Volume pedal in the effects loop? Any of you do this?

[veemagic]

So what's the bottom line, guys? Is a 100-watt Splawn just too ridiculous for home use? And if so, would a Marshall JVM410H or JVM210H fare any better at low volume?

My Vetta II HD is rated at 300 watts (150 per side). And yes, I understand that this isn't the same as "tube watts," where a typical 100-watt head would blow it away, volume-wise. Basically, I want home use but I also want to be able to use it publicly if the situation ever arises.

OK, its time for me to jump in too I guess. John is always right, well sort of, well kind of, well unless its got to do with the Axe Fx! For this though, if you like the Splawn, absolutely get it. Don't let the raw power sway you one way or another. Screw that. You can handle the power like Rudy said with an attenuator. I have, like Rudy, one of the most raw amps out there. The Marshall 1959rr full stack. No master volume, and attenuated its awesome. The key is a non-coloring attenuator. That will give you a "non-blanked" tone. I love that term. Thanks John! You may have to try out a few to find the one that sounds right to you, but believe me you will, and it will be worth it. Then when the need comes, you will have just what you need for live as well. Good luck and go for it!

[ZL1hawk]

I've got a volume box like that, too. It is similar to using a volume pedal in the loop, but you're right, it's not working your power tube section.

These were cheap. http://www.amazon.com/Carls-Custom-G.../dp/B004ZH0PPY

So what's the bottom line, guys? Is a 100-watt Splawn just too ridiculous for home use? And if so, would a Marshall JVM410H or JVM210H fare any better at low volume?

No the Splawn's are manageable. They are powerful and they are loud but you have options. Scott Splawn is a very cool guy I would either email him or call him and see what he recommends for you. So many people were very happy after doing that I can't imagine myself buying an amp anywhere else. I think getting some info straight from Splawn will help you make an easier decision.

[Nightbat]

Well, it seems to- be a "poor man's attenuator" of sorts. Supposedly, you can crank the amp's master volume, but keep it limited with the volume in the loop.

Nah, if anything it's an added Master Volume, unlike Attenuators who are placed AFTER the powertubes, this won't get them cooking
(and if I'm not mistaken, an amps MV allows you to overdrive the PI, which doesn't happen when controlling the outgoing volume in the loop -again, I may be mistaken)

[pianoguyy]

I vote 'no' on using volume pedals for this purpose. Although, if you're in your home, working on notes and not working on 'tone', then you can do whatever you want. Although, if that's the case, why not just turn the shit down using a volume knob.

I vote 'if you must' on using a power soak.

Is a 100watt Splawn too much for your home? That's up to you -- although, you may want to check your local laws. It may not be up to you, it may be up to the politicians who want your vote because they are saving the children from noise damage.

[warlok]

Isn't this the same as the "suck knob"?? Just a pot in a box? But adjustable by a pedal? Drops the preamp signal output to the power section. Like was said, definitely not like an attentuator..

[lefty]

I'm not getting into the luchbox amp debate, but I do the exact same thing as jgcable with my Single Rec and Lil Alligator, and it works very well, and still sounds great. Plus, with the way the solo boost works on these amps, it's easier for me to leave my master and solo settings on the amp alone, and adjust my stage volume with the pot on the volume pedal.

Pat

+1 on the Lil Alligator. A great overall volume pedal, and perfect for using in the loop...

[lefty]

[QUOTE=PowerTube;1605483]So what's the bottom line, guys? Is a 100-watt Splawn just too ridiculous for home use? And if so, would a Marshall JVM410H or JVM210H fare any better at low volume?

For home use, probably. Have you considered the Splawn Supersport? I realize some would consider this a 'mini amp'
because of it's diminutive size and 2x6V6 tube layout, but the sound clips on Splawn's site sound amazing. I know I'm
looking at one down the road...

[toejam]

These were cheap. http://www.amazon.com/Carls-Custom-G.../dp/B004ZH0PPY

I just checked in my basement, and that's exactly the one I have. I bought it off ebay many years ago.

[chrisolson]

So what's the bottom line, guys? Is a 100-watt Splawn just too ridiculous for home use? And if so, would a Marshall JVM410H or JVM210H fare any better at low volume?

Short answer is yes.

Also - I had a "Suck Box" I used in the loop of my early 3-pre Quick Rod. It worked. My amp didn't care for it tonally though.

That said, if the Quick Rod you're looking at has the loop level, it's effective and better than a volume pedla in the loop, but still totally SUCKS the tone out of it. I had a Competition that was FARRRRRR better at lower volumes, but Splawns really do better when they breathe!

[PowerTube]

Here's what I'm considering, based on what I've been reading. I might go ahead and get the Quick rod, but use a distortion box across it at home since I don't really have the option of cranking it. I don't care much about playing at super high volumes anyway. I still have my Metal Zone and GE-7 for lower-volume playing.

Or..... I might say "screw it" and get the JVM.

