Small Amp Rant

[Athos]

@GreenBurst, I'm picking up a new attenuator from the post office today. Built by Fromel and called the Lotus, it's based on the JohnH simple attenuator design that everybody loves at the Marshall forum. In the past, I've used a Weber Mass with a 2204 and Super Reverb with okay results. I expect the Lotus to be superior based on a ton of positive reviews. First I'll try it with my 5E3 - it will hopefully sound better than the simple resistive attenuator that is built in to the combo.

One day I'll probably also get a PS-100 or PS-2A from Fryette. It would be cool to re-amp my 5E3 through a bigger cabinet, should I ever desire, but I'll probably only use it to quiet down my bigger amps and utilize the effects loop. Could also be a power amp for digital stuff, as a backup rig.

@calcheyup, on the portability of the Super Reverb, it was indeed awkward. The top handle was only good for moving it short distances. Going up/down stairs, I tended to hug it like a 4x12 cabinet. Side handles would be nice on that amp.

@Wilko, I think those amps you mentioned (Vibrolux and Pro Reverb) are blackface, no? I'm kind of more into tweeds these days when it comes to non-master volume Fender style amps. My Mesa Mark III clone can do a more than adequate blackface impression on its clean channel, when I want that scooped clean sound.

 

[dwagar]

I've had a THD Hotplate for years. I think it's good.

But when I bought my SV20C I thought the Hotplate was overkill, so I built a JohnH. I think it's great.

 

[Athos]

Got my Lotus (JohnH attenuator) last night, but like an idiot I didn't buy a second speaker cable first, so I can't yet hook it up. Was on my way to the music store to buy another cable, but a damn air raid alert started up, so they closed the mall. I'll probably be able to get one tonight; I'll try the 5E3 into my 1936 cab.

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

Got my Lotus (JohnH attenuator) last night, but like an idiot I didn't buy a second speaker cable first, so I can't yet hook it up. Was on my way to the music store to buy another cable, but a damn air raid alert started up, so they closed the mall. I'll probably be able to get one tonight; I'll try the 5E3 into my 1936 cab.

What the heck was the air raid alert for? You can't mention something like that and not fill us in.

 

[jb_abides]

What the heck was the air raid alert for? You can't mention something like that and not fill us in.

Athos lives in Ukraine.

 

[deytookerjaabs]

Fryette PS-100. I think it’s an excellent device, but it did take some getting accustomed to. In my experience, it’s nowhere near as simple as just getting the tone you want, and then clicking it to “operate” down to reasonable levels. Not only do you lose the vibration and general feel pf “air moving” (regardless of whether this is scientifically correct, everyone here knows what I’m referring to), but the treble/bass frequencies themselves sound considerably different at different volumes - I believe what I am referring to is known as Fletcher Munson effect, but I could stand corrected. My point is, even if the PS-100 is keeping the tone completely intact, it doesn’t necessarily SOUND as if it’s been kept intact once you start to hit lower volumes. It obviously has some features to try to counteract this effect and dial things back in, but it can be frustrating to recapture the sound you just had before you attenuated it.

I would definitely say it works best, the less you attenuate the signal. I use it with a Super Reverb on about 4-5 to bring it down to reasonable, non-Albert Collins volume level. I don’t think it’s overly valuable if you’re wanting to get your amp down to “apartment volume.” I personally have not felt it excels in that regard.

Overall I would recommend it, but I don’t see it as a magic bullet to play a Super Lead in the basement - not that I’ve ever tried. Of course, this is only one man’s opinion, and I’m sure it’s possible other folks have had considerably more success with it than I ever had.

FWIW, it can also make a small amp louder, too. Provided the speaker can handle it, of course, but I doubt many folks use it in this capacity.

Have you tried with a different cab option?

Like, let's say you have an inefficient low watt 12" speaker in a cab. So you've got Deluxe Reverb type volume delivery. If you dial down a bigger amp with the power station so it won't blow the speaker then feed it into a small package like that would you then retain some of the effect of shaking that speaker around?

 

[GreenBurst]

Was on my way to the music store to buy another cable, but a damn air raid alert started up, so they closed the mall.

Sad to hear this has been going on now for over 4 years. Especially in this era when efforts could easily be taken to force the aggressor back under the rock it came out of.

Over the post two decades Iron Maiden have been taking their music and uniting people throughout the world. Regardless of what country they are from. Almost like a modern day John Lennon, but with just the music talking.

But greed and power seem to have no bounds.

Apathy is NOT a path in the woods...

 

[LeonC]

@GreenBurst, I'm picking up a new attenuator from the post office today. Built by Fromel and called the Lotus, it's based on the JohnH simple attenuator design that everybody loves at the Marshall forum. In the past, I've used a Weber Mass with a 2204 and Super Reverb with okay results. I expect the Lotus to be superior based on a ton of positive reviews. First I'll try it with my 5E3 - it will hopefully sound better than the simple resistive attenuator that is built in to the combo.

One day I'll probably also get a PS-100 or PS-2A from Fryette. It would be cool to re-amp my 5E3 through a bigger cabinet, should I ever desire, but I'll probably only use it to quiet down my bigger amps and utilize the effects loop. Could also be a power amp for digital stuff, as a backup rig.

@calcheyup, on the portability of the Super Reverb, it was indeed awkward. The top handle was only good for moving it short distances. Going up/down stairs, I tended to hug it like a 4x12 cabinet. Side handles would be nice on that amp.

