1 Topic by macg1 (edited by macg1 2011-07-08 18:40:27)

  • macg1
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: St. Petersburg, FL
  • Registered: 2010-01-21
  • Posts: 1,020

Topic: Question for attenuator users.

Question for all the guys here who use attenuators: I just picked up a Weber Mass Lite 100 and really love it because now i can put my 1983 50 Watt JCM 800 on all 6's (save for treble which is on 2.5) and really open up the power section.  Awesome sound and the band is loving it.  I have abandoned most of my gain pedals.  The issue I am having is that for a solo boost, whereas before I used to get my volume and bit of gain increase by stepping on a clean boost, now all I mostly hear is a gain increase because the overall volume is limited by the attenuator.  Any suggestions on how to increase the overall volume by a few dB just to cut for solos? (without having to buy a bunch of new gear or mod the amp).

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • From: Edwardsville, IL
  • Registered: 2010-05-17
  • Posts: 656

Re: Question for attenuator users.

possibly an EQ pedal or a some sort of clean boost pedal?

my guitar playing. http://www.youtube.com/user/09ncowan?feature=mhee
  • Registered: 2011-06-23
  • Posts: 72

Re: Question for attenuator users.

I Run into the same prob, with my 800 and hot plate.  The problem is you have reached the ceiling and you have no more head room. So no more volume and just more break up.  So what I use is overdrive with humps ind the mids to cut through the mix.  Tube Screamers, Fulldrives, Sparkle Drives, Pork Lions, and pedals of those type would work.  Also an EQ pedal with the mids maxed  would probably do it do.

Amps: Marshall JCM 800, Marshall 1987 X Plexi, Vox AC-30, Ceriaton ODS HRM, Fender Bassman
Guitars: Gibson Les Paul's(Standard, Classic, and Studio)Es 125 T, Fender Strats, Telies, Wasburn Idol Pro
FX's: BOSS TU-2, Ibanez TS-808, TS-9, Dunlap 535Q Cry Baby, Fulltone OCD, Full drive 2, Supa Trem, Rat, Whirlwind Phaser, MXR Micro Chorus, Digatech Whammy, Line 6 DL4, Holly grail 2,Wampler Ego,Pinical
  • macg1
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: St. Petersburg, FL
  • Registered: 2010-01-21
  • Posts: 1,020

Re: Question for attenuator users.

Yeah I was thinking maybe EQ is the way to go.  Thanks guys.  The only other idea i have is to use the clean boost i generally use as a limiter, but the EQ may do trick.

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • Registered: 2010-02-01
  • Posts: 175

Re: Question for attenuator users.

EQ pedal in the loop rather than front end works well for a boost and contouring the sound for lead.

  • macg1
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: St. Petersburg, FL
  • Registered: 2010-01-21
  • Posts: 1,020

Re: Question for attenuator users.

Old Marshall = no loop.

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Question for attenuator users.

what about dialing in your guitar with all tones and volumes on 7 or 8. then EQ the amp the way you think it sounds the same. Then when it comes time for a solo, roll up to 10. cool

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • macg1
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: St. Petersburg, FL
  • Registered: 2010-01-21
  • Posts: 1,020

Re: Question for attenuator users.

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

what about dialing in your guitar with all tones and volumes on 7 or 8. then EQ the amp the way you think it sounds the same. Then when it comes time for a solo, roll up to 10. cool

yeah that sort of works... since the guitar volume really affects the input (preamp) stage of the amp.  So i get more gain, but not more volume which comes from the master volume... what has worked best to cut is using my wah, but i can't have wah solos all the time... I would, but i would get dirty looks :-)

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • Registered: 2011-02-16
  • Posts: 8

Re: Question for attenuator users.

I'm using an Ultimate Attenuator which has two volume knobs, and I can footswitch between them to get a true volume boost.

  • macg1
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: St. Petersburg, FL
  • Registered: 2010-01-21
  • Posts: 1,020

Re: Question for attenuator users.

marshallhead wrote:

I'm using an Ultimate Attenuator which has two volume knobs, and I can footswitch between them to get a true volume boost.

Yes I know that model.  too much dough for me.

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • DougH
  • DougH
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: Toronto, Canada
  • Registered: 2011-04-01
  • Posts: 1,705

Re: Question for attenuator users.

macg1 wrote:

too much dough for me.

Funny I don't remember posting in this thread...

---------------

(If only I had 1% of Joe's guitar talent)
  • macg1
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: St. Petersburg, FL
  • Registered: 2010-01-21
  • Posts: 1,020

Re: Question for attenuator users.

DougH wrote:
macg1 wrote:

too much dough for me.

Funny I don't remember posting in this thread...

AHAHAH!

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint

13 Reply by macg1 (edited by macg1 2011-07-10 00:57:17)

  • macg1
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: St. Petersburg, FL
  • Registered: 2010-01-21
  • Posts: 1,020

Re: Question for attenuator users.

But seriously, no other (simple and affordable) options?  volume pedal? how about that Electroharmonix signal pad (http://www.ehx.com/products/signal-pad).  Figured maybe that might work... crank the attenuator on the amp a bit louder for solos then pad the guitar signal at the board?

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • sted
  • sted
  • Platinum
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2011-03-20
  • Posts: 333

Re: Question for attenuator users.

Set your rhythym tone using your amp and attenuator but keep your volume knob at about 7 ish when you do so, when you need a lead boost just whack that sucker up to 10, easy.

  • macg1
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: St. Petersburg, FL
  • Registered: 2010-01-21
  • Posts: 1,020

Re: Question for attenuator users.

sted wrote:

Set your rhythym tone using your amp and attenuator but keep your volume knob at about 7 ish when you do so, when you need a lead boost just whack that sucker up to 10, easy.


if it was that easy wouldn't have posted here.

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • macg1
  • BONAMETAL
  • Offline
  • From: St. Petersburg, FL
  • Registered: 2010-01-21
  • Posts: 1,020

Re: Question for attenuator users.

I think in part, one of the issues it was the pickup I was using in the Flying V.  Extremely hot vintage duncan distortion measuring 16.6K.  By the time the volume was rolled back enough to lower output and not just gain, well I lost the crunch.  Just wired in a different PUP (Gibson 500T) in the bridge, still high output but seems to behave better with volume changes, at least in my low volume home rig.  Will see what the results are with my gigging rig some this week.

Amp: Firebird Musical Amplifiers
Guitars:62 LP SG , 02 FB VII, JB FB I, 76 Electra Omega, 64 Firebird V, 73 LPC, 61 Custom Tele, 59 and 60 Melody Maker
Effects: Mythos Chupacabra, Strymon Deco/Flint
  • From: N.Wales, UK
  • Registered: 2009-03-06
  • Posts: 2,183

Re: Question for attenuator users.

marshallhead wrote:

I'm using an Ultimate Attenuator which has two volume knobs, and I can footswitch between them to get a true volume boost.

I heard Phil X rave on about this the other day...I think I might stump up the cash for one soon...

  • sted
  • sted
  • Platinum
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2011-03-20
  • Posts: 333

Re: Question for attenuator users.

macg1 wrote:
sted wrote:

Set your rhythym tone using your amp and attenuator but keep your volume knob at about 7 ish when you do so, when you need a lead boost just whack that sucker up to 10, easy.


if it was that easy wouldn't have posted here.

Whatever mate, but its always worked for me!