Howdy all, I'm getting an amp back that I seriously regretted parting with. It's another Kenrick Black Gold series. I had a BG 50 and it was unquestionably the HEAVIEST and one of the loudest amps I've played. The 3 knob reverb was to die for! It didn't like fuzzes and od pedals much, but didn't need them---it sounded best just cranked to the hilt. Anywho, I've got a 2x10 BG 35 coming and I'm seriously looking at attenuators for it so I can crank it without slaughtering my band and the first 9 rows in the audience . Where do I start??? Dr.Z, Trainwreck, Weber, HELP Pleeze!
Pro's and Con's too. Tell me what's the story and what amp you're using them with.
I have been thinking of getting an attentuator lately as well.
From what I have heard the THD is supposed to be one of the best with the Weber close behind and each having their own high points. The thing I don't like about the THD Hotplate is that the impedance isn't switchable.
I don't care for attenuators that much. I have a Weber MASS (for my 100W heads) it just robs the magic (=presence) from my plexi's. Marshall Powerbreak; puh-lease... THD Hotplate.. hmmmfff..
Only attenuator I can life with is the Allesandro Muzzle. Rated 50W max. so enough for your application.
quote: posted September 14, 2004 10:32 AM I don't care for attenuators that much. I have a Weber MASS (for my 100W heads) it just robs the magic (=presence) from my plexi's. Marshall Powerbreak; puh-lease... THD Hotplate.. hmmmfff..
Only attenuator I can life with is the Allesandro Muzzle. Rated 50W max. so enough for your application.
my 2 cts.
I may have to check into that because the amps I will mainly use the attenuator with are Marshalls.
Do they only come in 50 watt versions or do they make a 100watt?
I agree with J. Stax. I have a Mass, and while it can be useful in certain situations, it really takes some life out of your tone. I can hear it at low attenuation settings, let alone high attenuation.
"-B-But, you have perfect MCAT scores...?! -Yeah...Just 'cause you're hung like a moose doesn't mean you gotta do porn!"
What ever happened with the Barber attenuator... I remember ToneDog got a chance to try one out... I too have always been looking for one that would have a very minimal impact on my tone in a 2 ohm unit....
I use a Hot Plate to get a more knob in the little bars we play in. I've had good luck with it. Volume is a constant issue for us due to the sizes of the venues. The "bright" and "deep" switches give you some EQ, which is cool. I only use one or two clicks, a reduction of 4 or 8db. More than that and the tone does suffer.
I use a 16 ohm (blue) Hotplate with a Vox AC-30TBX and honestly I couldn't play without it as the amp would be too loud. It allows you to get some power tube distortion tones without being overly loud. I agree with Cliff that past 8 dB of attenuation and your tone will take a hit. It is bit heavy to drag around but not that bad.
Hey! Thanks guys! Good answers and info all around. The Kendrick won't be here until next week and I've got some time before our next gig to see how it does...
My 4ohm Hotplate makes my amp far more manageable in certain situations. If I still played out, I would definitely use it to manage volume/tone to match the room.
The tweed channel on my Tone King is not as usable without it - the hollow sound of a tweed was made for teles. The blackface side is okay without it (perfect for strats) but the tweed side just needs it.
I have a Dr Z airbrake and a weber Mass 1oo with all the trimmings (extra speaker out, DI out and switchable ohmage and bright switch).
I was happy with the airbrake on my Orange EL34 head and Framus 4 EL84 combo and only when I got my DivBy13 Head and cab did I notice that even the first click of attenuation took away the magic. The Airbrake is easy to use, the bypass + 4 clicks of attenutaion were just right for gigs (I would start with 2 clicks and end on 1 or none) and is quite light although big casing.
I got the MAss becuase Fred at D13 feels it's speaker coil design works better with the D13 and he was right to a certian extent. However, there are a few issues with the Weber. The things I dislike is that whilst it has a bypass switch on the back, once you unbypass so that it attenuates, even the minimum setting was too big a jump. It has a chickenhead that goes from 1 to 10 (most to least attenuation). I found that that 6 or 7 was the lowest setting without castrating the sound and just wished there wasn't such a leap between 10 and bypass.
I think it's important to try a few with your rig, as from this experience different amps sound best with different attenuators.
quote:However, there are a few issues with the Weber. The things I dislike is that whilst it has a bypass switch on the back, once you unbypass so that it attenuates, even the minimum setting was too big a jump. ...and just wished there wasn't such a leap between 10 and bypass.
That was one thing I thought I might like about the MASS was the bypass. I was thinking with a MV amp you could bypass the MASS for a Lead boost, but that sounds like that might not work now.
Well you'd definitely get a volume boost - dunno whether it might be too much of a jump. However, you'd have to reach round to the Mass and flick a switch (one of those big metal lever type ones's like lots of amps use as a power switch)to do so. No footswitchability for that.
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. Where do I start??? Dr.Z, Trainwreck, Weber, HELP Pleeze! 
I guess that's what I get for thinking.
