Re: Loads and a Tube Amp

["G." <gigs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

<quote>
Date: Tue, 6 Apr 2004 10:26:08 -0700 (PDT)
From: Harp NewEngland <harp_newengland@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Loads and a Tube Amp

There's another kind of a load that you can put on a tube
amp to get the same sound at low volumes as you do when
cranked to full.  It connects between the amps output
transformer and the speaker.  The device is called a
"Power Soak", sometimes it's also called a "Guitar Amp
Power Attenuator".
What it basically does is load down the output of the amp.
8<
I think a much better idea is to use a good FET preamp
that has a gain and drive knob to get the tone and sustain
you want and not load down the output of your tube amp.
FET's can give you a similar tube like sound.  They also
provide you with a clean sound and do not hiss, like bacon
frying in a pan, like transistor preamps do.
8<
Richard Axtman
</quote>

Also its worth pointing out the Harp Commander is a class A FET preamp, with
built in compressor and designed for harmonica mics.
Available at Coast to Coast:
http://tinyurl.com/yuz6q
more on that unit here:
http://tinyurl.com/suit/ampdamps.html#harpcommander

Thank you for the additional advice Richard, useful stuff.
- -- G.