Ok I realized I need attenuation.....what is the one to get?

[Hefalump]

Had a pro guitarist over the other day to try my stable of Marshall's.

Quickly realized that not everyone is cool playing as loud as I do.

So, if you are going out today to grab an attenuator: which of the 50 million of them are you buying???

 

[Yam the BOMB]

Fryette Powerstation 100
there is no close 2nd choice

 

[ripgtr]

Fryette Powerstation 100
there is no close 2nd choice

Curious why the 100? I have one of the first ones, a 50 watt one, and since I'm trying to bring down the volume anyway, is there a reason you went with the 100?

As for OP question, I've only tried a few passive attenuators, anything more than taking it down a little effected the tone too much. The PS does not. Plus it makes a really nice power amp. Since I'm gigging a SFDR I haven't been using it that much and now use it as a power amp for my pedal steel setup (which I don't gig). But I will always have uses for it.

 

[ZEN Amps]

Tone King Iron Man II or Rivera Rockcrusher - both great with loud Marshalls. The Fryette is good but may have a whole host of features you don't need - like a tube power amp built in.

 

[Alchemist XP]

I really like the Rivera RockCrusher ... not saying it's better or worse than the PS2, but of all the non powered attenuators out there I tried, and I tried a bunch of them, the Rivera sounds best to me.

 

[Hefalump]

Tone King Iron Man II or Rivera Rockcrusher - both great with loud Marshalls. The Fryette is good but may have a whole host of features you don't need - like a tube power amp built in.

Yes, I think I have the power section covered.....that is the problem.

 

[LaXu]

Curious why the 100? I have one of the first ones, a 50 watt one, and since I'm trying to bring down the volume anyway, is there a reason you went with the 100?

I've owned both the PS2 and currently own a PS100. There isn't any significant difference other than the extra power and features of the 100. The dual volume/presence/depth controls are handy if you are trying to attenuate a multi-channel amp or if you want preset quiet vs loud volume settings or want to use different settings for two different amps without having to remember how you want to set them.

 

[Yam the BOMB]

Curious why the 100? I have one of the first ones, a 50 watt one, and since I'm trying to bring down the volume anyway, is there a reason you went with the 100?

As for OP question, I've only tried a few passive attenuators, anything more than taking it down a little effected the tone too much. The PS does not. Plus it makes a really nice power amp. Since I'm gigging a SFDR I haven't been using it that much and now use it as a power amp for my pedal steel setup (which I don't gig). But I will always have uses for it.

No I’m sure that any version of the Fryette is very nice. The big feature on the 100 is the built in lead boost. You have separate volumes for your rhythm and lead. That’s a nice feature on any amp so it’s nice to have it on the attenuator.

 

[ggwwbb]

I've got 2 Rivera Rockcrushers and I'd agree that if simple attenuation is what you're looking for, it fits the bill nicely. I can run my Fender Tone Master clean channel on about 5 or 6 (which, unattenuated, would neuter small animals within a one mile range.....) when my wife is in the living room watching TV without disturbing her. It sounds really good using any of the settings (-3, -8, -12, -16, -20 dBs), but if you use the Studio setting, it can choke your tone somewhat. I use the -20dB setting at home and, while its still a little loud, it is quiet enough that I doesn't really bother anyone else in the house. Having said that, I've got a son that plays drums, so my wife's tolerance of loud music being played in the house is likely more lenient than most.....

 

[wetordry]

Aracom.
I really don't want another power cord and power tubes to knock off a couple db.
But I do want the impedance matching.

 

[ericb]

HI, just my 2cents, but you guys who are recommending your specific attenuators/re-ampers that you love, should mention which exact amps you're using that they work great with. After my experiences with attenuators I feel certain ones might work better with certain amps. . I'm 1 of the only ones here who has not tried these ultra-expensive attenuators or re-ampers but the last thing I'd need/want is another power amp at gigs, and another power cord . . That's just me though. . The Alex has been the best I've used, but again I have not used the ultra-expensive ones

Good luck

Eric

 

[[email protected]]

I can’t be the only one who somehow read this as “OK I need attention”, right?

I don’t have one, but Fryette would probably get my first look.

 

[ruger9]

The only one I have seen pros using (Jim Campilongo, Julian Lage, Buddy Miller, and others) is the Ox Box.

 

[Guitarworks]

I also use one of these. I have the first generation unit (all black) that works well:

 

[Sloppyfingers]

+1 for the Rivera Rock Crusher..Especially of you don't need a re-amp feature..It's very sturdy, and it doesn't suck the tone IMO.

 

[Produktsumme]

IMHO the Fryette there are only three if you are not looking at recording (then you need to go Ox): Fryette, Tone King and Rivera. I'd go Fryette if I need the really well implemented loop, otherwise Ironman. Rivera is good but not as non-tone-sucking as the other two.

 

[blackba]

Big fan of the fryette ps2, works well with my fender brown super, Vox ac50, and masco ma50. Currently running it with my brown super. My Vox ac50 I am using a suhr rlir into a a Marshall 8008 power amp. So it’s a reamp setup like the power station but with a SS amp. I am also reamping an ampeg v4 into a suhr rl into the other side of the Marshall power amp. I did mod my Suhr rl to have a high cut mod, in case I decide to get a tube power amp in the future.

If you only need to shave less than 10dB, than I really like the Alex/scumback attenuator.

 

[GAT]

Like others have mentioned, some attenuators sound good with some amps and not so good with others. I've had most, my favorite was the Kelley. Aracom is great too. But now I use the PS100 as I can get all my amps sounding good with it. At gigs I like the 2 volume thing a lot.

 

[fiveightandten]

Yes, I think I have the power section covered.....that is the problem.

The power amp in the Fryette is how it works. It’s not an extra feature, it’s literally how it’s able to make sound. It’s a re-amper, so it loads the amp’s signal down to line level, then reamplifies that at the desired volume. The benefit to this is extremely consistent tone over any volume below the clipping point of its internal power amp.

If you have a power amp that you want to use to re-amp instead of the Fryette’s all-in-one-box solution, you can pick up a Suhr Reactive load, and use that with your power amp. Though I suspect lugging 3 devices around would get old faster than carrying 2. The Fryette is more convenient and sounds great.

 

[WhatTheHell]

I’m extremely happy with the Dr Z air brake. Never tried the Fryette, but also glad I don’t have something else to plug in and another set of tubes to worry about.