Guitar Valve Amp Power Attenuator

[bennyboysvuk]

I'm not sure if that's the right word for them, but has anyone had experience of products like the Marshall Power Brake?

I recently got the JCM800 50w out with it's 2x12 cab to play along to some tunes on my reasonably powerful hi-fi, however even with the hi-fi turned up pretty loud the JCM was blowing it away with the volume barely up to 0.5. I'd forgotten how loud this amp is.

I want to get some dreamy Billy Duffy Cult Electric album sounds, but realise that the valves need to be driven pretty hard for this.

So does anyone know whether power attenuators are particularly bad for an amp or if there is one product that is particularly better than another?

Thanks in advance.

[gazza285]

If you can find one the Marshall SE100 was far superior to the power brake, and is much cheaper second hand when they do come around. That, or an old Groove Tubes attenuator as they share the same circuits.

If you fancy a bit of rewiring you can run the EL34s as triodes and cut the output power to 20 watts, still bloody loud though.

[davepoth]

I'm not sure even a Power Brake will be enough if you want to play along with a record. You'll probably be better off buying a very small valve amp (5 watts) and cranking the nuts off it.

[Turn7]

I reckon either the Blackstar HT1 or Vox VT15+ would be a better option than trying to tone down a 50 watter.

[bennyboysvuk]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. I'll look out for an SE100. An HT5 or similar just doesn't have the same crunch as the JCM800, which I've found I can't live without.