Marshall Power Braker

[urkoman]

Well, being tired of using just 1/10 of my JCM 800 when playing home, i was told of this thing that allows you to use the full power of the amp at low volumes. Does any of you know about this thing?Does the quality remain or it buzzes? Is there any other similar/better/cheaper (this thing is almost 400$) gear out there?Thanks guys.
Urko.

[EKG]

I've researched most of these power soaks/brakes and I swear by the THD HotPlate. I lose nothing! More adjustable than anything out there. Includes a bright and boost switch. I found it cheaper than the Marshall, too. I can't say enough about it

[CrossingStar]

I have a Power Brake & a Scholz Power Soak. The Scholz can be found for $150 but they don't sound very good. Another one I've heard about that's cheap is a Weber "MASS". I like the Power Brake because you can switch the ohm setting between 8 or 16, which for me comes in real handy. Others may not need this feature. I hear the THD is really good though.

[RSVampire]

I 2nd Eddie's responce because I've heard nothign but good things about the THD Hotplate.

[jonrayl]

Didnt Paul Gilbert use to use a toaster for this purpose?

[EKG]

Originally Posted by jonrayl

Didnt Paul Gilbert use to use a toaster for this purpose?

uuuuHHHHHH? (Like Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor)

[kabuki]

I've had great luck with the Groove Tubes Speaker Emulator II. Not only does it reduce speaker output, it converts the signal to line level (with switchable EQ) so you can run the signal into an effects unit and another power amp. I used to run a Dual Rectifier into the SEII, then into an Intellifex, stereo power amp and 2 cabs. I used the Recto strictly as a "preamp", but it was cranked. The unit had a lot of capabilities, but if you just want to reduce output while cranking a head, it's probaby overkill.

[mike777]

Marshall used to make the SE-100 which was a speaker emulator which had a power attenuator in it too. This used to get great reviews. I don't know what they go for in the used market. I already own a PB100 Power Brake. I believe I've heard about the Hot Plate but I have no experience with it. I like that toaster idea!

Many often forget that you are using power attenuators to crank the amp for tone but have the ability to control volume levels. Cranking the amp means you are burning the tubes at a higher rate. If you use any of these on a regular basis, prepare to go through tubes more frequently. So many people forget about that. Sorry if that was redundant.

Mike 777 Haug

[EKG]

mike777 - you are right. I have noticed my tubes "burning out" faster. But the darn thing sounds so good at lower volume levels! I feel it is a fair trade off

[ripl3y]

Bit late on this, but the last 5 parts on this page may prove of some use:-

http://freespace.virgin.net/vyse.co/...p_mod_kits.htm

Also, same company but in the U.S. www.torresengineering.com

Steve

[SymphonyofShred]

I've read that the Marshall Power Brake will eventually fry your amp.. or something similar in destructive-ness.

[Lonely Raven]

Any sort of mass power soakage will burn your amp more quickly!
Your pushing the tubes harder, duh!

Hehe

Anywho, I had a power soak, it worked fine for me for years, and I sold
it to a Jemsiter a few months ago. I'm kinda regretting it now that I have
some Laney heads to record with.

The idea behind the power soak type devices, is that you can DRIVE
the tubes really hard, squeezing out every bit of harmonic warmth out
of them, without bothering your neighbors or going deaf.

As stated in another thread, Satriani has a Cornford head with a power
attenuator that will allow him to roll the amp back to 15 watts, or roll it up
to 100 watts. Same idea.

The Cornford Harlequin is only 6 watts. Obviously this isn't something you
gig with...it's for recording.

In audio playback (not recording or creating) they say "the first watt is
the one you hear". So if we can get our guitar tone out in that first watt,
then we are saving our ears (and our friends) from all that blasting...

Sorry, I wandered a bit there. I know a LOT more about audiophile
playback and tubes then I do about guitar amps...so when the subject
crosses over I like to share what I know!!

[CrossingStar]

Originally Posted by SymphonyofShred

I've read that the Marshall Power Brake will eventually fry your amp.. or something similar in destructive-ness.

Nah, I've had mine since 1993 & nothing like that. The Power SOAK on the other hand...

[NNS]

Could you use an attenuator on a valve combo amp if it has a cable attachment like a Mesa Roadster?

Also, does a power brake affect tone?

[CrossingStar]

As long as the speaker is not hard wired to the amp section in the combo, meaning if the wires going to the speaker have a ¼" jack plugging into the amp you can use an attenuator.
The more you attenuate the more it affects the sound. Gets darker and darker as you turn the volume down. That's why some like the THD and MASS have Bright switches: to compensate for this.