Radio Shack Cheap Attenuator / EVJ Head or Combo

[sanborns]

Cool! Can you do a vid of your workbench?

[RCbeastly]

This control is rated at 50watts maximum, 25 watts RMS. You shouldn't use it for a 100 watt amp. There is also no impedance information in the specs for this device, although it is intended for use between an amplifier speaker output and the speakers which in a normal home sound system would be 8 ohms. (Don't blame me is it isn't though).

Impedance matching is very important if you don't want to stress your amplifier's output transformer.

[ChristianBackings]

I have also used the same volume attenuator from Radio Shack. On a Fender "The Twin," 2x12 combo 100 watt all tube amp. However, instead of running the attenuator before the preamp, I inserted the attenuator at the final output of the amp where the speakers are connected to the amp. If you attenuate the signal coming into the amp...sure, you can crank up the amp but you run into all kinds of "idle" noise issues that you won't have if you put the attenuator after the amp

[Yotlow]

Does this work for 8ohm or 4ohm? Or both?

[ckolonko]

What are the specs for the wall mount volume thing?

I cant get 16OHM L-PADS in the UK for some reason but can get the wall mount volume things.

[boogieman00001]

Be careful with this one. The manual for the volume control doesn't list any sort of impedance value, so there's no telling what your amp is seeing. Also, it's only rated for 25 watts rms, so don't go connecting this to a Marshall Plexi. A matched load is an absolute must with tube amps. Failure to do so is a sure fire way to ruin your output transformer.

[Zhorellski]

Dude that was awesome!! thanks for sharing!

[mrguitardudeman]

well done mate i will def try this thanx

[Acidrain1993]

approximately how much attenuation does this provide? and does this put enough of a load on my transformer so as not to mess it up?

[lostwars]

@Acidrain1993 about -10 dB

[AndyBearman]

Nice one. The only issue you might face with that is the transformer might respond differently to different frequency ranges.

I can't believe people pay so much money for these commercial products which simply consist of an L-pad in a box.

[crazydiamond943]

So I take it this attenuator keeps an 8ohm load on the output transformer? Otherwise, it's as good as an infamous 1meg pot from ebay. Otherwise, great. :)

[Flowshow88]

Very informational. I love making stuff that you pay an arm and leg for. I just made a remote control car with a motor from a blender. It has too much torque and just wants to burnout. What do you think about running it on dc?