• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Small Cab for Recording

#61
Solved this, I think. I just got a Rivera RockCrusher attenuator to use for late night guitar recording (with a Vox head and Rivera Silent Sister iso cab - dead quiet when dimed!) and tried it on the Ampeg stack today. After adjusting to roughly match the final volumes, the attenuated sound with the output maxed is far more even across the board than if I back off the output and turn off the attenuator, in which case there is big boom around 100hz. Looks like the head is not linear in its frequency response at different volumes. Plus the attenuated tone is great for subtle overdrive. Good purchase.
 
#62
PianoOfDoom said:
Solved this, I think. I just got a Rivera RockCrusher attenuator to use for late night guitar recording (with a Vox head and Rivera Silent Sister iso cab - dead quiet when dimed!) and tried it on the Ampeg stack today. After adjusting to roughly match the final volumes, the attenuated sound with the output maxed is far more even across the board than if I back off the output and turn off the attenuator, in which case there is big boom around 100hz. Looks like the head is not linear in its frequency response at different volumes. Plus the attenuated tone is great for subtle overdrive. Good purchase.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the update. Glad that it's working for you -- or sounds like it, anyway.

I've never played with an attenuator on the amp. If you're diming the PF-50T, I wonder if some of the evenness might be due to simple compression. The amp might very well have some notable non-linearities in its response at different volumes, but the interactions between tube amps and speaker cabs are pretty interesting to begin with and I can't say how having the attenuator in the circuit would affect things.

That's all theorizing, though -- if the result is better for you, it's better! Glad you found something that's working.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PianoOfDoom
#63
MarkA said:
Thanks for the update. Glad that it's working for you -- or sounds like it, anyway.

I've never played with an attenuator on the amp. If you're diming the PF-50T, I wonder if some of the evenness might be due to simple compression. The amp might very well have some notable non-linearities in its response at different volumes, but the interactions between tube amps and speaker cabs are pretty interesting to begin with and I can't say how having the attenuator in the circuit would affect things.

That's all theorizing, though -- if the result is better for you, it's better! Glad you found something that's working.
Click to expand...

Could be compressing its own emphasis, if that makes sense. The head appears to be introducing the boom, and then driving it harder makes it behave. Either way, I learned that this head likes volume.
 
#64
PianoOfDoom said:
Could be compressing its own emphasis, if that makes sense. The head appears to be introducing the boom, and then driving it harder makes it behave. Either way, I learned that this head likes volume.
Click to expand...

Could be, yep.

I'd be interested to see if another PF-50T behaved similarly with that cab, or if the head behaved similarly with different cabs -- but don't feel obligated to find out for me. ;)

Just so I'm clear, does the sound similarly even out, sans attenuator, if the head is turned way up? (I realize that this is too loud for your use.)

Again, don't mind me -- I'm just curious. Glad that you sorted it out!
 
  • Like
Reactions: PianoOfDoom
#65
Based on your troubleshooting description, it sounds like an interaction between the tube head and the 210 cab. If you're happy with your current solution, great. But otherwise depending on budget and motivation, there are no end of possible options.

One that opens up since you're just looking for something for recording, would be to build a very low tuned single or dual driver cab. With a 50w head, you don't have to worry about the loss of power handling as the tuning gets lower. And it should remove the low mid bump that a lot of cabs have. Use a driver that's got a nice full range sound (people seem to really like the Faital 15PR400).

Another option would be a crossover with the lows going to a DI and the rest going to the amp and cab. Set the crossover point so the resonance isn't an issue. The trick here is to be mindful of phase coherence.

Or the easiest option is to just try 1 or more existing cabs. A good old fashioned full range ported 15 is perfect for that kind of stuff, and most of them are dirt cheap these days because they weigh more than 3 pounds.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PianoOfDoom
#66
Omega Monkey said:
Based on your troubleshooting description, it sounds like an interaction between the tube head and the 210 cab. If you're happy with your current solution, great. But otherwise depending on budget and motivation, there are no end of possible options.

One that opens up since you're just looking for something for recording, would be to build a very low tuned single or dual driver cab. With a 50w head, you don't have to worry about the loss of power handling as the tuning gets lower. And it should remove the low mid bump that a lot of cabs have. Use a driver that's got a nice full range sound (people seem to really like the Faital 15PR400).

Another option would be a crossover with the lows going to a DI and the rest going to the amp and cab. Set the crossover point so the resonance isn't an issue. The trick here is to be mindful of phase coherence.

Or the easiest option is to just try 1 or more existing cabs. A good old fashioned full range ported 15 is perfect for that kind of stuff, and most of them are dirt cheap these days because they weigh more than 3 pounds.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'm pretty happy with the attenuator solution, even though that wasn't my reason for buying it. A lot of people seem to have negative opinions of them, but the Rivera at least sounds very good. Budget and motivation are limited enough to put this to rest for now :).
 
#67
MarkA said:
Could be, yep.

I'd be interested to see if another PF-50T behaved similarly with that cab, or if the head behaved similarly with different cabs -- but don't feel obligated to find out for me. ;)

Just so I'm clear, does the sound similarly even out, sans attenuator, if the head is turned way up? (I realize that this is too loud for your use.)

Again, don't mind me -- I'm just curious. Glad that you sorted it out!
Click to expand...

I'll try cranking it without the attenuator next time I fire it up. Hopefully I don't blow out my eardrums!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back