't tried the Weber, but have tried the following.

Power Brake - Meh ok but not thrilled

Bad Cat Leash - didn't care for the sound

Ultimate - HO - presents a 32 ohm load - toasted a Reeves 50 watt head I don't recommend these...

DR Z Airbrake - ok to knock off a few DB but then sucks tone

THD Hot plate - really changed the sound and feel didn't care for it

Aracom - Big $$$ but very nice with the ability to mis match ohms in and out

Alex - Best bang for the buck IMO single ohm rating only 4, 8, or 16 you can find them used for slightly over $300.00 very close to the Aracom for half the price.

After all these I still have 2 Alex and 1 Aracom. If you are going to use it with just one amp I'd go Alex now Scumback. Just know that different attenuators work better or worse with different amps. My Aracom sounded much better with my Tweed Deluxe than the Alex, but the Alex worked better with my Hiwatt. The Alex sounds stellar with my 1974 50watt Marshall. They all change the tone it's more a matter of better or worse and the more attenuation you use the more this difference becomes apparent.

[Biz Prof]

Weber recommends getting a model of double the stated wattage of the amp you're going to use it with, to ensure adequate margin. I suppose that's probably because amp wattage is related to power put out at maximum undistorted level, and who stops there?

I was thinking along these same lines. According to technical doco from Marshall, my old early-production JCM 800 Model 1987 is actually rated at 76 watts. From that alone, I'd get the 100w Weber for those specs to be on the safe side. I've not been satisfied with other attenuators, but perhaps the Weber would fill that tonal gap.

[Studio Custom]

Wattage is measured at clean. Many 60s and 70s Marshalls put out 120-180 watts when on 10 and driven hard. Higher wattage speakers were needed to get down to a single 4x12, hence the V30.

[polara]

I had a Weber on my old AC30 for two rehearsals and it no longer sounded like an AC30. Lost a lot of mid-highs. Might be better with dirtier tones, but it really killed the "edge of breakup" zone for me. Ended up just getting a lower-wattage amp.