"Little Sucker" attenuator tone report

alligatorbling · 07-31-2008, 12:33 PM

I got this in the mail today and I have to say right off the bat that im very pleased with it! It does exactly what it says it in the sales description. Allows you to run your amp cranked and have that great overdriven tone, but at lower volumes. I ran this though my blackheart little giant and immediately set all the amps dials to 10 to test it out and was very happy to find that I could indeed get those hot tube maxed out tones at bedroom volume! If anyone has a
little giant of valve jr and face the dilemma of wanting max volume tone at low decibels this is worth a look! Heres an eBay link. For 60 bucks you cant beat it!

THE LITTLE SUCKER- ATTENUATOR

970harris · 07-31-2008, 03:43 PM

Wow. That sounds like a really good value. How's the tone as you increase the attenuation? Does it thin out much?

PS here is a link to one review at Harmony-Central. Don't know if there are others.

http://reviews.harmony-central.com/r...le+Sucker/10/1

***b-squared*** · 07-31-2008, 03:47 PM

Cool.

BB

stryker59 · 07-31-2008, 07:01 PM

shotgunlew · 07-31-2008, 07:19 PM

sweet deal

randelli · 07-31-2008, 11:14 PM

UMMM I am pretty simple and cheap, couldn't this be made for less than $20?

Look at this link: Using a Wall-Mounted Speaker Attenuator as a Guitar Amp Power Attenuator

I bet some really smart but equally cheap guy could figure out how to do this.

alligatorbling · 07-31-2008, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randelli

UMMM I am pretty simple and cheap, couldn't this be made for less than $20?

Look at this link: Using a Wall-Mounted Speaker Attenuator as a Guitar Amp Power Attenuator

I bet some really smart but equally cheap guy could figure out how to do this.

im sure it could be made for peanuts... i had never built one before though and figured id buy one that was sure to work... if i ever need another one ill more than likely take this one apart to learn how it works and build it myself

alligatorbling · 07-31-2008, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 970harris

Wow. That sounds like a really good value. How's the tone as you increase the attenuation? Does it thin out much?

PS here is a link to one review at Harmony-Central. Don't know if there are others.

Boutique Guitar Products The Little Sucker: Harmony Central User Reviews

it retains the tone very well! there might be a tiny bit of change if any at all...

LPGEM · 08-02-2008, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 970harris

Wow. That sounds like a really good value. How's the tone as you increase the attenuation? Does it thin out much?

PS here is a link to one review at Harmony-Central. Don't know if there are others.

Boutique Guitar Products The Little Sucker: Harmony Central User Reviews

That one review is the guy selling them on Ebay. So, I'm glad we got a real world review. Let's keep the reviews comin here!

970harris · 08-04-2008, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alligatorbling

it Retains The Tone Very Well! There Might Be A Tiny Bit Of Change If Any At All...

Nice!...

LPGEM · 08-11-2008, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alligatorbling

it retains the tone very well! there might be a tiny bit of change if any at all...

Do you still feel (hear) the same after having it a little while? Thanks

alligatorbling · 08-11-2008, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LPGEM

Do you still feel (hear) the same after having it a little while? Thanks

mostly yes.... The only negative things ive picked up on are that I have noticed some treble loss when i have the attenuator set to a lower volume with the amp cranked wide slam open, it can start to get a little farty... i set the bass back to almost 0 when I run it like that to combat the problem... other than that i have no complaints... it really shines when you run the attenuator about at about noon with the amp cranked... still has quite a bit of volume but still a lot quieter than running the amp straight wide open without it. for 60 bucks its a great little box

I just installed an EH 12AY7 in place of the tung-sol 12AX7 i had in there so ill have to play around with it again and see how it sounds now.

Splattle101 · 08-11-2008, 10:10 PM

It sounds like a beauty. A note of caution, however.

You have to be extremely careful with the impedance of any device you put between the speakers and the output of a tube amp. The amp needs to have a certain minimum load on its output, and if you go below that your output transformer (and probably your power tranny and tubes) will blow.

Smoke. Bad smell. No sound. Large bill.

For example, if your output impedance is 8 Ohms, and you put in a 4 Ohm load, you’re going to be very sad.

Going the other way, you can put a HIGHER load on your output, but only up to a point. For example, if you have a 2 Ohm output impedance (e.g. a Bassman) and you hook up a 4 Ohm load, all will be well. However, if you hook up an 8 Ohm (or higher) box you may be heading for a world of hurt if you’re running the amp hard.

So if you’re planning to use this or any other attenuator, make sure that:

1. It absolutely, positively IS NOT LOWER IMPEDANCE than the output impedance of your amp. This way lies madness, death and an expensive trip to the amp doctor.

2. It isn’t more than twice the output impedance of your amp, as a rough rule of thumb.

cheers,
Splat

Fitzwell · 08-12-2008, 03:11 AM

IT`S A FAKE LOL LOOK AT THE KNOB. Great score alligatorbling and I agree with Splattle101
100% good words of advice mate and again great deal $60 bucks SWEET.

singlecut · 08-12-2008, 08:13 AM

I Got 1 From Another Seller On Ebay, $20.00 Shipped To House. Not A Bad Unit, Sold It With My Hot Rod Deluxe, Worked Just Fine

LPGEM · 08-12-2008, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alligatorbling

mostly yes.... The only negative things ive picked up on are that I have noticed some treble loss when i have the attenuator set to a lower volume with the amp cranked wide slam open, it can start to get a little farty... i set the bass back to almost 0 when I run it like that to combat the problem... other than that i have no complaints... it really shines when you run the attenuator about at about noon with the amp cranked... still has quite a bit of volume but still a lot quieter than running the amp straight wide open without it. for 60 bucks its a great little box

I just installed an EH 12AY7 in place of the tung-sol 12AX7 i had in there so ill have to play around with it again and see how it sounds now.

