I have a fender 57 tweed deluxe and while I love the sound, I live in an nyc apartment. Now I don’t need lots of gain from the amp. I love the clean tone. I may sell the amp (I don’t gig since forever) but would I be nuts to spend another $350 plus to get the iron man attenuator? The problem with this amp vs others is that the volume goes up so quickly. Turning up the other channel helps, but changes the eq pretty drastically
Do I need an attenuator ?
- Thread starter Patshep
- Start date
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LowCaster
Tele-Afflicted
Yes! You may need an attenuator to play a 5w amp at home. My ears are delicate and I always use one. Other people play their Plexi with volume on 10, they are fools, but don’t worry they can’t hear us. However you don’t need a 350$ attenuator, they are made for big amps. You only need a L-Pad (25 bucks if DIY), or other small power attenuator. But it’s your money, if you are more afraid to loose tone than your money, go for it.
LowCaster
Tele-Afflicted
Sorry I thought you were talking about the 5w 57 custom champ. Do you mean 12w 57 Custom Deluxe or a real vintage tweed?
bebopbrain
Tele-Afflicted
Since you play clean, the only issue is the sensitivity of the volume knob. No need to attenuate.
Do you have a log (audio) taper volume pots? If not, they give more low gain adjustability.
Maybe use a volume pedal in front of the amp to pad the input signal so that it is more adjustable?
Or modify the "low" input to pad more than it does already, if you have low inputs?
Do you have a log (audio) taper volume pots? If not, they give more low gain adjustability.
Maybe use a volume pedal in front of the amp to pad the input signal so that it is more adjustable?
Or modify the "low" input to pad more than it does already, if you have low inputs?
Hi!
As for the attenuator-question...
I´d say yes
I think they´re very useful tools, and I use them all the time (at home, live, recording...).
They do just what the "sales literature" says they would
I tend to buy them for around a $100 or so, but other people are not afraid to pay $800 or more...
cheers - 68.
As for the attenuator-question...
I´d say yes
I think they´re very useful tools, and I use them all the time (at home, live, recording...).
They do just what the "sales literature" says they would
That´s a matter of personal preference, I guess.
I tend to buy them for around a $100 or so, but other people are not afraid to pay $800 or more...
cheers - 68.
Ricky D.
Doctor of Teleocity
I have a tweed Deluxe, and I use my guitar’s volume control for that purpose. Of course it’s pretty loud when I get into the overdrive, and that’s where an attenuator would help.
rze99
Doctor of Teleocity
I have loads of great tube amps and I use attenuators with all of them so that can get the sound I want at the volume for the circumstances. Alternatively get a little modeller for low volume fun.
northernguitar
Poster Extraordinaire
I like my Two Notes Captor V1. It only attenuates -20db, but that’s enough to bring my 15 watt amps to reasonable home playing levels. My Orange Rocker 15 Terror sounds better cranked and attenuated than it does with the amp on the 0.5W setting.
If you’re only playing clean, use your guitar volume after you set your basic sound, just roll it back until you’re at the desired volume. Until you get really low you’ll get much fuller sound
if that doesn’t do it you’ll need an attenuator which may or may not be good enough
if you’ve got the $$$ a powerstation is awesome and unbelievably useful
if that doesn’t do it you’ll need an attenuator which may or may not be good enough
if you’ve got the $$$ a powerstation is awesome and unbelievably useful
Nicko_Lps
Tele-Afflicted
If you dont need the natural distortion that occurs by pushing the amp, no you dont need an attenuator if you play clean and pedals in front of it.
Ive made a silly experiment lately with a homemade attenuator and realized that its hardly any difference because i was using a high gain preamp channel. If i wanted to get that distortion from my power amp 50% master vol + more, yeah it would be a must have.
There is an insane amount of posts all over the internet, resistive vs reactive load... Cheap vs Super expensive yet this video proves a load is "just a load" and nothing more.
Are you skilled in DIY? RobRob on his website has very easy to make and cheap attenuators schematics.
rdjones
Tele-Afflicted
A large part of the reason people want a "57 Deluxe" style or similar tube rectified push-pull amp in the first place is that saggy squish (compression) you get when playing clean-ish at volume just before breakup.
Using the guitar's or amp's volume, or pedals to lower the sound level will totally eliminate that effect.
An attenuator will preserve that effect for the most part at moderate settings but at higher amounts of attenuation (bedroom/apartment levels) you will suffer "tone loss" with the simpler cheaper circuits. This is where the more expensive units with tone compensation help out.
Using the guitar's or amp's volume, or pedals to lower the sound level will totally eliminate that effect.
An attenuator will preserve that effect for the most part at moderate settings but at higher amounts of attenuation (bedroom/apartment levels) you will suffer "tone loss" with the simpler cheaper circuits. This is where the more expensive units with tone compensation help out.
JPKmusicman
Tele-Meister
Lef T
Tele-Afflicted
I have a 5 watt Swart STR Trem.
I tried some OD pedals but didn't like them.
I bought the Toneking Ironman ll mini.
I like it, but it is going to change your tone.
If you're looking to keep the natural sound, but attenuated, it's not going to happen.
The highs will be cut somewhat and you will also notice some compression.
I still like the Ironman and would not part with it.
You could look at a Fryette but, now you're doubling the price to attenuate your amp.
You could get the Ironman from Sweetwater and if it doesn't suit your needs, you can return it.
Axean naexA
Friend of Leo's
.
