Power Attenuator and Mesa Mark V head

[rkaczano]

Has anyone ever used a Power Attenuator on a Mesa head?

I have been researching this and it sounds like you can get great tone at low levels when playing in a house.

I am wondering if this is worth the investment.

Sounds like the ones that inlcude load boxes do not have be plugged into speakers (i.e. AMP to Attenuator only if need be). And the one without load boxes my must be plugged into speakers (Amp to Attenuator to Speakers).

I believe you can also go line out from the attenuator into a mixing board or into an interface for recording.

EXAMPLES
http://www.rivera.com/products/power/rockcrusher.php
http://www.palmer-germany.com/mi/en/Speaker-Simulators.htm
http://thdelectronics.com/product_page_hotplate.html


Thanks

 

[masque]

yep they are usually a good investment for running the amp harder at low volumes.....my mark v responds very well to my hot plate.

 

[knotts]

I use a Rock Crusher on my Roadster and I love it. It's not cheap but it works great. Built like a tank and doesn't color the sound.

 

[rkaczano]

I have been looking at the Rock Crusher. I am a big fan Rivera.

Really need to maximize my tone while playing in my basement. I am limited by how loud I can play. It is like having an iPhone with no connectivity (over-priced camera!). Really looking to see if a power attenuator mitigates the tonal theivary that occurs at lower volumes.

Rivera just released a new "Recording" version:
http://www.rivera.com/index.php/products/power-attenuator/351

Not sure if I want the extra optons in the Recording version.


Thanks

 

[knotts]

It's my first experience with any Rivera products and I must say I am impressed. It is a substantial piece of hardware, especially when you compare it to a hot plate. I don't think you need all of the eq settings for a few hundred bucks. I believe the tonal theivery that you mentioned is minimal with this product and can be easily compensated with the knobs on your amp. If you're looking to take a 100 watt amp and play it so that it isn't heard in the next room you will be disappointed. I think the application works best when the power is attenuated only slightly to drive the power tubes harder and to keep someone else in the room from going deaf.

There are tons of threads on attenuation on this site. It's worth the research before dropping some coin on a good attenuator. With that said, I bought mine through guitar center used. It looked brand new and saved me $150. It was definitely worth it at that price.

 

[caribefatboy]

I just ordered the Soldano-designed JETTENUATOR for $239 http://www.fullcompass.com/product/441573.htmlto use with one of the channels from my TRIAXIS / Stereo 2:Ninety. It has a record line out with a separate volume control, as well as an XLR with a cab sim on it. Will let you know how it works next week! next week!

 

[rkaczano]

How did the Jet work out?

Thanks

RK