IS FAUSTINE OUT OF BUSINESS???

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mentoneman":32u2q5my said:
killertone":32u2q5my said:
Couldn't agree more. I have no idea why anyone with an amp that has shitloads of preamp gain or a diode clipping circuit would want to use an attenuator.

I am in the market for one myself but it is for my '73 PTP Superlead, '65 Bassman, and Metro 50 watt Superlead.


i used my hotplate with my eggie tol 100, mojave coyote, and carol ann 18 watter, and currently use it with my fender super champ XD and my mojave peeacemaker because i can get better results from my amps when i juice up the power section to dial in a fatter more natural midrange and smother high end, reduce the amount of preamp/pedal gain, and make the speaker move a different way, instead of lowering the amp volume and trying to use the tone controls. and the line out is great for level matching post amp effects.

i had a very early sharpie labeled komet airbrake for a few years, and tried the ultimate attenuator and rivera rock crusher. the UA sounded really nice with my coyote and a germino masonette, but was an early model that looked to be assembled by pouring a bottle of rubber cement in a junk drawer and shaking for 5 seconds. at the moment i'd opt for the rivera but would love to see what the cameron is about too...i think the fan died in my hotplate-i never hear it spinning but i don't tax it much with superchamp on 4 and the hp on -4. it has served me well.
Pat, takes 40 watts for the fan to start spinning, it's signal driven just like the NR bulbs.
 
As for attenuators...I got into them back in the day to slave my Superleads, for more gain and add sauce...and/or for a wet/dry set-up because I hated delay anywhere but after the amp.

I fucking hate any version of turning down. If I have to I'll gladly use an attenuator but I there's no way way I'd pay more than 2-300 bucks for one no matter how transparent some on-line forum decided it was. :)

As for business practices...I've done MI for a decade and the idea that guys soldering in their basement constitute a business and having met an amp designer or 12 that had less business sense than ears...well you get where I'm going.
I still have my trusty 8 ohm Hot Plate, my 16 ohm i loaned to a friend for his studio like 2 years ago, my 4 ohm to another for his place like 8 years ago. :)

And you know what is the coolest part of not working in MI, I don't have to be nice anymore. HA!
 
Rogue":6eczxim3 said:
Digital Jams":6eczxim3 said:
You are another 5%er that I was talking about, some of us know what you look for and we understand it. I see threads about using attenuators on CCVs and have to scratch my head wondering what is this guy trying to do.....................you have a hi-gain jose which is built to have fuck loads of pre-amp gain and you are trying to do what????? :lol: :LOL:
I can't speak for a jose or CCV, but all the master volume amps I've had sounded best with lower gain and higher volume....high enough to be really loud. I didn't try an attenuator with any them (except a jcm800), but all of them sounded fuller and smoother, and felt better giving the power section some juice. So I can see where some master volume amps might sound better with the power section working.

OR..............you can boost the front end OR slave.

You are not getting my posts no matter how many times you quote me :lol: :LOL: If they sound better loud THEN DO SO!!!!!!!!!!! IF you need to attenuate an mv amp at home you probably should turn off the 100watt head and get something small. There are some guys here that I know what they are looking for like Pat and George, they are mostly power section players and are the minority around here.

Hi Fast Eddie :)
 
degenaro":1jw34mjo said:
I fucking hate any version of turning down.

:thumbsup:

Digital Jams":1jw34mjo said:
There are some guys here that I know what they are looking for like Pat and George, they are mostly power section players and are the minority around here.

I think most would be if they ever actually turned up. ;)
 
I have seen people switch back to the THD from the Faustine and others brands because it did not have the DEEP switch and they like the results they get with the THD better. So not everyone thought the more expensive ones are better after using both for awhile. When you lower dB's no matter how you do it you are going to be changing the entire sound. Speakers react different, etc....
 
Digital Jams":1yu0rltt said:
OR..............you can boost the front end OR slave.

You are not getting my posts no matter how many times you quote me :lol: :LOL: If they sound better loud THEN DO SO!!!!!!!!!!! IF you need to attenuate an mv amp at home you probably should turn off the 100watt head and get something small. There are some guys here that I know what they are looking for like Pat and George, they are mostly power section players and are the minority around here.

Hi Fast Eddie :)
I'm just saying, man. Even MV amps sound better cranked up, at least the ones I've had....SLO and 5150. That's what they are designed to do. An SLO is an entirely different beast with the master volume around 5, which is way too loud for most uses. I'm one of those power section guys too, and that is why I look to attenuation as a solution.

I prefer what the power section delivers. I'm not even sure if there's a benefit to having an amp with power tubes if they aren't driving them into why people like them in the first place. They glow, I guess.

