britheguy Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 Okay we all know that a valve amp sounds better cranked up a few notchs, but also know it can be too load at this sonic nirvana levels.What is the best 'power brake' type thing to use. I have a Marshall Powerbrake already, but I feel it mucks up the tone a bit. Is this just me?Also, do these contraptions bugger up the valves etc?CheersBrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundian Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 Also, do these contraptions bugger up the valves etc? In theory they shouldn't, although you will have to change them more often cos your running them harder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gasss Posted January 3, 2007 Report Share Posted January 3, 2007 I have a Weber Mass 50W that you're welcome to try out if you want to bring round your amp (as long as its 50W or less). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
britheguy Posted January 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 Interesting. You do you think it compares with the Powerbrake? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
britheguy Posted January 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 In theory they shouldn't, although you will have to change them more often cos your running them harder.Ah! Right! I suppose you are correct. Because in theory you are playing the amp at higher volumes. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gasss Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 I've never used a Marshall Powerbrake myself but according to the reviews and bulletin boards on Harmony Central, the THD Hotplate and Weber Mass degrade the sound a lot less. All attenuators sound a bit artificial at high levels of attenuation, sounding a bit fuzzy. The THD has built in automatic EQ which adjusts the sound according to the degree of attenuation, with the goal of keeping it the same. The Mass has a switchable high frequency boost which I usually leave off to tame fizzy treble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
britheguy Posted January 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 I noticed Mass has the choice of ohms , which is good if you use different cabs. But am I correct in thinking that all THD's are set to one ohm setting, or do they make variables as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gasss Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 Weber's have a set maximum wattage and can accomodate (just about) any impedance. THD Hotplates are the other way round, you have to buy one for a set impedance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HateEvent Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 I was gonna say - before reading through and seeing that it has been mentioned already - that the THD Hotplate is far more highly regarded than the Marshall Powerbrake.This Weber thing sounds good though, I'll have to look into that one as I definietly need an attenuator at the moment anyway! Thanks for all the info I didn't know about guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 I really funcy wahn o' thae THD Hotplates to get the best out of my H&K rig at hoose volumes - anyone had any experience ? (apologies for hijacking your thread Bri :O ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David B Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 BriJust get the new Orange head (the wee one - forgotten its name).You've got so many cabs that I am sure you could match them up.Crank up the valves. Forget the attenuator.Mike it up through the PA if you need extra oomph for gigging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Posted January 4, 2007 Report Share Posted January 4, 2007 From what I have heard, the THD hotplate is one of the best out there at the momentYou will wear out the valves a bit quicker, as you are making them work harder (amplifying it more, then cutting the volume down, instead of letting the valves do less work and only amplify the signal a wee bit) but no more than running at volume anyway. One thing that a attenuator dosen't take into account is speaker breakup, every bit of the chain adds in its own effects - preamp and poweramp, but also the speakers can distort at very high volumes, though that will depend on your speakers in particular (low wattage/efficiency versus high wattage/efficiency) but could be part of what you are missing out.The new Orange is the Tiny Terror, there are a few other wee valve amps out there now - Hiwatt do one, the Zvex Nano, Epi Valve Jr to name a few, that gives you the overdriven amp sound at lower volumes, but is slightly limited if you wanted to play with a band or the like...David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
britheguy Posted January 5, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2007 TBH I was fancing the THD, but the set impedance is putting me off a little bit. I'd never heard of the Weber before, but this might be the one for me. I would really like to get my half stack going again, but it's just too bloody loud most of the time..I know this is a little off the thread, but while talking about vavles etc. Has anyone found their head/combi start to lose, shall we say 'sparkle', over the period of an evening gigging? Or is just my hearing being blattered and not hearing what I thought I heard at the start of the gig? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
britheguy Posted January 6, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2007 I have a Weber Mass 50W that you're welcome to try out if you want to bring round your amp (as long as its 50W or less).I might just do that. Is it still the same number and address? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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