What power attenuator for my Komet KF 50 Limited amp?

[Joern Venaas]

My Komet KF 50 Limited #22 arrived today, also with a Custom 4x12 cab (Bruno without logo) in cream tolex and original biscuit grill cloth. Speakers are Celestion Heritage G12H. The amp has Mullard, Brimar and Telefunken 12AX7 tubes, and Mullard EL 34 tubes.
It`s too early for me to really appreciate the sounds yet, cause I`ve been playing my Diezel Herbert for two years now, and my ears are not tuned into the Komet sound, yet. First impressions are that it`s very bright, and needs to be very, very loud to get the good distortion sounds. And also, you have to play very precise cause it`s not a forgiving leadsound.

What really bothers me is that I need to play it too loud to get to the good sounds. This means that I can`t play it at home or at smaller gigs.
As I see it, the problem solver has to be a power attenuator. I have no experience with them, so i need your help to recommend the best suited one. Is the Komet Airbrake the best suited power attenuator? Or others?

Thanks
Joern

 

[GAT]

I have a K60 and Connie and I feel the best sounding attenuator is the Ultimate Attenuator, it doesn't cut highs. However, if the K50 is too bright, the Komet Airbrake or Dr. Z will slightly cut some highs. I have all three and even running the Airbrakes in parallel, there is some highend loss. This may work for you. The Ultimate Attenuator is very close to the original sound.

 

[57special]

also, those G12H30's you've got are really efficient and pretty bright. Some old 25 watters would be less loud, and a sound baffle in front of the cab helps.

 

[GAT]

Joern,

Ship me the amp and I'll try it with the attenuators and different cabs for you. I like helping people out.

 

[riverastoasters]

Is the Komet Airbrake the best suited power attenuator? Or others?

The Airbrake is a good attenuator. The THD Hotplate is an equally good attenuator in my experience. Some amps like the Airbrake better, most amps that I have like the Hotplate better.

You will not go "wrong" with either one. The extra features of the Hotplate are quite useful though.

 

[Timster]

I bet the new celestions are the reason the amp is a bit bright.

As for a good attenuator, I'd go with the Ultimate like GAT suggested.

 

[Rod]

The speakers aren't broken in yet...If the amp is still to bright after they are, get some 55hz Scumbag 30's....best guitar speaker made!!:AOK :AOK :AOK

 

[abergdahl]

I like the www.custombycougar.com Thunderbrake. I think the construction i simular to the Komet brake but contact Tommy and check. Also it's made in Stockholm so it's a bit closer than ordering from the US.

Congrats on you're new, probably amazing, amp.

Hade.

 

[neve1073]

What do you people think of the marshall power brake? It's the only attenuator i've ever used. How do the others compare to it?

Thanks

 

[abergdahl]

The Marshall power brake sounded OK with a Marshall, it was worse with other amps. THD, Weber mass, Komet Brake and Cougars Thunderbrake all sounded better. But as I said with a Marshall the Power Brake was comparible with some other amps it sounded BAD. So if you have a Marshall and a Power Brake you will not greatly improve sound by getting another brake, with other amps the change can be dramatic.

NO attenuator sound good all the way down to bedroom level BTW. Some of the best can only attenuate from WAY TO LOUD to decent rehersal/small gig volume (Komet brake and Thunderbrake).

 

[stekks]

What do you people think of the marshall power brake? It's the only attenuator i've ever used. How do the others compare to it?

IMHO the Marshall Powerbreak plain s#cks. I only use it as a dummyload now. I've had a Weber MASS, couldn't understand what the rave is about. Sold it.

I also have the Alessandro Muzzle, which is the best attenuator I've played with. I believe it's in the same vein as the Dr Z / Komet attenuators.

Attenuators do rob tone. Nuances/complexity of an amp gets lost. Playing such a fine amp as the Komet KF50 thru an attenuator is a crime IMO.

Best way to use an attenuator is using it as a dummyload in a parrallel setup. One output of the amp to the dummyload, the other the the cab. You don't get that much of a volume reduction tho.

