Loopi volume box instead of attenuator ?

[Erock]

You are correct, but it's not the same principle. An attenuator goes between the power amp and cab. It "soaks" up power, so not all the power will get to the speakers. This allows you to get power tube distortion without blowing your eardrums out. Ie. Amp is pushing out 100w and overdriving power tubes, but speakers are only seeing 30w.

A master volume will only restrict the signal hitting the poweramp, so you would be able to crank up preamp volumes while being able to control volume with the master. This is not the same as pushing a poweramp into tube clipping.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Wait a minute though.. provided you have a loop, did he not show that the amps MASTER volume could be pumped up If it is, then you are hearing less volume but the amp itself is still operating and pushing through the sound or sonic qualities that the amp would have at higher master volume settings. This means if you liked a JCM800 at 5 or 6 on the MV (which i do), then you would in theory, enjoy the sonic advantages without the volume using this box. You can't load an amp down on it for silent recording direct, but wouldn't it give you an advantage tone wise for low volume playing of a cracked amp?

 

[Erock]

Wait a minute though.. provided you have a loop, did he not show that the amps MASTER volume could be pumped up If it is, then you are hearing less volume but the amp itself is still operating and pushing through the sound or sonic qualities that the amp would have at higher master volume settings. This means if you liked a JCM800 at 5 or 6 on the MV (which i do), then you would in theory, enjoy the sonic advantages without the volume using this box. You can't load an amp down on it for silent recording direct, but wouldn't it give you an advantage tone wise for low volume playing of a cracked amp?

Your master would essentially become a preamp vol, so yes it's adding a master volume. Some amps have a sweet spot on the preamp vol, ie. Splawns, so this can be useful to get more preamp push. He added a loop lvl to his amps since a lot of people were using vol pedals in the loops for low vols. However, if the sonic qualities you are enjoying at 5 or 6 is from poweramp coloration, which it will be doing at that level, it obviously won't give you any of that. That takes the power tubes being pushed.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Thanks for the clarification. Wouldn't suit my needs either then. I like the filling out of the sound that the power tubes add at higher volumes.

 

[Erock]

Thanks for the clarification. Wouldn't suit my needs either then. I like the filling out of the sound that the power tubes add at higher volumes.

Yeah, I know what you mean, especially for an amp like the JCM. Nothing quite like it, with the cab moving lots of air, and the power tubes starting to compress and fill out the tone. Even an attenuator, while good for the power tube color, misses a major cab ingredient. The ones I've tried always seem to rob something anyway, moreso as you increase the attenuation too. Curious to hear what you've tried for attenuators. I've been interested to try the bad cat.

 

[srommes]

I use a DMC System Mix in the loop of my 5150 III 50 watt. I use this for two reasons. 1) so that my dry tone is mixed in parallel with my fx. This way I don't have to run it through the fx and my dry tone through A/D converters. 2) It allows me to have more control of my volume and gives me a master volume control.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

I've only tried the Hotplate (and still use it) but I'd think the bad cat unleash is the way to go as you can add effects to an amp like an 800 that doesn't have a loop. As for the hotplate, past the -8 setting the tone starts to change but I still prefer it to just preamp gain with the master set lower so it is a trade off. I figured Tom Keifer uses Hotplates so it should be good enough for me..