Attenuators

  • Thread starter Thread starter the rossness
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the rossness

the rossness

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Talk to me about attenuators.

I’m looking to bring the volume down to a bedroom level without the tone changing. I still want the air from the speaker, the feel of the amp, just at sane volumes.

I had an attenuator for an old Marshall, and it sucked all the tone out of the amp. :(

Of today’s attenuators which is best? I could use a little bit of guidance as this isn't my area of expertise.

Thanks in advance. Peace~
 
It’s technically not an attenuator (since it takes everything to line level and then reamps), but fryette powerstation is generally considered the best for attenuation- Dave Friedman and many other big names use them.
 
the rossness said:
Talk to me about attenuators.

I’m looking to bring the volume down to a bedroom level without the tone changing. I still want the air from the speaker, the feel of the amp, just at sane volumes.

I had an attenuator for an old Marshall, and it sucked all the tone out of the amp. :(

Of today’s attenuators which is best? I could use a little bit of guidance as this isn't my area of expertise.

Thanks in advance. Peace~
Click to expand...

all day everyday: Fryette

https://www.fryette.com/power-station-one-hundred-ps-100-see-dealer-list-for-availability/

But we'll get some good discussion going on here!
 
I know I am alone in this because everyone goes crazy for the Fryettes, but I have tried and returned the Power Station a few times and I just don't get why people love it so much. It sucks the feel out of the tube amp and ends up sounding no different to me than a simulator. Ive only tried the Tone King Iron Man II mini, but that sounded and felt way better to me.
 
I’ll prolly be the only one to mention it, but the Ho attrnuator I’ve used for 15 years is awesome. I’ve recorded my plexi full out compared to attenuated with the Ho and the Ho just slightly lessened the low end. other wise it was spot on the same tone. Very controversial piece, but I’ve used mine for 15 years, almost daily, with no issues. they pop up used on Reverb
 
If you want a true attenuator, the most transparent one I’ve heard is the Rivera Rock Crusher.

If you want a reamper, I’ll be one more person to vote for the Fryette Power Station.
 
The only two I've ever used are the Fryette Powerstation (which I own) and the little Two Notes Captor

Did not like the pre-selected attentuation levels of the Captor at all


The Powerstation on the other hand is a piece of gear I'll never be without - most useful piece of "extra" guitar gear out there in my opinion
 
Powerstation for me. I have had a PS-2 for about 3 years now, and will most likely pick up a PS-100 when I see one pop up at the right price.
 
Currently use a PS2 and it does great with some amps, OK with others. Over all I’m happy with it. Got it primarily for the loop feature. For years I used a Marshall Powe brake (still have it) and for just a straight attenuator, it’s fantastic. If all you need is attenuation and no other features I would just find a used Power Brake.
 
dstroud said:
I’ll prolly be the only one to mention it, but the Ho attrnuator I’ve used for 15 years is awesome. I’ve recorded my plexi full out compared to attenuated with the Ho and the Ho just slightly lessened the low end. other wise it was spot on the same tone. Very controversial piece, but I’ve used mine for 15 years, almost daily, with no issues. they pop up used on Reverb
Click to expand...
ho attenuator sounds like a guy trying to shut up the porn bots in his instagram dms
 
I have an Ox Box from UA and my friend has the Fryette (I forget which one). He loves his FX loop.
Both are overkill if you’re just looking for volume lowering.

I’ll likely be in the market for attenuation-only soon and have been looking at the Tone King Ironman II and the Weber Mass attenuators.

Anyone have experience with these attenuators that aren’t reamping machines?
 
All attenuators suck and are a waste of money. You can't replicate high volume air movement by handicapping a big iron amp. It's like muzzling a guard dog, you just wasted your $$$ feeding the thing.
 
While I have the Boss Waza TAE I'd recommend the Fryette PS unless you need all the FX and stuff the TAE has.

Atd the end of the day a reamper is the way to go for attenuation since it gives you more control over the volume (knob for continuous adjustment vs 3 specific volume level switch)
 
the rossness said:
I’m looking to bring the volume down to a bedroom level without the tone changing
Click to expand...
This won't happen with a loud amp. The closest to transparent is a good reamping system the Power Station but is overkill for your application. You could try a Suhr RL with a small, solid state power amp. This works great most of the time.

the rossness said:
I still want the air from the speaker, the feel of the amp
Click to expand...
Higher SPL is responsible for both of these. You can't have it both ways!

Having said all that if it's a high gain, master volume amp then forget the above. Turning down the MV real low works better in general.
 
Leroymyman said:
I know I am alone in this because everyone goes crazy for the Fryettes, but I have tried and returned the Power Station a few times and I just don't get why people love it so much. It sucks the feel out of the tube amp and ends up sounding no different to me than a simulator. Ive only tried the Tone King Iron Man II mini, but that sounded and felt way better to me.
Click to expand...
+1 regarding the PS. I found using a master volume retained the feel better.
The new Boss Waza looks interesting. I played a cranked Plexi thru the og, and really liked it. I'd have one if there wasn't reports of it harming amps. May still get one, and just not crank the bass, to use as a universal attenuator/effects loop if I go to an amp switcher setup.
 
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