I have a 2019 Fender ‘57 Custom Deluxe that I love cranking up to its gloriously saturated sweet spot, but that’s not always practical, so I looked into attenuating it and here are a couple reviews I did regarding two different type of products I got to specifically use with my Deluxe:
www.tdpri.com
www.tdpri.com
In my case the more typical Bugera attenuator failed to deliver (when used with the 5E3 Deluxe) while, as far as I can tell, the Fryette PS-100 would work equally well with just about anything, but is of course far more expensive.
So, bottom line, the cheaper ones may not do the trick, while the more expensive one may be overkill.
As more me?
If you read the above reviews you would have probably gathered that I managed to find a way to use each of them, but the Fryette PS-100 is the best of the best as far as I’m concerned.
Anyway, Good Luck!
.
I have a 2019 Fender ‘57 Custom Deluxe that I love cranking up to its gloriously saturated sweet spot, but that’s not always practical, so I looked into attenuating it and here are a couple reviews I did regarding two different type of products I got to specifically use with my Deluxe:
Bugera PS1 Attenuator Review...
Like a lot of players I have a few amps that are way too loud to enjoy playing in certain situations, so I decided to go the "attenuation" route. After reviewing several options (both low priced and high end) I figured I'd try the low priced version first; For a couple reasons: 1) The higher...
www.tdpri.com Fryette PS-100 Review
` I'd like to start this review off by pointing out how the Fryette PS-100 is often referred to as an "attenuator", but that label grossly minimizes what this device really does in my opinion. Sure, it can attenuate - in the sense that you can turn it down - but functionally it's still a vacuum...
www.tdpri.com In my case the more typical Bugera attenuator failed to deliver (when used with the 5E3 Deluxe) while, as far as I can tell, the Fryette PS-100 would work equally well with just about anything, but is of course far more expensive.
So, bottom line, the cheaper ones may not do the trick, while the more expensive one may be overkill.
As more me?
If you read the above reviews you would have probably gathered that I managed to find a way to use each of them, but the Fryette PS-100 is the best of the best as far as I’m concerned.
Anyway, Good Luck!
.
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radiocaster
Doctor of Teleocity
If it's just the volume going up suddenly, you can also try an 8" Vox cab. It's a lot quieter than a 12" and allows a better taper on the volume.
Jet City produced the Jettenuator, which begat a Harley Benton version ( I have that version ) and the Bugera PS1. HB have since replaced their version with something newer.
The Bugera PS1/HB/Jetthingy works very well for me. It allows me to load the output transformer while maintaining domestic harmony. You do lose out on the shift in impedance with frequency, but two out of three is better than nothing. Those two being saturated OT and 'pushed' output valve(s)
There's Fletcher-Munson effects in play too. It's all a compromise.
I'd rather have my amps crying for mercy and attenuated than ticking over. All my amps sound better when cranked and attenuated.
A really cheap solution uses two resistors. If your speaker is 8 Ohm, add an 8 Ohm resistor in series plus a 16 Ohm in parallel. The 8 brings the impedance up to 16 Ohms, then the parallel 16 brings it all back down to 8 Ohms as seen by the amp. Substitute different values for different speaker impedances.
This gives 1/4 power to the speaker. Box it up, add sockets, play.
Each resistor needs to be rated for the power of the amp. Safety and all that.
The Bugera PS1/HB/Jetthingy works very well for me. It allows me to load the output transformer while maintaining domestic harmony. You do lose out on the shift in impedance with frequency, but two out of three is better than nothing. Those two being saturated OT and 'pushed' output valve(s)
There's Fletcher-Munson effects in play too. It's all a compromise.
I'd rather have my amps crying for mercy and attenuated than ticking over. All my amps sound better when cranked and attenuated.
A really cheap solution uses two resistors. If your speaker is 8 Ohm, add an 8 Ohm resistor in series plus a 16 Ohm in parallel. The 8 brings the impedance up to 16 Ohms, then the parallel 16 brings it all back down to 8 Ohms as seen by the amp. Substitute different values for different speaker impedances.
This gives 1/4 power to the speaker. Box it up, add sockets, play.
Each resistor needs to be rated for the power of the amp. Safety and all that.
Tim S
Friend of Leo's
Here’s a video of the guts of the Harley Benton attenuator including an issue the YouTuber fixed. I have no idea if it’s a common problem or not.
@Patshep
Based on how you described your use of the amp, I'll suggest you do not need an attenuator. You need a better way to control your volume.
One way to do this is with a little device you can make yourself. It's a passive volume control that gives you finer granularity of volume control over any amp. If you can solder at a basic level, you can build this yourself from parts you may already have in your electronics bits and bobs.
Based on how you described your use of the amp, I'll suggest you do not need an attenuator. You need a better way to control your volume.
One way to do this is with a little device you can make yourself. It's a passive volume control that gives you finer granularity of volume control over any amp. If you can solder at a basic level, you can build this yourself from parts you may already have in your electronics bits and bobs.
sotob
Tele-Holic
I have a Fender champ with the swat attenuator and like others have mentioned it takes the top end off, which stinks. Decided to just use a dirt pedal ( Love pedal 5e3) with the Champ last night and it sounded awesome!
I've seen EQ pedals that also have a volume setting. Maybe that could help?
I've seen EQ pedals that also have a volume setting. Maybe that could help?
Ummm. I’ll pass on anything involving me playing with electronics lol@Patshep
Based on how you described your use of the amp, I'll suggest you do not need an attenuator. You need a better way to control your volume.
One way to do this is with a little device you can make yourself. It's a passive volume control that gives you finer granularity of volume control over any amp. If you can solder at a basic level, you can build this yourself from parts you may already have in your electronics bits and bobs.