Decisions, decisions. And the decision isn't helped any by the fact that my lame-assed local Guitar Center doesn't have a single JVM in stock. I don't fault them for the Splawn because they just don't carry them. Fair enough. But they expect people to buy a $2400.00 head when they haven't even had a chance to plug into one. And before anyone says it, yes, I know about their 30-day return policy. It sounds like a lot of hassle just to try out an amp, though.

I just want good, thick, creamy tube overdrive tone at a reasonable volume level. Is that too much to ask?

[jgcable]

john, we usually agree about amps since we are both out there doing it "for real", but in this case I have to disagree. bigger is not always better. many of the lunchbox amps are very usable and have their place in a serious guitarists stable. with the proliferation of smaller studios that are replacing many of the large commercial studios, I find doing sessions with a 100 watt half stack to be impossible. this is where it is nice to have a quality, tube lunchbox amp. with options from mesa, carvin, engl, orange, and most other serious amp companies it is time to consider these as more than "amps for pussies".

I did a session 2 weeks ago where I brought my EL34 loaded egnater tweaker 15, marshall 1936, and a guitar. I could get killer tube tones at a reasonable volume. the cab was mic'd with a royer 121 ribbon mic, so SPLs were very important. if I had rolled with my 120 watt rivera and one of my former EVM12L-loaded 4x12 cabs, it would have been total overkill. to get the same tone as the tweaker 15, I would have had to have that amp running at volume levels that would kill small animals and deafen children. I would have also run a good chance of damaging the mic.

live, I will admit that I still prefer at least 40 watts - but I am currently gigging a 30 watt marshall, and I am able to punish that amp's tubes without being obscenely loud. the clean isn't as crisp as any of my rivera amps, but the tone is more organic. even using my egnater tweaker 40 (still a VERY small head in overall dimensions), the appearance is that of a lunchbox amp, but with a good amount of power that is usable for every situation.

and, really....as a guy who has had as many amps as you have had - you REALLY think a G-Dec 3 is going to destroy a mesa mini-rectoverb in the tone department? a carvin legacy 3? come on, man

Mark, yes it will. I paid $50.00 for it. At bedroom levels with a mic in front of it, it records and sounds as good as anything else I can think of. Here is the thing.... guys buy bedroom mini amps thinking they can crank them up with the baby or mommy and daddy sleeping in the next room because they are so small and only a few watts. That's just not true. A friend of mine has one of those expensive Orange mini amps and it just doesn't cut it at super low volume. Why bring a lunch box amp to a gig? Doesn't make sense to me. My Mesa Single Recto is 50 watts. Its very light. Its not huge and heavy (like a Plexi or a Randall MTS) and it sounds amazing. It also looks proper on a 4 x 12 cab. Those little mini amps look dumb and I just don't see the point. Now.. back to your regular scheduled volume pedal broadcasting!

[jgcable]

Here's what I'm considering, based on what I've been reading. I might go ahead and get the Quick rod, but use a distortion box across it at home since I don't really have the option of cranking it. I don't care much about playing at super high volumes anyway. I still have my Metal Zone and GE-7 for lower-volume playing.

Or..... I might say "screw it" and get the JVM.

Decisions, decisions. And the decision isn't helped any by the fact that my lame-assed local Guitar Center doesn't have a single JVM in stock. I don't fault them for the Splawn because they just don't carry them. Fair enough. But they expect people to buy a $2400.00 head when they haven't even had a chance to plug into one. And before anyone says it, yes, I know about their 30-day return policy. It sounds like a lot of hassle just to try out an amp, though.

I just want good, thick, creamy tube overdrive tone at a reasonable volume level. Is that too much to ask?

If you go with a quickrod and you put a proper volume pedal in the loop you will be able to play at whisper levels and still have 100% gain and saturation. I do it with my rectifier half stack all the time. The tone, saturation or gain doesn't change at all. Just the volume. Just go get it.

[jgcable]

Powertube... just listen to me bro. I know. After all.. I did audition for Ozzy and made it to the final 4 out of 800 players.

I also know tone. Ask anybody. They call me a guitar tone guru. The other member of this forum who really knows great live tone is Sambencuda. He is another tone guru master.

[PowerTube]

Powertube... just listen to me bro. I know. After all.. I did audition for Ozzy and made it to the final 4 out of 800 players.

I also know tone. Ask anybody. They call me a guitar tone guru. The other member of this forum who really knows great live tone is Sambencuda. He is another tone guru master.

I respect your opinions and advice.

It occurs to me that I ran a 100-watt Marshall JCM800 2210 in the "bedroom" for many years, using the distortion box and EQ as mentioned above. I had great tone at whatever volume I wanted, whether "whisper" or "roar." It actually sounded better at low volumes in that case.

So yeah, I think I'll try to grab a used Quick Rod.

[P I K A]

Now Im getting gas for a Quickrod