Re: Attenuator Question

On Mar 13, 6:55 pm, Jim <a...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Guncho wrote:
On Mar 13, 5:47 pm, Jim <a...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Guncho wrote:

How much difference am I really going to notice between the sound of
preamp gain on my Blues Jr and the sound of power tube gain when using
say a Weber MiniMass attenuator?

Since I do NOT like the preamp gain tone on those amps, I'd say quite a bit!

Will it sound that much better? $130 better?

That's up to you.

(I know this is subjective but any help is appreciated)

Also, can you use a 100watt attenuator with a 15 watt amp, or do I
have to get a 15 watt attenuator?

You need one rated at or above 15W, so a 100W one is just fine. The
more margin you have, the better off you are!

But, I need to add: Cheaper attenuators that are simple resistive loads
are not as good for your amp. If it's an 8 ohm load, it will present a
constant 8 ohm load across the entire frequency range. A real speaker
will present impedances as high a 50 ohms at the primary open low E
frequency! Amps are designed for speakers, NOT LOADS.

AND: Never forget you are driving the crap out of the amp, even if you
can't hear it. BEST CASE SCENARIO: It's just like having the amp
cranked. WORST CASE SCENARIO: You're using a simple resistive load and
the amp starts oscillating or otherwise malfunctioning, and you toast an
output transformer!

Having said that, I built a simple resistive load into my Valve Junior.
But I will NOT forget the the potential issues.

If you're just going to buy a simple resistive load, you can always put
a non-inductive power resistor with the same resistance as the value of
the speaker in series, and two of the same value (or one of double the
value) in parallel to both. Think of it this way. Treat the power
resistors like they're speakers and wire it like you would a typical
4x12 cab. That will drop the power to the speaker to 1/4 of the amp
output (at least where the impedance is close to the resistor value).
That turns your 15W amp into less than 3 watts. For MUCH less than the
cost of a Mini Mass.

Some guys might just use a 50W or better L-pad.

Proceed at your own risk! My Marshall came with this warning FOR A
REASON: http://www.seattle-attorney.com/guitar/2204_hangtag.jpg

Chris- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Don't worry Jim, I'm looking at a Weber Attenuator, not an L Pad.

Chris

READ the information at Ted's site! Some of his attenuators are SIMPLE
RESISTIVE LOADS! Not really different than an L-Pad. His better ones
use a speaker motor (voice coil and magnet assembly with double spider).- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

The Micro Mass has a Mass motor.

Chris

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