Can I build an attenuator from this?

[nee]

Greetings!

Some years ago a techie friend built me a device whereby I could use the preamp of my red-knob Twin Reverb for DI recording, without having any sound from the speakers: I'd just plug it into the speaker socket. It's a 50W/10R resistor mounted on a finned heat sink.

Is there any way I can connect this inbetween the speaker output and the speakers to reduce volume? Or do I need the complete "L-pad" 2-resistor set-up?

[Noel Grassy]

nee, If you run it between the OT and a speaker(s) you should have no problem. On second thought, I'd measure what that combined load actually was to determine if your OT needed to have the impedance switched for a more "cozy" impedance.

I probably wouldn't play with the amp cranked or too near maximum level.

Attached is a graph showing actual impedances with the various settings of the Airbrake.

Furthermore, building a "motor" as a dummy load doesn't look very difficult to build as well as incorporate into a speaker cab for the musician that has certain special needs.

[Ron Worley]

Noel, well just look at you go with the fancy Excel graphs and such... And you said you have issues with the Gronkulator

Ron

[Noel Grassy]

Ron, I am fingerf^cked when it comes to computer related creativity. I could put my eye out pickin' my nose, as it were.

That graph originates from Aiken's site IIRC. It clearly delineates the issues with using an attenuator so I included it.

[nee]

nee, If you run it between the OT and a speaker(s) you should have no problem.

So just connect it in series with the speakers? At the moment my speakers are 2 x 8ohm in series, amp set to 16ohms.

It occurs to me that I also have an old 8ohm 30watt speaker with perished rubber suspension. Can that be pressed into service in an attenuator?

I guess I need a few more details of which wire to connect where! Noob on board!

[Noel Grassy]

nee, Yes that's it. It goes between the amp's speaker out jax and your speaker.