To each his own. I don't care what anyone plays. What I am saying is cranked glass sounds goooooood. :thumbsup:

That said, an attenuator does effect that, but to a lesser degree than any other method I've tried.
 
stephen sawall":3aq29o40 said:
I have seen people switch back to the THD from the Faustine and others brands because it did not have the DEEP switch and they like the results they get with the THD better. So not everyone thought the more expensive ones are better after using both for awhile. When you lower dB's no matter how you do it you are going to be changing the entire sound. Speakers react different, etc....
I'm happy with the THD. Though my 8 ohm sounds better than the 16 ohm with the Marshalls, with the Hiwatt the 16 ohm sounds fine.

I find the eq switches pretty worthless. The one niggle I have with it is the fan noise. For live it is no problem, but when recording with the amps in the control room its pretty audible.
 
Greazygeo":3fyafhrq said:
stephen sawall":3fyafhrq said:
I have seen people switch back to the THD from the Faustine and others brands because it did not have the DEEP switch and they like the results they get with the THD better. So not everyone thought the more expensive ones are better after using both for awhile. When you lower dB's no matter how you do it you are going to be changing the entire sound. Speakers react different, etc....
I'm happy with the THD. Though my 8 ohm sounds better than the 16 ohm with the Marshalls, with the Hiwatt the 16 ohm sounds fine.

I find the eq switches pretty worthless. The one niggle I have with it is the fan noise. For live it is no problem, but when recording with the amps in the control room its pretty audible.
I leave the DEEP and BULB on almost all the time. The BRIGHT I do not use much. They become more apparent as you lower dB's. I agree fan placement is important when recording. I have yet to find one I like better.
 
I have heard from certain (internationally acclaimed) sources re: the Jim Kelley Attenuator is excellent and better sounding than the Faustine. Has anyone yet tried it?
 
Wow that was a sad read. I've basically inherited our small family business that my father started 40 years ago and has run on a shoe string the past five years after his partner split. A lot of those statements hit me hard. Especially the part about sacrificing all financial resources including retirement and the struggle to stay afloat. I have seen that first hand and it literally tears your life apart.
 
BrokenFusion":uynrj08l said:
Wow that was a sad read. I've basically inherited our small family business that my father started 40 years ago and has run on a shoe string the past five years after his partner split. A lot of those statements hit me hard. Especially the part about sacrificing all financial resources including retirement and the struggle to stay afloat. I have seen that first hand and it literally tears your life apart.
:cry: Exactly spot on. I took one look at what was gonna happen long term and put a stop to my situation after making the choice to either take the necessary gamble to become so called large enough to maintain through numbers or keep on staying small and wait for the cord to be pulled on the life machine. I chose to stop while I still had no debt, some money left and a choice, albeit not one any one in our position of ownership may ever want to make. :confused:
Take care of your self and your family. You will be able to live with your actions better when it is all said and done. Happy New Year !
 
My experiences is have 3 times the amount of money you think it is going to take to run a business before you even start it. Even then it is only a gamble...and at least part luck.
 
The letter on Faustine's website is undoubtedly sad, but it still angers me. I DID NOT order a Faustine and had no money (deposit) given to Faustine -- yet, this story still disgusts me. Faustine's (the owner's) letter details that his mismanagement of his business, and of customer's deposits, have led to unfair posts on the Internet. I call major bullhonky here. What does he expect? He lacked essential communication with his consumer base, and he took people's deposits while his business was barely afloat. What are people to do, assume the best? I am also not impressed by the letter posted on his website. What would really impress me would be a courtesy phone call to all those he screwed, detailing what steps will be taken to get people their money back. Sure, it's sad for Faustine, his assets, and his family, but what about those hard-working individuals that paid Faustine? They are the ones who are really screwed here. Faustine's lack of proper organization is the fault of the business owner. That hardly constitutes a sob story. No one stopped Faustine from having the necessary capital and business plan in place to be successful -- and his issues are hardly the economy's fault at all. The issues he now faces are due to his ignorance. His mismanagement has led to his business falling apart, bankruptcy, and the coming slander against him. He absolutely deserves every bit of what he is getting right now -- legally and with the guitar communities of the Internet. It is the PEOPLE WHO PAID FAUSTINE that don't deserve the treatment they are getting.
 
Seen this all too many times in this industry. Either the small company gets a partner that thinks he sees heavy returns in too short a time and if it doesn't happen pulls the plug. Or worse they get deposits on stuff that takes longer than they envisioned to ship and that breeds serious contempt from customers.
And that's the last thing a small company can handle when it comes to survival...angry customers. Now that said...and I like a thing or 12 about selling attenuators seeing that in my time at THD we build about 400 Hot Plates a month.
 
I also have seen similar things many times over the years... most outside music.
Running a business is much more difficult to do than most people believe when starting. Most businesses fail .... Even if they do everything right they often fail.

Suhr had posted this on a forum....
With any business younger than 5~7 years you are taking a chance.
With a small shop that could not run without it's founder and leader you are taking a chance.
With someone who isn't tied in to this business forever you are taking a chance.
When people ask for major deposits on product that is not custom you are taking a chance.
 
Bottom line is he shouldn't have spent money from deposits on anything other then building attenuators. The only ones I feel for are the ones that got dicked around all this time.
 
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