[freddyfingers]

At least thats what i think they are called. I have been looking for a smaller amp, then my bass man reissue. I love the bass man sound, but it can be too loud for some of the situations I need it in. If I could turn it up to 5 or so, and use my guitars volume, the sound is perfect, at least to me. But I cant get it up to 5. I have been looking at lower wattage amps, but have yet to play one that has the full sound I get out of mine. So, it has been suggested I try an attenuator, if i spelled that correctly. There are a few different makes out there, and I read the pros and cons. My understanding is, if you don't turn your amp up to 10, then use the brake to play at whisper levels, it wont hurt your amp, or blow through tubes.

SO, My bass man has 4 wires going to each speaker. One company, Dr Z I believe, makes a harness that allows me to plug in this device, without cutting wires, or modding the amp, or soldering, which I am not allowed to do in the state of virginia.. Has anyone used them? Does it offer you the full tone of a louder amp at lower levels? Does it color or change the sound? If I could get my amp to sound the way I want it too, i wouldn't use the Tim, but i read you cant use a boost or drive with these things. SO, anyone else in my boat, and what were the results?


Thanks


An air brake is a couple of hundred, but so is a small tube low watt amp, and I am not finding that sound in the small amps. Figureed this would cure the small amp problem.

[cowmoo]

Freddy, a friend of mine uses a THD hotplate attenuater with his marshall jcm 800, it just sits between the speaker out and speakers.
Now it does work with a graduated db level, and allows him to play a 100w head and 4x12 at home...But, to my ears it isn't the same as the speakers are not moving as they would without the attenuater, so what you gain in getting the amp up to steam, you're losing in speaker performance. but this isn't putting them down, as they do the job, but to me i like the cones bouncing!!

[TV the Wired Turtle]

I just sold off my Dr Z airbrake, I had a thd hotplate prior to that and both are fun to run at 1 watt with the amp dimed... but kind of worthless tone wise in that capacity.

The airbrake doesnt kill the dynamic feel like the thd hotplate does and is great for taking the murderous SPL off a big amp. A friend from the hillbilly casino, ronnie crutcher usings the airbrake at all the smaller clubs he plays with his Billy Bo and blonde bassman. Get one brother they are great if you can live with the way a compressor pedal feels on a guitar. I cant.. I go back and forth but always sell it
off and put the plastic shield in front and tell myself its good enough.

ps. if you have a vintage post 62' bassman its 4ohms load, earlier blondes were 8ohms, and 59's 2ohm.

[GADify]

I had a Dr. Z Airbrake and sold it. For me it killed the feel of the amp.

I have a Faustine Phantom DX2 that is the best attenuator I've ever used, played or heard. Faustine went out of business though, and they were over $1000 new.

Amazing on my Bassman though.

[cowmoo]

Tavo, I have a 6G6 with the GZ34 rectifier, I think it's a 61, would that make it an 8ohm maximum total load on the output?

[freddyfingers]

Mine is one of the recent, 2003 reissues. 4 speakers at 2 ohms. At least that s what it says on the back. And no, I don tike what the compressor does to my electric guitar. I like it on my acoustic, and vocals, but it seems to choke the electric.

[6stings]

I use Air Brakes. I have earlier Trainwreck licenced boxes. Not going to sell them.

[6stings]

Originally Posted by freddyfingers

... what the compressor does to my electric guitar. I like it on my acoustic, and vocals, but it seems to choke the electric.

Try German compressor with a funny name, Okko Coca Comp. It doesn't choke.

[BarryMClark]

Got a Dr. Z Brake Lite. If used lightly, it is very cool.

[AlbinoMeatpod]

I'm buying an attenuator from a DIY guy on Ebay.

http://myworld.ebay.com/vspeeds/?_trksid=p4340.l2559

Supposed to be phenomenal quality.

[pilgrim]

I got new THD in the box. They were made for my Vibro king stacks. Never got around to using them But, I never sell anything.

[Noizemaker]

For the same reasons, I just ordered a Clark Amplification Regulator for my Piedmont (Bassman replica). Supposed to be the Bees Knees...fingers crossed!

[TV the Wired Turtle]

Originally Posted by cowmoo

Tavo, I have a 6G6 with the GZ34 rectifier, I think it's a 61, would that make it an 8ohm maximum total load on the output?

Cowmoo its suppose to be the 8ohm OT, yes but there were some early 62's that had your circuit yet had been switched over to a 4ohm OT for a 212 cab.

And the way fender worked then doesnt necessarily mean you have an actually 61' instead of a 62'.

One of my blondes has a 64' chassis, with 63' bassman OT and Choke, but the PT is a 63' showman and the internal rubber stamps are 64'. smooth blonde with sparkle grill but black faceplates. another was a tuxedo transitional early 64 but was an early 63' chassis with brown faceplate on back and black faceplate on front again both completely OEM. Fender is the king of not wasting ANYthing on the shelf.

[cowmoo]

Originally Posted by TV the Wired Turtle

Cowmoo its suppose to be the 8ohm OT, yes but there were some early 62's that had your circuit yet had been switched over to a 4ohm OT for a 212 cab.

And the way fender worked then doesnt necessarily mean you have an actually 61' instead of a 62'.

One of my blondes has a 64' chassis, with 63' bassman OT and Choke, but the PT is a 63' showman and the internal rubber stamps are 64'. smooth blonde with sparkle grill but black faceplates. another was a tuxedo transitional early 64 but was an early 63' chassis with brown faceplate on back and black faceplate on front again both completely OEM. Fender is the king of not wasting ANYthing on the shelf.

Cheers TV! I think a good poke around and check some numbers may be in order. Here's a pic of it's innards, it all looks original(ish)

[Dan C]

Originally Posted by freddyfingers

....but i read you cant use a boost or drive with these things.

Really? Why not?

[6stings]

Originally Posted by AlbinoMeatpod

I'm buying an attenuator from a DIY guy on Ebay. Supposed to be phenomenal quality.

Jim Sanders is really a great guy, I had 2 of his 80w Tube Cubes, but I sold them with the amps. They worked OK with my Frenzel, clean, at 3/4 of vol.

[LittleRedRooster]

The best attenuator out there is called the Fender tweed champ.

[cybermgk]

Personally, I like my Weber Mini-Mass. THe Speaker motor tech, for me retains the feel. Granted the tone is not the same as freely cranked. But, to me, only that from the speaker driving more air is the only thing missing.

That said, a VVR is likely the best option. That is IF you don't mind actually soldering onto your Chassis.

[freddyfingers]

Originally Posted by Dan C

Really? Why not?

Couldn't tell you the details, but i have read from tow manufacturers sights, that they do not recommend using any type of distortion of boost, as it can make a flappy sound from the speakers. Again, I don't have one yet, but thats what i read. Personally I would like to get away from pedals, just cant seem to find an amp that makes that sound at lower levels.

[freddyfingers]

Originally Posted by cybermgk

Personally, I like my Weber Mini-Mass. THe Speaker motor tech, for me retains the feel. Granted the tone is not the same as freely cranked. But, to me, only that from the speaker driving more air is the only thing missing.

That said, a VVR is likely the best option. That is IF you don't mind actually soldering onto your Chassis.

The webers i have found online don't do 2 ohms. Do you know of one of theirs that does?