Understanding Tube Amps: Attenuators

Categories: Understanding Tube Amps

The 6th video in a series of lessons teaching the basics of tube amp. Played through a Fender ’64 Vibroverb Custom with a THD Hotplate attenuator.

2 Comments

  1. joe Says:
    July 21st, 2010 at 10:13 pm

    Great series, Anthony!

    Distilling everything you said, would it be accurate to say that the “best” amp for home playing would be quite small (5-10W), so it may be possible to overdrive the power tubes without blowing the neighbor’s house down?

    Aside from this amp being kinda small for gigs, is there any other drawback soundwise vs. a larger amp, assuming the overall volume must somehow be kept in check?

    Thanks!

    Anthony Stauffer reply on July 22nd, 2010 9:01 am:

    Hi Joe,
    Low power is a relative term, and without a master volume, even a 15 Watt amp can be very loud for home use. My Samamp has a 3 Watt setting, and when cranked it’s still to loud to use if someone’s trying to sleep :-)

    The main drawback of a small amp is that when you need more clean volume, you might not get it. I find an amp like the Blues Junior, which is 15 watts, BUT also has a master volume so you can overdrive the preamp with out turning up the power tubes, is a good compromise.

    In general, for really, really quiet overdrive you’ll need something with a master volume, to overdrive the power tubes at reasonable volumes, keep it under 15 watts.