Attenuators and amps with a master volume

[RG31]

Amen, brother. Rock and roll isn't about getting dreamy tone, its about playing loud and making do with what you have...and using that to stick it to the man! I find it interesting that the "dreamy tones" we are all looking for stem from back in the classic days when guys had less technology available to them and played with what they had.

My "dreamy tones" come from a '76 JMP MV, a TS-9, DOD Fuzz, and DOD Stereo Chorus. May buy a Wah pedal down the road, but in no hurry.

 

[frameboy]

I guess the question that it all really boils down to is...is the tone enhancement from power tube distortion really THAT much better than running the master volume at bedroom levels?

After reading through these posts and some other research, my gut tells me no...I'm beginning to think that regular volume levels compared to power tube distortion levels will only make a difference to the tone "snobs" (for lack of a better term) out there. To me, having pedals that get me supposedly very close to power tube distortion is good enough!

Thanks again guys!

Indeed.

Preamp gain shapes the sound, power amp gain is the petrol. For home use you can shape the sound with the preamp gain and save your hearing by using the master volume.

Even small tube amps without a master volume are murder at home, so if it's for home playing its either a very small tube amp (5 watts or less if no master volume) or a master volume amp, or a tube amp run with the gain down and something like a tube screamer in front of it.

But then, if yo don't turn the gain up, what's the point of the amp?

 

[eaglewolf]

There are several people that use an attenuator set to load and then use the line out of the attenuator into another amp to provide the cranked tone at a fraction of the volume. From the clips I've heard, this method sounds excellent. (Granted, these were YouTube clips, so take that comment for what it is worth.) I almost bought a Marshall JTM45 intending to use it this way, but then I decided to go in a different direction.

The downside of this approach is that you not only have to buy an attenuator, but also an extra amp if you don't already have one. While it doesn't have to be an expensive amp from what was posted about it, that is still another piece of gear to contend with.

Then there is the question of why spend nearly as much as the amp head itself to buy an attenuator. I thought the point of the Tweaker was to be able to use it for bedroom practice as well as some gigging. I don't have one, so I'm going on my impressions from those that have commented on the amp. In any case, it sounds to me like it would just be an expensive project in which the results most likely wouldn't justify the money spent.

David

 

[David Corrales]

One good thing about an attenuator (and partly why I want one now) is to record directly. You can set it to load and then use the line out to record directly, using an speaker emulation plugin such as Recabinet (which btw is on sale for $20 if you're interested ).

 

[onioner]

I guess the question that it all really boils down to is...is the tone enhancement from power tube distortion really THAT much better than running the master volume at bedroom levels?

Well, I do think it sounds that much better, but that's not what it really boils down to. What matters is how it sounds at the volume you will be playing at, and I think an amp turned down sounds better than a cranked amp through an attenuator. Lots of amps do like to be cranked though...

here's the deal.. to hear power tube distortion, you need to crack a CLEAN amp until it breaks up.... this is most easily done on a low wattage amplifier..

Dude, no, that's not true. Doesn't matter how big the amp is, or if it has a MV. Turn up a Twin Reverb until it distorts and you're still getting preamp distortion. Nearly every amp* used for guitar will distort in the preamp and possibly the PI by the time the power tubes break up. They kinda gotta to generate a signal strong enough to crack that big glass.

There are several people that use an attenuator set to load and then use the line out of the attenuator into another amp to provide the cranked tone at a fraction of the volume.

From what I've experienced, this is the best solution for those who really want to emulate a cranked amp sound w/out shaking the roof down. It aint perfect, but it's the best I know.**

*Note the "nearly" again. I've heard of a few exceptions. I believe the Trainwreck Rocket is one. Even then, it's arguable, just 'cause of where we draw the line for calling something "distortion."
**Well, actually, the best I know is a damn good modeling setup, but I'd rather not bring that up. Oops.