Weber Attenuator...tone sucker?

[Misanthrope189]

Hey,
I have owned a Weber Stereo Mass for a few months now, and a constant feeling that has come up is that it is drying out my tone. I know Weber makes good products, and even these attenuators use a real speaker motor as attenuation instead of just resistors. I also know that the more attenuation one uses, the more compromise on tone there is...but has anyone else had this problem? I feel like if I just turn the amp up a little bit without the attenuator, it breathes so much more, with highs that sing, and bass that breathes out through the speakers...but when I use the attenuator, it seems to compress the signal, or kill the bass. It tends to add more crunch and distortion, because then I can crank the power amp itself, but it seems to steal any liveliness from the signal. I don't want to say Weber makes a terrible attenuator, but I also don't want to say that the signal that comes through the Weber is what the tube amp actually sounds like cranked. I'm not sure what to do. Perhaps attenuation still isn't useable at very high levels. Any input or recommendations?

Cheers,
Nick

[yabba]

like you said, all attenuation isn't great for tone when heavily used. How much are you attenuating? And at what volume levels (some of what you're missing when attenuating could be the speakers getting worked a bit more, and there's no way around that but volume, sadly)

[Misanthrope189]

Well, I'm playing at apartment levels...so it's generally pretty heavy attenuation. Can't do much to get around that. It's just strange that the attenuator sounds worse than the power amp just played at low levels. Interestingly also...I bought the attenuator when I played a Mesa 50/50, which seemed to benefit from attenuation; now that I have a Mesa 2:90, the beast seems much happier without it...strange.

Cheers,
Nick

[jgcable]

Well, I'm playing at apartment levels...so it's generally pretty heavy attenuation. Can't do much to get around that. It's just strange that the attenuator sounds worse than the power amp just played at low levels. Interestingly also...I bought the attenuator when I played a Mesa 50/50, which seemed to benefit from attenuation; now that I have a Mesa 2:90, the beast seems much happier without it...strange.

Cheers,
Nick

Thats what an overly attenuated signal sounds like unfortunately.

[akoch]

I'm using both Webber and THD hotplate. Usefull devices, if you are after getting useful tone with lower volume. Yes, both suck the tone. Yes, both do it minimally if you attunuate slightly, and the effect becomes more pronounced as you lean heavier on it. But you sound suffers just as well if you can not turn up the amp volume. So the sweetspot is in the middle: use a bit of attentuation if you have to, be able to turn up the amp a bit.

[jgcable]

Attenuators are great if you use them sparingly

[slo100]

I don't have experience with the Weber unit but I currently use a THD HotPlate with my 1970 Marshall Super Bass. My opinion about the attenuators is they are great for getting real power section gain at band/practice/live volumes. For practice and bedroom levels they are not useful in the least because as noted above...those volume levels require maximum attenuation which squashes the tone. I think they are best used for amps like mine that don't have a lot of gain at *any* useable volume level. If I were to use my Super Bass at the volume required to get it to overdrive no one else would be heard. Another thing is if you are driving your power section that hard and attenuating it, the amp is working hard and accelerating the wear on your tubes. That may not be worth it for practice and bedroom playing. Save it for jamming and playing with your band!

[mrhiwatt]

Nick,

I assume you are using a preamp into your Mesa Power amp. Rack rigs do not generally use any power amp distortion all of it comes from your preamp or a preamp distortion pedal. I play thru a rack rig A JMP-1 in the effects loop of A Boss GT-8. I run the power amp volumes at 75% and use the gt-8 to adjust the volume of a patch. It sounds good at all volumes. Are you using an effects unit? I have friends that use TC G-force in the same manor. A attenuator is not needed with most rack setups.

MrHiwatt

[Misanthrope189]

I'm running a Triaxis into the Mesa power amp. So you think I should dime the power amp, and then use the triaxis' output controls to control the overall volume?

Cheers,
Nick

[Outlander]

try 60 to 80% on the power amp and adjust the output level on the tri. You may not get the tone your after as you just don't get that breathing and sound pressure at apt. volume.