Anyone use an attenuator with your Orange?

[annostyle]

With the exception of the Thunderverbs of course. Like a THD, Dr. Z, or other? If so, how does it sound? I'm curiously researching and considering.

[a.hun]

Try the forum search. Lots of info / opinions on them here.

And yes, I've used my THD Hotplate very successfully with my Orange 120 and R.30 amps.


Andy.

[Icarus]

I also have a THD hotplate, I don't use it with my heads, I bought it a long time ago but I have tried it with my oranges and it works just fine.

[GuitaristZ0S0]

With the exception of the Thunderverbs of course. Like a THD, Dr. Z, or other? If so, how does it sound? I'm curiously researching and considering.

Annostyle your rig is freaking sexy!

[baytamusic]

Just a side note. I just sold my Weber Mini Mass just because I don't need it anymore, but that's one killer piece of gear. Absolutely no tone loss whatsoever. The price is right and it works amazing. I would never consider another brand after using the Mini Mass for a while.

[allthatjazz]

I use the BAD CAT Leash with my Orange 40th anni CS.
Works great! Better then my THD hotplate and Dr Z Airbrake.
First dial in the settings on the head and then engage the attenuator.

[butnut]

Dr Z Brakelite on my R30....worked OK, but the size gig we play at, don't need it.

[TheOrangeJuicer]

They are not the healthiest thing for amps. Plus they squash tone. Even the best ones compress things. The Orange master volume circuit sounds great on its own and really doesn't benefit from an attenuator IMO. You gain in one area and lose in another (puns intended). By using a really good quality OD pedal or a pick-up booster, you get dynamic expansion, retain pick attack, and can get a wider range of tones at different levels. Plus they are way less than good attenuators. The E-H LPB is only $39...

[bclaire]

I have a couple of the discontinued Marshall SE-100 Speaker Emulators which attenuate but also provide a direct out for recording or live use. With or without cabinet. Very cool piece of gear, almost impossible to find since anyone who has one generally keeps it...

Edit: that said, there are two on ebay. Here's one with better pictures:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Marshall-SE100-Atte ... 0243070377" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[a.hun]

They are not the healthiest thing for amps. Plus they squash tone. Even the best ones compress things. The Orange master volume circuit sounds great on its own and really doesn't benefit from an attenuator IMO. You gain in one area and lose in another (puns intended).

THe modern Orange MVs are excellent, I totally agree. I don't really use the THD much with my R.30 now as there is little real benefit. But it certainly can work a treat with the old OR120 with its much more primitive MV. Absolutely!

Not sure why you say attenuators aren't the healthiest things for amps. Using one with the amp working hard shouldn't be any harder on the amp than cranking the amp hard without an attenuator would be. If an amp fails it is simply because the amp wasn't healthy enough to run at full output power, not because of the attenuator as such.

The only real thing that can cause real problems (apart from correct amp --> attenuator impedance matching - care still needed!) is switching attenuation settings with the amp running at high power ie sustaining a loud note. But you don't need to switch off to change settings, just stop playing for a moment...
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showpo ... ostcount=8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


Andy.

[Thinline_slim]

I have an Dr Z air brake and brake lite right now but I use them with my THD Flexi-50 and Genz Benz BP30. I tried my AD30HTC with the air brake and it sounded like garbage. Killed the dynamics and flattened out the tone in a big way. With other amps the attenuators can click back the volume a tad and add just a bit of compression, but with the AD30 the master volume does a world better in those departments.

Orange makes, by far, the best master volume circuit out of any tube amp that I own, or have owned. Very dynamic and useful so for me there really isn't much need for an attenuator.

[sidvicious]

what ever happened to the units tom scholz built? they were pretty popular in the 80's; basically the only game in town. i had a few and they did what they were supposed to do.

just wondering.....

[bclaire]

what ever happened to the units tom scholz built? they were pretty popular in the 80's; basically the only game in town. i had a few and they did what they were supposed to do.

just wondering.....

I know there was talk that they ate Marshalls, but more importantly, you got the sound of every Boston album...

[Y0UNGBL00D]

Just a side note. I just sold my Weber Mini Mass just because I don't need it anymore, but that's one killer piece of gear. Absolutely no tone loss whatsoever. The price is right and it works amazing. I would never consider another brand after using the Mini Mass for a while.

truer words. weber mass series is awesome.

[Y0UNGBL00D]

also should be noted that the thunderverb series doesnt truly attenuate. as far as i know, it is a clever combo of post-phase inverter master volume and PI gainstage manipulation on a dual-ganged pot. but technically not output attenuation as the OT isnt involved from how i understand it.

sounds effing brilliant though. no discernable tone loss. the only thing you lose are the things you have to lose at lower volumes due to fletcher-munson curves or what not, such as that chest-punch feeling and some EQ shifts which can be compensated for. overall though, a simple "loudness" knob if there ever was one.