 

[nondeplume]

........
What really bothers me is that I need to play it too loud to get to the good sounds. This means that I can`t play it at home or at smaller gigs.
............
Thanks
Joern

For home and small/gig use, you can acheive full control of volume down to well, a wisper with the amp running full tilt. You need an attenuator with a Line Out like the THD and an extra Power amp tho.
Setup is: Amp -> Atten(set to Load) -> Line Out -> (effects if desired) -> Power Amp -> Cab.

When I lived in Boston this is what I did. You will be missing out on the spks. interaction in the deal..the setup tends to have at 'smooting/dulling' quality of the overall tone but not in a bad way so to speak, definatly nothing like running the Atten. at anything above -12 etc...
If you have an extra Power Amp around give it a try...shrug..

heh, you could also run an Attn.(set to load) in Parrellel with a Variac between the Amp and Cab as well.

 

[r9player]

I know the guys at Komet recommed the Airbrake either the Komet one or the Z one.

 

[procos]

I tried every attenuator with my old Constellation and thought the Weber Mass worked the best. I never liked the THD Hotplate I always felt it sucked tone to much. If you don't want to use the Weber Mass I'd go with the Z Airbrake that was my next favorite.

Chuck

 

[GCDEF]

I've used a Hot Plate, Power Soak and Minimass. Of the three, I prefer the Minimass by quite a long way. Under minimal attenuation, you can't tell much difference. The Minimass was the only one that didn't get fizzy sounding under heavier attenuation. Unlike the hotplate it has continuous rather than stepped levels of attenuation and switchable impedance.

 

[LaXu]

For home and small/gig use, you can acheive full control of volume down to well, a wisper with the amp running full tilt. You need an attenuator with a Line Out like the THD and an extra Power amp tho.
Setup is: Amp -> Atten(set to Load) -> Line Out -> (effects if desired) -> Power Amp -> Cab.

When I lived in Boston this is what I did. You will be missing out on the spks. interaction in the deal..the setup tends to have at 'smooting/dulling' quality of the overall tone but not in a bad way so to speak, definatly nothing like running the Atten. at anything above -12 etc...
If you have an extra Power Amp around give it a try...shrug..

I totally agree. Excluding Power Scaling, this is by far the best way to get sweet cranked tones at any volume. Compared to just using an attenuator, the dummyload + lineout -> poweramp setup sucks less high end and dynamics. It does suck some highs and compress a little bit, but on a very unforgiving (not very compressed) and bright amp this will propably work in your favor. Additional plus is being able to stuff effects after the amp.

Isn't the Ultimate Attenuator basically exactly like that, only the load and poweramp stuffed inside the same box?

 

[poutserman]

Well, going from a Diesel Herbert to a Komet would produce a shock or perhaps buyer remorse and using an attenuator will not change that.It will just diminish the feeling of holding the power of nature at your fingertips.Komets are rock and roll amps and they were made to be played loud.With respect to brighteness just trim a little from the tone controls of your guitar.What i did was come to terms with the fact that i would only use my K60 LOUD.It's a compromise,since i'd like to play the amp at home too,but so is master volume.I promise you one thing...in a few months you won't even remember you own a Diesel.

 

[ross]

I will agree about the Muzzle. They work very well with a nice flat output and can be bought for $150 to $175 used. Do a search here on the forum.

 

[Joern Venaas]

A lot of good suggestions here. And many of them in different directions. One thing I will not do, is to use an external power amp like my VHT two fifty two, to bring the volume down. I want the whole Komet package experience, and let it grow on me. But, it`s impossible at home to let this happen without an Attn.
Gene (Ultrasound) handled the sale, and with his experience and knowledge, I`m sure he`ll find a good solution.

Joern

 

[LaXu]

A lot of good suggestions here. And many of them in different directions. One thing I will not do, is to use an external power amp like my VHT two fifty two, to bring the volume down. I want the whole Komet package experience, and let it grow on me. But, it`s impossible at home to let this happen without an Attn.
Gene (Ultrasound) handled the sale, and with his experience and knowledge, I`m sure he`ll find a good solution.

Joern

I've only tried the dummy load + line-out -> poweramp setup with a solid state poweramp but I didn't notice any extra coloration. It'd still be the whole Komet package but with better control over tone and volume. With an attenuator you would be choking all the high end sparkle and dynamics out of the amp.