@Wilko, I think those amps you mentioned (Vibrolux and Pro Reverb) are blackface, no? I'm kind of more into tweeds these days when it comes to non-master volume Fender style amps. My Mesa Mark III clone can do a more than adequate blackface impression on its clean channel, when I want that scooped clean sound.

I have a PS-100 and I occasionally use it with my little DeArmond R5T, which is an amazing amp! I have a 75W speaker (Emi Ragin Cajun) so I can crank this guy up and play with impunity. Man, there's something wonderful about the responsiveness of a little single-ended amp that is hard to get any other way!

 

[Athos]

Sorry, didn't mean to cause alarm. The alert that happened early in the night turned out to be some cruise missiles fired towards a town a bit southwest of me - I believe they were intercepted. But after I went to sleep there was a bigger, more serious raid (that I slept through), and unfortunately there were five fatalities in the city. It's relatively safe in the centre where I live though.

Anyway, got my second speaker cable today and tried the 5E3 through the Marshall 1936. Wow! Great attenuator, the Lotus/JohnH design. All the usual amp characteristics are retained (volume knob cleanup, picking dynamics, different guitars still sound like themselves, etc.). The 'loudest' setting is -7dB, which on its own is probably just right for a small gig where you're trying to minimise volume. The maximum setting (-31.5dB) makes it even quieter than my usual home practice volume, and at that point the speakers are barely working so it's not the greatest tone, but good for late night practice without headphones maybe. The intermediate attenuation settings provide plenty of flexibility for volume at home. I was just playing Little Wing at the -17.5dB setting, using a Strat and a boost pedal, and it didn't seem to bother my wife sitting on the couch nearby. Success.

When I get my 50 watt non-master volume head, I'm sure I'll be using higher attenuation settings than I will with the 5E3, but I think it will be plenty. And the thing is so light. The little fan inside automatically comes to life as you use it, then turns off when you stop playing. Neat!

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

Sorry, didn't mean to cause alarm. The alert that happened early in the night turned out to be some cruise missiles fired towards a town a bit southwest of me - I believe they were intercepted. But after I went to sleep there was a bigger, more serious raid (that I slept through), and unfortunately there were five fatalities in the city. It's relatively safe in the centre where I live though.

Anyway, got my second speaker cable today and tried the 5E3 through the Marshall 1936. Wow! Great attenuator, the Lotus/JohnH design. All the usual amp characteristics are retained (volume knob cleanup, picking dynamics, different guitars still sound like themselves, etc.). The 'loudest' setting is -7dB, which on its own is probably just right for a small gig where you're trying to minimise volume. The maximum setting (-31.5dB) makes it even quieter than my usual home practice volume, and at that point the speakers are barely working so it's not the greatest tone, but good for late night practice without headphones maybe. The intermediate attenuation settings provide plenty of flexibility for volume at home. I was just playing Little Wing at the -17.5dB setting, using a Strat and a boost pedal, and it didn't seem to bother my wife sitting on the couch nearby. Success.

When I get my 50 watt non-master volume head, I'm sure I'll be using higher attenuation settings than I will with the 5E3, but I think it will be plenty. And the thing is so light. The little fan inside automatically comes to life as you use it, then turns off when you stop playing. Neat!

Thanks Athos, now I know. Messed up world we are living in right now. Too many weak minded people that resort to destructive means because they don't have the brains to do something constructive.

 

[Gitfiddler]

I realize this is a 'small amp rant' thread, but I had to chime in on behalf of my favorite diminutive-sized rigs.
I love my mid-80's (Rivera-era) Fender Champ II and Super Champ amps.

With only an upgraded speaker (the stock driver is the weak link), these amps can hold their own at rehearsal, studio or most bar-size live venues. Yes, at larger venues they sound even better miked or connected to an extension speaker cab (1x12, 2x10, etc.), but the basic amp is a wonderful, point-to-point tone monster.

That said, I still love my Deluxe Reverb or Heritage Liberty for the rare large venue gig. However my aging body much prefers the Rivera-era rigs.

 

[Athos]

One of the things I struggle with on my small amp (5E3) is the loose bottom end. I know that's part of the charm of the amp for some people, or others will modify the circuit to tighten it up a bit. But I think it is also just a shortcoming of small tubes and small transformers: you can't have bass that is both powerful and tight, regardless of the speaker used.

Will be interesting to see how well it reacts to a treble booster. That RM-style kit I mentioned earlier has been sitting with customs for three weeks already... I'm anxious to build it and try it out.

 

[Offshore Angler]

Athos, I think you may mean the output transformer.

Loose bottom end can also be a symptom of using too heavy a string gauge. It's amazing how going down on string size can tighten up the bottom end.

 

[Athos]

Yep, I did mention the transformers. If the OT is small then it usually follows that the PT will be small as well, I imagine.

I tend to use 10-46 or 10-52 on everything, except my Gretsch which has 11-47 flats, and my YJM Strat has 9-42s. I choose string gauge based on feel rather than sound, but I can see how heavier gauges may exacerbate a problem with loose bottom end.

Of course the tweed Deluxe is really sensitive to individual guitars (one reason I love it!) so the Gretsch is rather boomy while the Strats are juuuuust about right. I bet a Tele would be great through it as well, but I already have too many guitars.