If you're new to attenuators and are just looking to see what kinds of tones are possible, any of these resistive attenuators are great options. But for many players, resistive attenuators are perfect for their needs and just as capable as higher-priced and higher-hyped units. Because of their simplicity, these attenuators are common and generally more affordable than more complex reactive types (more on those in a minute).Ĭritics of the resistive load system say that the units' method of operation tends to impact and change the amp's tone-usually to something more compressed and dark-sounding-which makes them less-than-ideal if you're not looking to color your amp's tone at all. Resistive attenuators work by using a network of resistors that takes in the amp's power, saves some for your speakers, and releases the extra energy as heat. Important note: Look to get an attenuator that can handle double the wattage of your amp, so that you don't risk overpowering the attenuator and frying it, especially when using a reactive attenuator.Īttenuators have been around since the 1970s, and the first models were purely resistive. In the video above and throughout the guide below, we highlight some of the best attenuators on the market to help you find what's right for you. Often, you can easily unplug that cable and plug in an attenuator in between.Īttenuators come in a variety of styles, at different price points and with unique feature sets. ![]() ![]() Of course, connecting between the amp's output and speaker is easily done with an amp-and-cabinet rig, but if you have a combo amp, just check for a cable running from the back of your amp to its internal speaker. But they can become problematic when you're after that tonal sweet spot in a place or under circumstances that can't accommodate the required volume.Īn attenuator is a piece of gear that goes between your tube amp's output and speaker to mitigate volume without sacrificing that sweet-spot character. One of the reasons that players love tube amps is because of how inherently characterful they are, especially when driven and pushed in just the right way to just the right limits.
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