Thanks for the info. Let us know how the 12ay7 does.

07-31-2008, 12:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
alligatorbling Master Entertainter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Central VA Posts: 14,370 Thanks: 455 Thanked 549 Times in 121 Posts	"Little Sucker" attenuator tone report I got this in the mail today and I have to say right off the bat that im very pleased with it! It does exactly what it says it in the sales description. Allows you to run your amp cranked and have that great overdriven tone, but at lower volumes. I ran this though my blackheart little giant and immediately set all the amps dials to 10 to test it out and was very happy to find that I could indeed get those hot tube maxed out tones at bedroom volume! If anyone has a little giant of valve jr and face the dilemma of wanting max volume tone at low decibels this is worth a look! Heres an eBay link. For 60 bucks you cant beat it! THE LITTLE SUCKER- ATTENUATOR __________________ "It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." -Jiddu Krishnamurti

07-31-2008, 03:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
970harris Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Steamboat Springs, CO Posts: 279 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: "Little Sucker" attenuator tone report Wow. That sounds like a really good value. How's the tone as you increase the attenuation? Does it thin out much? PS here is a link to one review at Harmony-Central. Don't know if there are others. http://reviews.harmony-central.com/r...le+Sucker/10/1

07-31-2008, 03:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
*b-squared* 'MLP Mid-West' Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: About 15 minutes from the LOU...(STL) Posts: 12,157 Thanks: 270 Thanked 187 Times in 28 Posts	Re: "Little Sucker" attenuator tone report Cool. BB __________________ I use: WB Custom Pickups--6707 VTP/VTPH, 5707 Prototypes, Habaneros, Firewaters DeTemple 'Sweet Spot' Pickups (Strat) RS Guitarworks Electronics Jonesy's Caps

07-31-2008, 07:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
stryker59 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: staunton, va Posts: 3,316 Thanks: 21 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	Re: "Little Sucker" attenuator tone report __________________ *you've been weighed, measured, and found wanting!*

07-31-2008, 07:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
shotgunlew V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3,476 Thanks: 40 Thanked 9 Times in 3 Posts	Re: "Little Sucker" attenuator tone report sweet deal __________________ 60% of the time...it works every time.... Gun Control = Using Both Hands!! Everyone Please Pray for Sgt Jeffery Crones and the rest of the boys in iraq! Get some boys! Chris "The Gunhand" Of the MLP Pirates Crew 1986 Les Paul Jr (Cherry red Singlecut ) 1994 MIJ fender Telecaster 52 reissue 1984 JCM 800 1x12 50 watt combo Behringer 4x12 cab (Bugera speakers)

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07-31-2008, 11:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
randelli Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Bakersfield, CA Posts: 747 Thanks: 24 Thanked 34 Times in 11 Posts	Re: "Little Sucker" attenuator tone report UMMM I am pretty simple and cheap, couldn't this be made for less than $20? Look at this link: Using a Wall-Mounted Speaker Attenuator as a Guitar Amp Power Attenuator I bet some really smart but equally cheap guy could figure out how to do this. __________________ ~randelli Life is too short to play with bad drummers. http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...75&ref=profile

08-11-2008, 10:10 PM	#13 (permalink)
Splattle101 V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Australia Posts: 3,043 Thanks: 19 Thanked 98 Times in 17 Posts	Re: "Little Sucker" attenuator tone report It sounds like a beauty. A note of caution, however. You have to be extremely careful with the impedance of any device you put between the speakers and the output of a tube amp. The amp needs to have a certain minimum load on its output, and if you go below that your output transformer (and probably your power tranny and tubes) will blow. Smoke. Bad smell. No sound. Large bill. For example, if your output impedance is 8 Ohms, and you put in a 4 Ohm load, you’re going to be very sad. Going the other way, you can put a HIGHER load on your output, but only up to a point. For example, if you have a 2 Ohm output impedance (e.g. a Bassman) and you hook up a 4 Ohm load, all will be well. However, if you hook up an 8 Ohm (or higher) box you may be heading for a world of hurt if you’re running the amp hard. So if you’re planning to use this or any other attenuator, make sure that: 1. It absolutely, positively IS NOT LOWER IMPEDANCE than the output impedance of your amp. This way lies madness, death and an expensive trip to the amp doctor. 2. It isn’t more than twice the output impedance of your amp, as a rough rule of thumb. cheers, Splat __________________ *...A tasty world...a very* tasty world...**

08-12-2008, 03:11 AM	#14 (permalink)
Fitzwell Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 77 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: "Little Sucker" attenuator tone report IT`S A FAKE LOL LOOK AT THE KNOB. Great score alligatorbling and I agree with Splattle101 100% good words of advice mate and again great deal $60 bucks SWEET. __________________ "BOTTOMS UP" OOOOOOh Thats what she meant HEY I Too was an amish rake fighter

08-12-2008, 08:13 AM	#15 (permalink)
singlecut Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: in the land of dial up Posts: 2,025 Thanks: 43 Thanked 103 Times in 18 Posts	Re: "Little Sucker" attenuator tone report I Got 1 From Another Seller On Ebay, $20.00 Shipped To House. Not A Bad Unit, Sold It With My Hot Rod Deluxe, Worked Just Fine __________________ PROUD USER OF THE SCOTONE

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