Attenuator

[SpiderWars]

Cuz those amps stop the earths rotation and shift its axis when cranked which is fine playing stadiums. Not so good playing smaller places.
You gotta unleash the volume to get the goods.
I found the EV12L's unuseable if you like Greenback type breakup. The 12L's don't even bend a little.

Those amps are about preamp distortion. Sure everything sounds better louder but those amps pretty much just get louder. I know they can have a hair-trigger MV if you want to play really quiet but putting something in the loop and turning it down there works better ime. Attenuators suck tone. NMV amps are a different aminal but these Mesa Marks are classic MV amps.

EDIT: IMO they are just different tones Marshalls/Greenbacks Mesa Marks/V30s or EVs. I want my Marshalls thru Greenbacks but I want my Mesa Marks thru V30s or EVs. I'm not a big fan of Mesa Marks thru Greenbacks...Hiwatts even less so.

 

[tallcoolone]

Easy fix, put a clean boost or EQ in the loop and turn it down there. Still better than a tone sucking attenuator.

Done that, no it is not better IMO. Throwing dirt or EQ in an fx loop has never resulted in anything positive IME. I know others have had better results, to each their own. A Hotplate cut down 8dB, bright switch on deep off is a damn useful tool unless you are talking Madison Square Bedroom. In that case the TAE is an absolute must have.

 

[tallcoolone]

Those amps are about preamp distortion. Sure everything sounds better louder but those amps pretty much just get louder. I know they can have a hair-trigger MV if you want to play really quiet but putting something in the loop and turning it down there works better ime. Attenuators suck tone. NMV amps are a different aminal but these Mesa Marks are classic MV amps.

EDIT: IMO they are just different tones Marshalls/Greenbacks Mesa Marks/V30s or EVs. I want my Marshalls thru Greenbacks but I want my Mesa Marks thru V30s or EVs. I'm not a big fan of Mesa Marks thru Greenbacks...Hiwatts even less so.

You never answered my question--have you ever owned a MIII? What you type here SHOULD be true, but it isn't in this case. I've had several MIIIs and all of them sounded better run hot.

 

[SpiderWars]

You never answered my question--have you ever owned a MIII? What you type here SHOULD be true, but it isn't in this case. I've had several MIIIs and all of them sounded better run hot.

Yes I've owned a Mark III. A DRG combo with EV. I thought it sounded amazing. I don't remember the stripe, it was mid 90's. I never had a problem with the MV, it was touchy but workable.

 

[dcburn]

It's not about cost.

My comment wasn't about amp comparison, simply two amps.
My point about cost was amp replacement.
Going cheap, doing something wrong and burning up an amp.

Ive read some horror stories about some of the attenuators others are posting here...

I did my due diligence when I started looking into attenuators.

Started with the Captor X torpedo because of attenuation and really, the headphone jack.
Get back into recording, possibly?
Never ended up using the headphone option like I thought I would and the attenuation IMO was less than desirable.

Then I purchased the Mesa Powerhouse.
Great, solid attenuator.
Has switches for warmth and highs.
Wasn't perfect, or as close to perfect as one can get, but definitely usable.

Personally, my theory is if I have to go cheap, I just wont go.
In comes the Power Station...