Budda Superdrive Volume Issue - Attenuator or Volume Pedal?

[spyeman]

I have a Budda SD II 18 watter coming in, I've had one before, it's more like 180 watts, lol, how are folks that need to dealing with the volume issue for gigs? The goal is to keep the great tone at lower volume - I've heard talk about attenuators and volume pedals - any Budda users putting these into play and having good results? Pray, do tell - all!!!

[boltino]

Originally Posted by spyeman

I have a Budda SD II 18 watter coming in, I've had one before, it's more like 180 watts, lol, how are folks that need to dealing with the volume issue for gigs? The goal is to keep the great tone at lower volume - I've heard talk about attenuators and volume pedals - any Budda users putting these into play and having good results? Pray, do tell - all!!!

Honestly man, I think the master volume is so good that it sounds amazing at low volumes. That's one of my favorite things about it actually.

I gig my SD18 at my church which is pretty much a silent stage environment (we capture video and broadcast so the recording mix is very important). I set it just off-stage behind a curtain and keep the volume pretty low; it still sounds great and has tons of sustain/swirl. Actually, my church had outlawed live amps because of volume issues until I brought my Budda in. They actually bought one of their own for all the guitar players to use because it works so well!

[walterw]

look into smaller cabs with fewer/less efficient speakers in them.

[StompBoxBlues]

For me, I personally like a 25k volume pedal in the effects loop. Since I use that, I throw in a reverb in the loop as well.

Some folks suggest volume pedal, some boost! or both?

I like volume pedal over attenuator, because it also gives me more nuanced control of volume. On the SD-18, it seems like I can manufacture higher headroom, by turning master up (past what I would use it for) volume on amp down, guitar vol down, and using vol pedal to keep it clean.

[smallbutmighty]

Originally Posted by boltino

Honestly man, I think the master volume is so good that it sounds amazing at low volumes. That's one of my favorite things about it actually.

Bingo.

[ScottR]

amp shield

[Andre357]

I use a volume pedal in the effects loop when i want to tame volume and a clean boost when I want LOUDER clean headroom!

Also- someone mentioned less effecient speakers...that would help for sure...

A part of the " budda sound " ( in the combo's anyway ) IMHO is thier Phat speaker which is a very effecient loud speaker ( my 18 watt 1x12 keeps up with amps much bigger and of higher wattage because of this I think )

[luv2playm]

[QUOTE=boltino;7043118]Honestly man, I think the master volume is so good that it sounds amazing at low volumes. That's one of my favorite things about it actually.

[Austinrocks]

Originally Posted by StompBoxBlues

For me, I personally like a 25k volume pedal in the effects loop. Since I use that, I throw in a reverb in the loop as well.

Some folks suggest volume pedal, some boost! or both?

I like volume pedal over attenuator, because it also gives me more nuanced control of volume. On the SD-18, it seems like I can manufacture higher headroom, by turning master up (past what I would use it for) volume on amp down, guitar vol down, and using vol pedal to keep it clean.

Agree volume pedal in the effects loop, its like an adjustible master volume, mine I can set the off volume so I don't turn off the amp, really nice when playing with the volume pedal in effects loop.

[trower]

Sounds like your looking for the high volume tone of the 18 at lower levels? yes? I swear by the masters on these Budda's and love the tone they get across the volume knob so this has never been an issue (I run a SD45 and an SD30 in stereo) I would recommend giving an attenuator a shot if you really wanna cook the tubes...a volume pedal won't effect the load on the tubes if it's cranked but lowering the volume via the pedal may screw you out of the saturated tube tone zone your looking for. I haven't tried this myself so I can't be sure. Let us know the results of either. Remember, EL84's burn up a bit quicker than many other power tubes.

[Elmer]

The master on the SD18 should be all you need. It works quite well.

[StompBoxBlues]

Originally Posted by trower

Sounds like your looking for the high volume tone of the 18 at lower levels? yes? I swear by the masters on these Budda's and love the tone they get across the volume knob so this has never been an issue (I run a SD45 and an SD30 in stereo) I would recommend giving an attenuator a shot if you really wanna cook the tubes...a volume pedal won't effect the load on the tubes if it's cranked but lowering the volume via the pedal may screw you out of the saturated tube tone zone your looking for. I haven't tried this myself so I can't be sure. Let us know the results of either. Remember, EL84's burn up a bit quicker than many other power tubes.

In my experience, the Budda acts a lot differently (in many ways) than most other amps I've had. In my experience, I don't lost that wondrous tone even while using the vol pedal (within reason of course...)

I think it is all in how you set a volume pedal, according to what you want. I mean you can have it so "toe" position is WAY too high (i.e. you never go that far up) or you can have it so toe is just your highest useable volume/gain...

[440gtx6pak]

I wanted lower gain and a more vintage tone so I replaced one of the pre-amp tubes. I did this a while ago. I think I used a 12at7, if not it was a 12au7. I forget which one because I have not tweaked the amp since, and have been very happy with it's gain structure now. For a solo, I use a clean boost. I agree the MV works great at many different volume levels.

[thiscalltoarms]

I've used several weber attenuators with my SD18 in particularly boom-y or overly resonantly bright rooms to keep it on a leash. However, those occasions are very very rare. Maybe 10/400 gigs I've played on it in the last 2 years. Generally, it rules at everything but bedroom volume and at bedroom volume the attenuator doesn't even help much.

as far as gigs- I've put over 500 gigs on my Budda and it rarely needs an attenuator. The thing just rules as a small club amp, but it can do medium stages easy and an extension cab (I use a Z 2x10 to balance the tone out) can make it sound huge for a larger stage.

[prsnstrat]

If you have a Barber Launch Pad handy i'd try that for cooking the tubes and attenuation.