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Posted by: earman Mar 2 2010, 10:29 PM

I've got a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe and I'm looking into an attenuator. My amp has a Celestion 8 ohm, 25 watt speaker.

This amp sits in my room and I can't turn it up past 3 or it's way too loud for my computer speakers to keep up with. I want to be able to get the good tones that the amp gets when the tubes are glowing red

I just really don't know anything about attenuators.. Anyone who can shed some light or have any advice on which attenuator to buy and where to buy one?

Posted by: Staffy Mar 2 2010, 10:33 PM

Hotplate would be the most obvious choice I think, but Weber has some that are way cheaper. Attenuators are expensive stuff, since they are containing heavy transformers. I would rather buy an amp-sim for my computer....

//Staffay

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Mar 3 2010, 02:23 AM

I don't own one, but I've done some extensive research recently because I plan to buy one very soon for my 100W beast. It seems most people on the internet agree that the best ones are Ultimate Attenuator and Koch Load Box II. They are both expensive, but if you want something transparent, this is it. I will buy the Ultimate one, they are not ultra expensive, but many say they are the best.

Posted by: earman Mar 3 2010, 07:41 AM

QUOTE (Ivan Milenkovic @ Mar 2 2010, 07:23 PM)

Posted by: ZakkWylde Mar 3 2010, 06:11 PM

Nah dude those don't really work...

A real attentuator decreases the volume by converting the power into heat - it HAS to be a little bigger than that device of ebay!
Try a THD hotplate, they have the best price/value ratio imho but they are also expensive, there is no way arround it.

Posted by: earman Mar 3 2010, 09:00 PM

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll probably just hold off for now. The THD hotplates did look nice and <$400 is a little bit more reasonable.

Posted by: tonymiro Mar 3 2010, 09:05 PM

FWIW I bought a THD some years ago after researching the alternatives. At the time it was, to me, the best value/performance available - but that was a few years ago.

It was considerably cheaper than 400USD though - more like 200 brand new.

One thing to aware of with THD Hotplates is that there are several versions and you have to make sure you get the right one for your amp - i.e. an 8 ohm one. Another is that it does suck a little bit of tone (I think all attenuators do this) - but that can be made back up both on the THD and also by just altering the eq on your guitar a bit.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Mar 3 2010, 09:21 PM

That's just an audio tapper that you plug into FX Loop. I'm not sure if it works, but I wouldn't waste money on that. As Zakk said, THD Hotplate is another good option, but that is not cheap as well. There is no way around it, they are expensive.