Thinking about getting an attenuator ...

[thetruthguy]

I have a Mesa Rectoverb (50 watt, 8 ohm) with a 2x12 vertical Mesa Recto cab (8 ohm) that I strictly use at home. No time for a band right now, no matter how much I want to be in one, so I'll have to wait, but I still want to play my Mesa. It sounds good at low volumes, but I'd like to try a Hot Plate or something similar ... just wanted to get some input since there are a few to choose from.

--Dan

[jgcable]

Re: Thinking about getting an attenuator ...

I think they sound fine without one. Fritzreiser is selling one.

[Chuckracer]

Re: Thinking about getting an attenuator ...

Basically, just match up the ohms of your cab and head with the plate and you're good to go.
They will affect the sound somewhat, but...heck, grab a used one and play with it. If you don't dig it, flip it.

[Shawn Lutz]

Re: Thinking about getting an attenuator ...

not to thread hijack but which is the best one to get to give you the most flexibility? The THD's are cool but I have a mixture of 16ohm and 8ohm cabs, is there a Hotplate that I can get to use with both Ohm settings instead of have to buy 2 Hotplates?

[Chuckracer]

Re: Thinking about getting an attenuator ...

Shawn, look into a Weber Mass. I see used ones all the time, adjustable from 2 to 16 ohms. They are generally less expensive than the THD Hotplates and some say they sound better.
I always go for the Hotplate just because it's a known quantity for me.

[hippietim]

Re: Thinking about getting an attenuator ...

+1 on the Weber Mass - I had a chance to A/B a bunch of these and it sounded the best IMO - so I bought two of them a while back - a MiniMASS for small stuff and a big MASS for my stack.

Do a search in this forum - this has come up a few times.

[siggy14]

Re: Thinking about getting an attenuator ...

[ QUOTE ]
not to thread hijack but which is the best one to get to give you the most flexibility? The THD's are cool but I have a mixture of 16ohm and 8ohm cabs, is there a Hotplate that I can get to use with both Ohm settings instead of have to buy 2 Hotplates?

[/ QUOTE ]

The marshall power brake also allows you to switch between 8 and 16 ohm, marshall people swear by them, i have one and it sounds good, the hotplate just gives you the little EQ switches to compistate.

[Twisteramps]

Re: Thinking about getting an attenuator ...

The Weber mass has a speaker driver inside it... it's more reactive than the other attenuators. I'd give a +1 to the Mass just from what I've heard about it and also since it's a different technology than just gluing a ton of high wattage resistors to a heatsink, which is what a lot of attenuators do.

Pete

[Deneb]

Re: Thinking about getting an attenuator ...

I read that those attenuators can cause problems in the amp. I would like to specify, I want to say it can cause things in the power stage, but then again< I don't know.

[Shawn Lutz]

Re: Thinking about getting an attenuator ...

Thanks guys...I'll check out the Weber Mass.

I have heard a lot more bad things about the Marshall Power Break than anything else...dunno if its product misuse or what

[2Loud2Old]

Re: Thinking about getting an attenuator ...

I got a THD Hotplate after reading a thread on Harmony-Central.

Basically, 1 or 2 guys did some very thorough research on the various attenuators.

It was a very long monster thread, with alot of great info and sound samples.

In the end, the THD Hotplate seemed to come out on top for me.. most considered the Powerbrake fairly poorly.

I'd suggest you search for it on the amp forum before you make a decision.

[neilli]

Re: Thinking about getting an attenuator ...

I just did a search and found this thread: I've been thinking about getting a THD Hotplate as well - this might sound stupid, but do they need power? As with most things, they're cheaper in the US than over here, but obviously I don't want to have to buy a transformer as well!

[Chuckracer]

Re: Thinking about getting an attenuator ...

No, the amp powers it. Just a speaker cable from the amp the the 'Plate, then from the 'Plate to the cab.

[Cleveland Metal]

Re: Thinking about getting an attenuator ...

What about the Palmer Boxes? I thought they were sposed to be cool? Any comments?

[Chuckracer]

Re: Thinking about getting an attenuator ...

Very cool...pretty spendy, too. Easily twice what a Hotplate or Weber would cost.
Really, it's more of a recording device designed to dump ALL of the amps output and convert to a line level signal.