software

I need a pedal which drops my amps volume when I turn it on, but keeps the gain at the same level.
Basically an overall volume drop.

I'm assuming it would sit in the FX loop?

So I still get the full on sound on '10' from the guitar, but simulating me halving the volume on my amp.

GE-7, if you wanna spend the money

It's not a pedal, it's called an attenuator. It gives you the sound (almost) of having your amp dimed at reasonable volumes. There are several, but the Weber Mass and the THD Hotplate seem to get the best rreviews. Prices $200 and up roughly.

edit:

jeff beat me to it, i misunderstood at first


Originally Posted by Jeff_HIt's not a pedal, it's called an attenuator. It gives you the sound (almost) of having your amp dimed at reasonable volumes. There are several, but the Weber Mass and the THD Hotplate seem to get the best rreviews. Prices $200 and up roughly.

YEP

Marshall makes a device called a power soak, which is also an attenuator. If you can find one of the old Scholz Ramp;D Power Soaks, those work pretty well, too.


Originally Posted by HellionMarshall makes a device called a power soak, which is also an attenuator. If you can find one of the old Scholz Ramp;D Power Soaks, those work pretty well, too.A Scholz Power soak is way too hard on the amp, so is the Marshall power brake! GEt a Hot plate, get the Dr Z, or get the Weber...the Weber Mini Mass for a 50 watt amp is $100, and is killer...I am getting mine pretty soon, the Hot plate is a bit more, but also is a killer unit!

I can not stress enough against buying a Scholz or a Marshall power attenuator!

Well, the Marshall Power Brake runs about $500 new, so that probably won't get much of his attention . I have a Weber MiniMass for my amp (handles up to 50 watts), and it works great! I'd recommend his stuff, and of course the THD is killer.

Yep. I've heard multiple stories of people blowing up their transformers with the Scholz.

Stick with a THD Hot Plate, Weber Mass, or Dr. Z.

I simply can't wait until the Aiken Afterburner comes out. It's been in the works for a while, but if anyone has tried Aiken's attenuators on his amps, it's proven that it's probably the best one around.

The problem that comes into play is that our ears perceive tone different at lower volumes. This is why a completely transparent attenuator may not be the best idea. I've found great results with the Hot Plate and mixed with the Weber, but it all seems to come down to what amps are being used to what (Marshall's seem to favor the THD).

I'm really interested in the London Power power scaling feature that they are working on and it seems like the best power cutting solution, but modding amplifiers to use it may be very risky and it still hasn't been around long enough to prove that there are no bad implications with it.


Originally Posted by FretFireWell, the Marshall Power Brake runs about $500 new, so that probably won't get much of his attention . I have a Weber MiniMass for my amp (handles up to 50 watts), and it works great! I'd recommend his stuff, and of course the THD is killer.The mini mass, is a sure thing...they cost almost nothing, and do a great job!

The only thing(s) I don't like about the THD, is that they only come for one impedence, and they cost almost 3 times as much as a Mini mass!


Originally Posted by the guy who invented fireThe only thing(s) I don't like about the THD, is that they only come for one impedence, and they cost almost 3 times as much as a Mini mass!

Yep, I agree, that's why I went with a MiniMass actually. I'm also curious to see if Gibson's new attenuator is any good.

I'm looking for something to sit in the FX loop, not an attenuator.

I will already have an attenuator on all the time in the future.

bump ^

How about a MXR Micro amp? Sit it in your fx loop and leave it on all the time (with signal boost dialed in), then just turn it off when you want to cut the volume.