Yet ANOTHER attenuator thread

RipVanWinkle · 07-28-2006, 02:30 PM

Is this

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=260-265

The L-pad that MajorTom Attenuators are built off of?

**thesteve** · 07-28-2006, 03:04 PM

It sure looks like it (i had one)...though I'd wait for Tom to actually respond before being certain

edriver · 07-28-2006, 03:07 PM

I can't find a major tom attenuator on the net. does he have a website?

RipVanWinkle · 07-28-2006, 03:11 PM

lol..

no you probably wont.

He is a very knowledgable member here on the boards that has a cheap attenuator (not as powerful as "real" ones) but they range around 8-20 bucks.

**thesteve** · 07-28-2006, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RipVanWinkle

lol..

no you probably wont.

He is a very knowledgable member here on the boards that has a cheap attenuator (not as powerful as "real" ones) but they range around 8-20 bucks.

I know Brent made his attenuator out of a 100W stereo amplifier attenuator, I think similar to that one. I don't know what the "original-spec" rating for the MT attenuator is, but I believe that the usage rating with guitar amplification is around 30W for heavy attenuation, or 40-60W for lighter attenutation.

Ax · 07-30-2006, 12:12 PM

he makes attenuators for???? i want one for my B-52 for recording and practicing but i can't afford a hot-plate or whateve it's called... if he makes them for guitar amps then hot dang i'll buy one... i also have no idea how to set one up and have seen them on MF and it uses words i've never heard before.. like attenuation... and other stuff... lol.. i know what it is and does, but installing and setting one up scares me...

Ryan Freeland · 07-30-2006, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AXguitar

he makes attenuators for???? i want one for my B-52 for recording and practicing but i can't afford a hot-plate or whateve it's called... if he makes them for guitar amps then hot dang i'll buy one... i also have no idea how to set one up and have seen them on MF and it uses words i've never heard before.. like attenuation... and other stuff... lol.. i know what it is and does, but installing and setting one up scares me...

MT makes them for guitar amps. And they are placed between the power amp and the speakers. But, since your B-52 is 100 watts, the MT attenuator may not be able to handle that much wattage with high attenuation.

Ax · 07-30-2006, 02:28 PM

i'll ask him when he comes... i knew they were placed between the amp and the speakers, what i don't know is like all the crazy lingo on the MF website..

Major Tom · 07-30-2006, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RipVanWinkle

Is this

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=260-265

The L-pad that MajorTom Attenuators are built off of?

Yes that is the one. Ignore the 100 watt rating, that does not apply to guitar amps. With heavy distortion tones, 30 watts max, with milder tones (moderate OD) it can handle 50 watt amps, like my HR DeVille. What I do is put them on an bracket that I fabricate, wire 'em up with a plug and jack for plug and play installation. Not a difficult for a DIY project, if you have the right size drill bits, soldering equipment, etc.

Note that any power attenuator will produce a fair amount of heat as a by-product of "throwing away" the output from the amp, therefore they do need to be mounted on something like a metal bracket, screwed to the inside the amp cab so they don't melt tolex, carpet, whatever. Not hot enough to start a fire or cause serious burns, but too hot to hold on to.

Brent · 07-31-2006, 01:45 PM

Actually that L-pad the link is to is only an 8-ohm version. If your speakers use an 8 ohm load then that's fine, but mine was 16, so that is not the pad I used.

Here's the thread that I posted all the part numbers I used in: click.

And here's the one Major Tom posted with a schematic: click.

RipVanWinkle · 07-31-2006, 02:15 PM

Ok...this may be dumb...I dont know what it would do, due to the fact that Ive never used one. Would it be possible, or practical to wire 2 of them daisy chained?

Ax · 07-31-2006, 02:17 PM

i would say no..

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 07-31-2006, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AXguitar

he makes attenuators for???? i want one for my B-52 for recording and practicing but i can't afford a hot-plate or whateve it's called... if he makes them for guitar amps then hot dang i'll buy one... i also have no idea how to set one up and have seen them on MF and it uses words i've never heard before.. like attenuation... and other stuff... lol.. i know what it is and does, but installing and setting one up scares me...

you will probably want an altair or scholz power soak

This is precisely the same model attenuator I use. I quite like it. In my valve Junior I have basically a Major Tom attenuator using a stereo lpad jumpered to 4 ohms.

i would jump on the altair myself as I know it and love it.

Basically what it does is cuts the signal post power amp so you can get the cranked amp sound quieter. I have a 120 watt Peavey all tube amp and the altair does a nice job of taming the beast without eating my tone, which many attenuators are accused of doing.

***BillSPrestonEsq*** · 07-31-2006, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RipVanWinkle

Ok...this may be dumb...I dont know what it would do, due to the fact that Ive never used one. Would it be possible, or practical to wire 2 of them daisy chained?

what do you mean? precisely.

Ax · 07-31-2006, 02:25 PM

he would mean run his cables speaker ----> attenuator ---> second attenuator--- > amp