AMP TOO LOUD

[GunToHeart]

hey guys,
my amp is very loud so turning the tube watts up is impossible in my appartment.

Is it worth investing in an isolation cab e.g. Randall (soundproof with speaker+mic inside) and then listening to my cranked head through monitors at an appropriate volume level?

If anyone has experience with this, please share!!

 

[Funk]

You may want to invest in an attenuator. Although I don't quite like it, I think it's fairly cheaper than getting an Iso cab + monitor. That also depends on where you get the attenuator. I had a few and I had great deals from all of them.

I've never tried a Randall ISO Cab but I did try a custom made one before. It's great and all but not really cost effective if you're on a budget. You get what I mean.

My advise, if you're on a budget...try the attenuators. If you have the $$$, a well made ISO cab would be great 8)

 

[thor666]

If you have the $ and is experimental, look up power scaling. I'm not sure how effective it is though.

 

[GunToHeart]

ive heard that power attenuators or soaks like the THD are really effective but only at gig volumes and not at bedroom/appartment volumes. Is this true?

Im not entirely sure how loud i have to be playing to benefit from the attenuation, even at the highest attenuation level.

 

[trianglebiscuit]

if you do want to get a attenuator, get a weber mass/minimass. MUCH cheaper and supposedly better then the hotplate and similar.

http://www.tedweber.com/atten.htm

 

[Funk]

ive heard that power attenuators or soaks like the THD are really effective but only at gig volumes and not at bedroom/appartment volumes. Is this true?

Im not entirely sure how loud i have to be playing to benefit from the attenuation, even at the highest attenuation level.

The louder you play it the better it will be. But then again, that kinda defeats the purpose of having an attenuator right. Yeah and you're just about right about the 'gig volume thing'.

No matter dude. Having a good attenuator and playing below gig volume levels is better than not having one and playing below gig volume levels.

 

[ShredCow]

You can get isolation panels.

There is this drum / percussion shop @ pennisular, they sell it.

I've been there to check it up, $150 for 4 panels that will shield the front of a 4x12 cab comfortably.

Can't recall the website of those panels, but its cheap, it lowers the vol considerably.

 

[boone]

I thought that that randall cab was more for recording rather than lower volumes..

In any case, attenuators should do the job, however, it may colour your tone slightly.

 

[ahkiatt]

once i watched kids central(last time premiere 12)... they say place towels and egg cartons( you know the hawker center industrial style one) will help absorb the sound... if you're really really really on budget. XD. oh yea those kinda soft board too(those used to put notices on)

 

[suspend_thought]

Those don't really lower the volume.. It more of reduces natural reverberation and echoes and maybe help soundproof a little. Works something like curtains on walls (sounds familiar?)

 

[theblueark]

Part of the magic of many amps come from speaker breakup. No matter which method you use to reduce the volume, you will be losing out on the experience of nice speakers breaking up and moving air.

But, we all have our restrictions, without a soundproof room. I would say it doesn't really matter which method you use, but an iso cab with a good mic up and good monitors would probably give you the closest representation of what could have been.

 

[johnny_be_goode]

If you have the $ and is experimental, look up power scaling. I'm not sure how effective it is though.

read abt that before...

http://www.amptone.com/londonpowerstudio.htm
http://www.londonpower.com/kits/psbox.htm
USD200, cheaper than many attenuator
Looks like a bit of drilling and soldering - amp mod.

The inventor is quite a guru, having seen his name mentioned in various amp forum.
Do more research first...

Sounds good...

 

[GunToHeart]

woah thats a pretty cool idea. I doubt that i can get that kind of power scaling mod here for my amp!

 

[thor666]

You can order one overseas and get a tech to install it.

Do a search under thegearpage.net if you're interested.

 

[ShredCow]

You can order one overseas and get a tech to install it.

Do a search under thegearpage.net if you're interested.

THAT IS EVIL!!!

NEVER EVER GO THEREEEEEEEEE!!!!

 

[ala_carte]

You can get isolation panels.

There is this drum / percussion shop @ pennisular, they sell it.

I've been there to check it up, $150 for 4 panels that will shield the front of a 4x12 cab comfortably.

Can't recall the website of those panels, but its cheap, it lowers the vol considerably.

any details on the shop? i need them for strategic home soundproofing..

 

[gsonique]

just an idea :idea:

 

[LimpPisskit]

Wimp! It ain't loud if you're ears aren't bleeding! :lol:

There is no substitute for a cranked tube amp and the force of air being moved by a 4X12 8O

You have many many options:
- tame the amp with power scaling will change the tone as amp wasn't intended to run on the power your scaling down to. Parts especially transformers and caps are meant to carry certain loads and when they don't, they sound different. Maybe OK maybe not. The cheapo method is just pull 1 or more of the power tubes or try one of those FX loops tricks.

- tame the amp with attenuators like Hotplates work but it all depends on how low volume you need to go. With a 100w amp, you will probably be on the -16dB setting if your master goes past 2 or 3. That's the setting where the Hotplate reallly sucks tone. The less dB reduction you need the better.

- tame the speakers /room with sound deadning materials

- wear ear plugs

- buy a 18w/20w tube amp.

- move the cab onto the roof/balcony point outwards and mike it

or my favorite

- move to a house in Bt Timah or Keng Chin and turn the 2 car garage into a jam space.

 

[GunToHeart]

thanks for that!

the power scaling idea appeals to me very much. i will try to do more reasearch on it. It seems feasable to me, ordering the mod from london or wherever it is, and getting a tech here to install it. hmm. i guess its a matter of cost. I better go find out how much the mod costs!

If that idea fails, then i guess i will order a Hotplate online cos its impossible to find one here. DECISIONS..

 

[GunToHeart]

'London Power' produce and supply 'power scaling' kits and such.
The kit option means a tech will need to build and install the circuit with the various components provided, and requires drilling and some disassambly of the amp.

BUT, they make another option for this though, which is the same but (ready built) in a box form. This external box is placed on the inside wall of the amp chassis, so is much easier to install. Will still need a tech to install it.

They sell this 'box' for US$200. Shipping by air costs 50% of the product price and takes 2-4 weeks. Ridiculous.

What yall think?