Attenuator questions
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2022 11:50 am
I've never played an amp with an attenuator so I have zero idea of what they are capable of doing? The YouTubes I've watched of attenuators seem to be demo-ing the attenuators at what seems to still be a moderate volume? In other words, a YouTube might show a 50watt amp with an attenuator but it sounds like the attenuator is simply dropping the volume to what might be like 12-14 watts in the YouTube and not 5 watts?
I have a friend who has a 14 watt cathode biased tube amp that is "too loud" for his home.
He is now considering getting a Plexi 50w and using an attenuator like the "Ox" to try to have something that's perhaps 5 watts or less in volume.
Q1) Would an attenuator like the OX actually reduce a 50w Plexi down to a 5 watt type volume and still maintain a good crunch overdriven tone? OR is there sort of a minimum level of
attenuation before it loses "that" bigger sounding overdrive tone? In other words, using an attenuator with a 50w amp .......... can you still keep good tone down to 5 watts OR
once you attenuate below 12 watts, it loses good tone?
Q2) Do attenuators wear out tubes or amps faster?
Q3) IF someone was going that attenuator route to reduce volume, is it worth the $$$ to get something like an OX vs. something much less expensive like a Weber Mini-mass?
Q4) IF someone was looking to get a Plexi sound at a 5 watt or so volume, do you think one could come closer to that with the attenuator OR a Plexi 50w topology but using 6BM8
power tubes (cathode biased) for maybe 7-8 watts and then using a PPIMV to further reduce the tone? In other words, go the attenuator or 6BM8 power tubes for that tone?
With respect, 10thtx
I have a friend who has a 14 watt cathode biased tube amp that is "too loud" for his home.
He is now considering getting a Plexi 50w and using an attenuator like the "Ox" to try to have something that's perhaps 5 watts or less in volume.
Q1) Would an attenuator like the OX actually reduce a 50w Plexi down to a 5 watt type volume and still maintain a good crunch overdriven tone? OR is there sort of a minimum level of
attenuation before it loses "that" bigger sounding overdrive tone? In other words, using an attenuator with a 50w amp .......... can you still keep good tone down to 5 watts OR
once you attenuate below 12 watts, it loses good tone?
Q2) Do attenuators wear out tubes or amps faster?
Q3) IF someone was going that attenuator route to reduce volume, is it worth the $$$ to get something like an OX vs. something much less expensive like a Weber Mini-mass?
Q4) IF someone was looking to get a Plexi sound at a 5 watt or so volume, do you think one could come closer to that with the attenuator OR a Plexi 50w topology but using 6BM8
power tubes (cathode biased) for maybe 7-8 watts and then using a PPIMV to further reduce the tone? In other words, go the attenuator or 6BM8 power tubes for that tone?
With respect, 10thtx