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Anyone tried out any of these? I've read that the THD is the better one, but would like to hear from users instead of magazine reviews.

I've also read that you can take out 2 of the tubes from the power amp section to half the power. Does this work, without damaging the amp? And would this do the same as a Hot Plate / Powerbrake?

They don't work in the same way, at least from what I can recall. The Attenuator transforms quot;volumequot; in into heat that is vented out, it's connected between the amp and the speakers. While taking out two tubes is more like the halfpower switch that is found on eg. Marshalls 30th Anniversity Amps. Correct me if I'm wrong

taking 2 tubes out is 100% safe but will only drop you from 100 to 50 watts. The power brakes are a big fat joke IMO...they really mess with the tone, and I don't care for them. Get a Dr Z quot;Airbrakequot; if you can swing the cost...these are killer units. The THD Hot plate is very good as well, but if you want save cash get a Weber Mini Mass...the 100 watt Mini Mass is about $125.00 and is killer the 50 watt version is $100.00!

Knocking your amp down from 100w to 50w won't be a huge change in volume.

I use a THD Hotplate....great product, sounds great. It gets a little crushed sounding at quot;bedroomquot; levels, but so do all the other attenuators out there.

The power brakes DO suck major tone from the amp, when you attentuate to the lowest levels. I have one and use it, but I'll buying the Hot PLate or Dr. Z airbrake as I understand they keep the quot;normalquot; sound more intact. The powerbrake does work pretty well tho if you can leave it about 1/2 way up or greater. Of course...on my 1987X or MESA, thats still way too loud for most home use.

But be aware that part of the great quot;cranked ampquot; sound is the speaker/s pushing some air. With the amp attentuated low, you lose that important part of the tone. However, it's something I'm willing to deal with to use a good tube amp.

At gigging levels the Power Brake ( I just sold one I got in a trade) sounds good, and comparable to others. I have a Mass that I kept. Attenuated at high levels the PB adds a lot of bass due to a large cap they added to simulate speaker response. Metroamp does mods for the PB and I have heard they are very good sounding but with a selling point of 500.00 you are better off with a Mass or THD Hotplate.. Of the two I like the Mass, multiple ohm selection is huge for me. The Hotplate is a fixed ohm unit. The Mass is cheaper in cost and sounds every bit as good as the Hotplate and both are way cheaper than the Power Brake.


Originally Posted by kevlar3000At gigging levels the Power Brake ( I just sold one I got in a trade) sounds good, and comparable to others. I have a Mass that I kept. Attenuated at high levels the PB adds a lot of bass due to a large cap they added to simulate speaker response. Metroamp does mods for the PB and I have heard they are very good sounding but with a selling point of 500.00 you are better off with a Mass or THD Hotplate.. Of the two I like the Mass, multiple ohm selection is huge for me. The Hotplate is a fixed ohm unit. The Mass is cheaper in cost and sounds every bit as good as the Hotplate and both are way cheaper than the Power Brake.

Kev..are you saying the cost to MOD the PB is $500? or that the PB's are 5 bills new?

I have an old one from around 1994, and if the mod is not too expensive I may be interested in having a mod done to it.

I would guess that the $5 bills is the cost of the brake and the mod. Hell, you can get an AMP modded for less than $500, yikes.


Originally Posted by Jeff_HI would guess that the $5 bills is the cost of the brake and the mod. Hell, you can get an AMP modded for less than $500, yikes.

thats what I was thinkin Jeff...but can't be too careful

I think that's how much the PB goes for new.

from : localhost/froogle.google.com/froogle?q=...Search Froogle

from : localhost/right. Hell, you can buy a very decent AMP for that price. I'd never drop $500 on a power brake. Yuck.

I bought mine for 2 bills with my 1987X 10 years ago. They gave me a break (no pun intended). I think the shop was selling it for $299 by itself.

But yeah..def not worth $500 bucks.

Musicians friend had the hiuge price jump in their most recent mailer, makes for great re-sell on the old ones if you are looking to move one.