Are there alternatives to power attenuators?
On some amps you can pull 2 of the 4 output tubes and cut the power roughly in half. Some devices like Yellowjackets allow you to substitute power tubes which can result in a different tone and lower output power. Using a Variac (technically a kind of power attenuator), you can lower the voltage going into the amp and in so doing lower the output volume at a given setting. (NOTE – this can be extremely dangerous to your amplifier. -ed) Don’t overlook what you can do with a couple of heavy blankets over your speaker cab, that can cut your volume way back, and by playing with how much speaker is exposed vs covered, you can compensate for the damping effects of the blankets. Works great with mics. Cheap, safe and reliable, too. (NOTE – Don’t block ventilation to your tube amp, or it may fry. Consider putting the amp in another room or building or buying an isolation cabinet. -ed) -Mark Taylor Or just buy a smaller amp for those low volume situations! -Miles • So it’s safe to pull two of m
