[loktide]

Originally Posted by MF_Kitten

if you´re unable to play loud, get yourself a power attenuator...

For that money, I would get an amp that sounds good at an equivalent volume to a tube amp at 1. For example a roland cube 30 :]
It's pretty ridiculous to invest in an power attenuator to play with your tube-amp with the level at one. It's like turning the air conditioning and the heater on for getting a temperature of 20°C while it's already 20°C outside.

[Zepp88]

This being an interesting subject for me as well.

Whats a good SAFE attenuator to use?

[budda]

most attenuators are safe, to my knowledge.

weber mass/mini mass, marshall power brake, THD hotplate come to mind.

you'll go through power amp tubes faster with an attenuator - have fun paying for sets of 4 more often then usual :P. im very glad i can crank my amps up at home without being told to turn it down, college is gonna be one helluva change haha

[Zepp88]

Originally Posted by budda

most attenuators are safe, to my knowledge.

weber mass/mini mass, marshall power brake, THD hotplate come to mind.

you'll go through power amp tubes faster with an attenuator - have fun paying for sets of 4 more often then usual :P. im very glad i can crank my amps up at home without being told to turn it down, college is gonna be one helluva change haha

How much faster?

[Shaman]

I have a Hellraiser and a 6505 and I have bever had a problem getting a great tone out of them.

I think you have wayyy too much distortion going. For articulate, heavy rhythm tone back the pre gain to 3 on the lead channel.

Try these settings for the stuff you like:

Lead channel:

Pre Gain: 3

Low: 6
Mid: 6
High: 5-6

Resonance: 8
Presence: 9

Somebody posted the Unearth-settings for the 6505/5150 some time ago, but I can't remember them. The settings were quite weird if I remember correctly..

Something like:
Lead:

Low: 10
Mid: 7
High:?

Resonance: 10
Presence:?

That's all I remeber...

Originally Posted by Zepp88

How much faster?

There's no huge difference. I have owned a atteunator for almost two years, and I have had no problems with power tubes.

[metalfiend666]

Originally Posted by loktide

For that money, I would get an amp that sounds good at an equivalent volume to a tube amp at 1. For example a roland cube 30 :]
It's pretty ridiculous to invest in an power attenuator to play with your tube-amp with the level at one. It's like turning the air conditioning and the heater on for getting a temperature of 20°C while it's already 20°C outside.

I'm sorry, but it's not at all. The point is that you can tube the volume up on the amp, but bring it down with the attenuator. You really do get the sound of a tube amp at full blast at a sane volume. My Ashdown in cranked (and I mean cranked) and running into a Weber Mass Lite. It's no louder than my old SS rig was, so I get tube goodness with neighbour friendly volume.

[7 Dying Trees]

As everyone has said, less gain, higher volume and DON'T scoop it, put some mids in there, it'll really crunch it up. A tubescreamer will help as well, although you'll want to back of the gain as well (and use the tubescreamer as a clean boost, not distortion)

[noodles]

As many others have said, you have to turn that thing up for it to sound good. It is amazing how a tube amp goes from bleck to holy shit when you turn it from one to four.

As many others have also said, you can't do the death scoop on a 5150. It's going to sound like ass. Put some mids back in, at least 4. The higher settings of the bass knob means mud, so bring that back down to around 6. Bring the treble back down, too, or you're in danger of having ice pick attack. Finally, drop the gain down to around half and throw a tube screamer in front.

One thing that most people haven't mentioned: the 5150, like the Recto, is an amp built with a gigging guitarist in mind. They're not one of those amps you plug into and get immediately floored by. Get them into a band setting and they just sit in the mix right, sounding all brutal and evil.

You went out and bought yourself a pretty righteous rig. Don't get discouraged, because if you're not used to tube amps, you've got some learning to do. Look at the journey to find your tone as an experience in and of itself, and you won't get so frustrated.

[Metal Ken]

Originally Posted by loktide

For that money, I would get an amp that sounds good at an equivalent volume to a tube amp at 1. For example a roland cube 30 :]
It's pretty ridiculous to invest in an power attenuator to play with your tube-amp with the level at one. It's like turning the air conditioning and the heater on for getting a temperature of 20°C while it's already 20°C outside.

A 5150 at 6 will sound much more awesome than a Cube. Using the attenuator, you get the badass 5150 tone at Roland Cube level.

Its not meant to be quiet. its not a practice amp. Getting an attenuator means that you dont NEED a practice amp.

[noodles]

Originally Posted by Metal Ken

A 5150 at 6 will sound much more awesome than most of the amps on the planet.