Attenuators and then some

deeaa · Wed Oct 13, 2021 10:31 am

Anyone here own a Boss Tube Amp Extender or a TwoNotes Torpedo Reload?

Am looking to buy either of those to be used with my Marshall head.

Both are good reactive amp attenuators.

Reload also works as a DI box and a Reamp Box.

The Boss also has a reverb, delay, eq, compressor, and an amp of its own so it can be used as a spare amp basically with any preamp. And it is Midi controllable plus has IR modeled output to PA.

But the Boss is nearly twice the price...don't know if I can justify buying one really it costs more than many a good tube amp....basically they are about 450 and 750 used.

Cripes.

Maybe I just have to go with the Reload....

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Chocol8 · Wed Oct 13, 2021 3:07 pm

I use a Suhr RL and love it. My best advice would be to get a box with the best sounding impedance curve as that will determine your satisfaction. Don’t spend a lot of money on features that are not great. For example, you can get a cheap but decent SS power amp that is as good or better than the one built in. You can also stick a reverb or multi effects pedal you already own between the load box and your power amp. No need to settle for the built in effects if any.

BTW, I have been super happy with the Suhr and re-amping. I can adjust the signal of a cranked 40w or 100w tube amp from as quiet as the strings to significantly louder than the tube amp alone. The tone is better than any attenuator I have used over the years and it is even better and easier to dial in than a variable voltage kit. I have also been taking the signal from one amp and running it into multiple cabs simultaneously. Throw effects on one feed and you can do a WDW rig with full control of volume levels.

deeaa · Wed Oct 13, 2021 3:38 pm

Yes, I think the quality of attenuation is the most crucial aspect. However, both these units are apparently top notch in that respect with a proper, transparent, reactive load and plenty capabilities.

I'm gonna get the simpler/ cheaper unit, both for the reasons you mentioned, but also because it's just too expensive for the other. I'm sure it would be great too, but...it's practically the price of my amp. And, ultinately, I want to keep it reasonably simple and that Boss would open up a lot of avenues for even very complex rigs I might not be able to resist and end up with a very complex setup.

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golem · Thu Oct 14, 2021 7:25 am

"It's practically the price of my amp". That's pretty much what I thought when I heard about the Boss Tube Expander. Some of the best higher watt amps I've heard have a Master volume capable of sounding good at low volumes. When you start getting into the price of a Boss Tube Expander you're at or above the price of all amps I've owned. Now, if the extra features are something a person would use a great deal that's another question. But if it was just for attenuation, I wouldn't buy those solutions.

deeaa · Thu Oct 14, 2021 2:11 pm

golem wrote:"It's practically the price of my amp". That's pretty much what I thought when I heard about the Boss Tube Expander. Some of the best higher watt amps I've heard have a Master volume capable of sounding good at low volumes. When you start getting into the price of a Boss Tube Expander you're at or above the price of all amps I've owned. Now, if the extra features are something a person would use a great deal that's another question. But if it was just for attenuation, I wouldn't buy those solutions.

My Marshall does have a master volume and also a PPIV but it still really comes alive after about 3 on master, not before. The PPIV is useless really.

And at 3 it's really ear-busting loud. I don't know how many dB but it drowns the drummer and everything.

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golem · Fri Oct 15, 2021 11:09 am

deeaa wrote: ↑Thu Oct 14, 2021 2:11 pm
golem wrote:"It's practically the price of my amp". That's pretty much what I thought when I heard about the Boss Tube Expander. Some of the best higher watt amps I've heard have a Master volume capable of sounding good at low volumes. When you start getting into the price of a Boss Tube Expander you're at or above the price of all amps I've owned. Now, if the extra features are something a person would use a great deal that's another question. But if it was just for attenuation, I wouldn't buy those solutions.
My Marshall does have a master volume and also a PPIV but it still really comes alive after about 3 on master, not before. The PPIV is useless really.

And at 3 it's really ear-busting loud. I don't know how many dB but it drowns the drummer and everything.

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I hear you! The Riviera I had needed an attenuator and was master volume. Mesas I have owned and have tried it wasn't an issue. The guy I buy a lot of gear from, Mike, has a Bogner Ectasy that's easy to get sounding great at reasonable volumes. I was playing some kind of Marshall JMP the other day with a Master volume that was a little challenging to get sounding great at house volumes but we did manage. Granted, that Bogner setup is like $4K. But that Mesa gear I've owned as about the cost of the expander.

deeaa · Fri Oct 15, 2021 11:11 am

Today I spent an hour dialing my Mooer Radar for direct PA output...sheesh. I got it sounding better thru the PA than the cab! Damn it sounds great.

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andrewsrea · Fri Oct 15, 2021 8:56 pm

If I didn't have a bunch of other attenuators, I'd buy the UA Ox.

deeaa · Fri Oct 22, 2021 10:05 am

Yesterday I got to put my new 'brake' ie a Torpedo Reload attenuator into action.

Very good. Now I can turn up my Marshall to 4 even (probably more, but no need), and still get it even completely quiet if I want, with no feeling of the amp suffering or the sound deteriorating whatsoever.

It also has a 'contour' knob which lets me tune the cabinet towards a more 'british' response or a more american one; seems to me turned a little towards the british side is where I like it, giving it a bit of extra bite and clarity.
Now, with the master at 4 and power stage properly giving drive, I can ditch my OD pedal completely. I'll just use a little compressor for boosting for leads, and it's magnificent overdrive. Can get all the sounds from soaring solos to clean rhythm now just with picking force changes and pickup swap/volume control.

Basic sound of the JCM800 2203 is of course very much most any 80's band but no FX, ACDC meets Iron Maiden kind of. Screams and screeches yet has tons of clarity; immediately felt like playing some riffs off Powerslave, although the sound overall vibe is sort of more like Stained Class style, not a lot of saturation at all. Me loove it.

I already had my sound where I wanted when I could really crank it, but just always felt like I had to keep turning it down more both from the attenuator and the amp master or it just sounded odd, which deteriorated the sound, and then I needed an OD to help...should have just gotten a reactive proper active attenuator the first time. Worth every penny (and I got it used for less than half of retail price too).

https://www.thomann.de/fi/two_notes_torpedo_reload.htm

deeaa · Fri Oct 29, 2021 12:37 pm

Well, built the attenuator into a 3 unit rack along with all the necessary connections and a power strip with USB for an amp fan...and also a built a footswitch volume so I don't have to lower my guitar volume but can set it to a certain volume after the pedals and then turn it up or down by footswitch without having to fumble for volume while playing.

Just two jacks and a 500K pot inside, super simple.

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