Attenuators and experiences you've had...

Post by **Scumback Speakers** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 1:19 pm

Anyone using one and like the results? Any damage to the OT's?

The reason I ask is for years I've heard pretty much nasty reviews and experiences, with the only good experience being 908ssp with his Richter Attenuator.

I've read over the years that they:

1) Suck tone (heard that for myself) quickly.
2) Strain your tubes, and shorten their life.
3) Strain your output transformer.

Any new observations on the best ones, least tone suckage, and any damage to amp reports? Just curious.

5150loveeddie · Post by **5150loveeddie** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 1:51 pm

Well they sound much better (hotplate) then using a master volume, of course you loose somewhere the more you attenuate but it compresses also so it is cool sometimes, as for the safety factors I had none but I know they could happen apparently...

jbzoso2002 · Post by **jbzoso2002** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 1:57 pm

I USE A THD HOTPLATE. when you crank a marshall with max
attenuation (-16db) i have had redplate probs. if your useing
med or low attenuation they work pretty well. there are probably
better attenuators avail than the hot plate.

jimmy

cole · Post by **cole** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 2:40 pm

I've been using the UA with my Metro built 68 12 Series (I also have a THD Hot Plate) and it's just wonderful!!
I have no qualms about it or issues, the amp doesn't get hot and I get KILLER tones at bedroom levels.

Mine was built with the 100V AC tap, plexi switch, bedroom switch, 200 watt beefed up capacity, and a variable line out.

I can honestly say this unit sounds much better than the Hot Plate.

Oh...and using the 100 volt tap is the ticket to the brown sound!

Cole

Freedom · Post by **Freedom** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 5:15 pm

I used to have a hotplate but i didn't like it with my plexi not even when set on -8db...i sold it cause i prefer the PPIMV...

I was thinking of ordering an UA but i want more opinions about it...i don't care much about bedroom levels, when my plexi is dimed -8dbs is enough for me...still, i need to be sure that the UA with about -8db attenuation (= NOT bedroom level) won't transform the super touch sensitive, with the great dynamics, semi-OD sound i am getting to something with less musicality...

bluze81 · Post by **bluze81** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 8:35 pm

cole wrote:I've been using the UA with my Metro built 68 12 Series (I also have a THD Hot Plate) and it's just wonderful!!
I have no qualms about it or issues, the amp doesn't get hot and I get KILLER tones at bedroom levels.

Mine was built with the 100V AC tap, plexi switch, bedroom switch, 200 watt beefed up capacity, and a variable line out.

I can honestly say this unit sounds much better than the Hot Plate.

Oh...and using the 100 volt tap is the ticket to the brown sound!

Cole

Cole did you order your UA? I didnt know you could get options as such, not to pry but was it expensive with the swithes,line out, and tap,? thanks Steve

cole · Post by **cole** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 9:18 pm

The UA cost me near $700 USD.

Worth every friggin penny too!!

Ordered it online and then spoke with the gentleman who sells 'em.

Check out their site...

http://www.ultimateattenuator.com/purchase.html

Stratabuse · Post by **Stratabuse** » Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:10 pm

Yeah I'll have to second what Cole is saying. I've been using my UA with my 100w metro build for a year or so now & I love it & I've never had any issues. I have never really noticed any tone loss or loss of amp response between when I've dimed the amp or playing it attenuated at say a club volume level. I got the 300w version & also the dual volume option which is the coolest thing because live I can just hit a footswitch & boom instant volume boost for solo's without changing my tone, it's kinda like having another channel on my amp. Yes, they are kinda of pricey but
as Cole said, worth every freakin' penny!

wdelaney72 · Post by **wdelaney72** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:31 am

Jim,
I've used a HotPlate for 3 years and find it to be very useful and practical. Is it perfect... No, but it does what it should for the purposes of playing in a band and not killing your bandmates or audience. Sure there are tone compromises, but it's not as bad as people make them out to be... again consider the way it's being used. I'm sure the UA is great, but for what it costs (even directly through Ho) I'd expect no tone compromise and a reach around to go with it, but I'm sure it's got some tone loss as well.

HEAVIER THAN HELL · Post by **HEAVIER THAN HELL** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 11:43 am

I'm not really a fan of attenuators, but I've noticed that Badcat are now offering a powersoak device - anyone checked that out yet?

thousandshirts · Post by **thousandshirts** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:09 pm

I don't believe in attenuators.

However, a forum member here brought by his Ultimate Attenuator a few weeks back. I had done some work on one of his amps, and suggested that he bring his normal rig (guitar, pedals, etc.) out with him to give the amp a full test before taking it home. We hooked up the UA and I must say I was quite impressed.

NY Chief · Post by **NY Chief** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:32 pm

HEAVIER THAN HELL wrote:I'm not really a fan of attenuators, but I've noticed that Badcat are now offering a powersoak device - anyone checked that out yet?

Someone here tried it a while back and didn't like it all IIRC.

Flames1950 · Post by **Flames1950** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 6:07 pm

NY Chief wrote:
HEAVIER THAN HELL wrote:I'm not really a fan of attenuators, but I've noticed that Badcat are now offering a powersoak device - anyone checked that out yet?
Someone here tried it a while back and didn't like it all IIRC.

I tried one and thought it was an utter waste of money. Most of the attenuation knob's range didn't seem to do anything at all. By the time the knob started to drop the volume you were in the last 10% or so of its travel -- you couldn't fine tune the sound for your life in that tiny a space on the knob. What I did hear didn't sound as good as my UA. I e-mailed Bad Cat about it and they stonewalled me, so I passed it off on crap-Bay ASAP.
My meter was showing DC resistances on it of up to thirty-odd ohms so I couldn't believe it was any nicer on an amp than the UA's 30-ohm load.

Mr. Beasty · Post by **Mr. Beasty** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:55 pm

I bought a Hotplate when they first cameout some 15 years ago ... not one problem.
I had a Marshall SE-100 before that and that was a horrible unit.

Billy Batz · Post by **Billy Batz** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:37 pm

Ive usd nearlky every major attenuator out there. I now own a Ho UA and MASS150 both Ive been using for several years. Ive never had a problem of any kind. With so many people cranking amps into these things I would think your going to have problems. Not necessarily more then if those people cranked the amps anyway. But you never know the specifics of the problem.