Load box suggestions

[SpiderWars]

I had a Suhr Reactive Load but sold it. Fryette has the Power Load and there are a bunch of others available now (like the Boss Tube Amp Expander). Are they all pretty similar? Any to avoid? I don't think I need IR, this will go into an amp and then a 4x12.

I found a Rivera Mini Rockrec local for a really good price, any good?

This will be primarily for 100W Marshalls.

I have a power amp but still like the simplicity/compactness of powered load boxes like the Boss TAE and Fryette Power Station.

 

[harddriver]

Are looking for an attenuator or strictly a load box? Are you planning to load down your SL then reamp with a separate power amp?

I think the suhr load box is a pretty robust load box and it has great line out to reamp with, alot of guys running 100 watters into them and have had no issues that I have read about since they came out.

I use a rivera Rockcrusher to attenuate my plexi some DB's in my W/D/W setup, it's very transparent, and really well built.

Alot of people like the Fryette powerstation, not sure if it can totally load down a 100 watter full up though. Fryette build good stuff too. A few people here have said it colored the tone alot, I don't hear it in the clips myself I think it sound pretty good.

I still use my old THD hotplate for a fixed load when I retube my amps.

A few people here were having problems with their Boss TAE but I did read good things about it.

 

[SpiderWars]

Are looking for an attenuator or strictly a load box? Are you planning to load down your SL then reamp with a separate power amp?

Thanks, I'm looking for a load box for the SL/SB then add delay and reamp. And I would potentially be boosting and cranking the amp. Preserving the amp tone would be paramount. The Suhr is good just checking options.

The description for the Mini Rockrec says it's good up to 300W (which I assume means ~150W-rated tube amps).

 

[harddriver]

Are looking for an attenuator or strictly a load box? Are you planning to load down your SL then reamp with a separate power amp?

Thanks, I'm looking for a load box for the SL/SB then add delay and reamp. And I would potentially be boosting and cranking the amp. Preserving the amp tone would be paramount. The Suhr is good just checking options.

The description for the Mini Rockrec says it's good up to 300W (which I assume means ~150W-rated tube amps).

I think the Suhr would be your best bet to preserve the tone 100% but then you would have to run a separate power amp to power your 4x12. The Rivera rockcrusher is way over built, the load resistor is huge and the unit is quite wide and deep. Not sure about the mini but Paul Rivera doesn't build junk, he knows guys are cranking old plexi's and superleads putting out 150 200 watts at clipping into them and he designs accordingly, I have not used the line out from the Rivera but I would imagine it's as good as the Suhr. I think the Suhr is priced decent too for what it offers.

I use a Suhr Iso line out(transformer isolated) to tap the output jack of my amps tone 100% to feed my W/D/W but I imagine John Suhr used something just as good inside or exact in the Reactive load.

 

[ultimatemetalguitartones]

Man I do love my suhr reactive load!

 

[SpiderWars]

I have the Suhr Iso Line out that I use with MV amps without FX loop. I have a Rivera Hammer 120 power amp but it is heavy and 4u.

 

[harddriver]

This guy has some good sounding DI clips of 100 watt Marshall's into the Suhr Reactive load then IR's direct.

 

[Spaceboy]

The Suhr RL doesn't do what you want without connecting other gear, if I understand what you're trying to do. You might want the Fryette Power Station. It will reamp, load down, give you a loop, etc. If you don't need an IR DI, and just going into a cabinet and want the benefits of reamping, the PS2 is the cheapest option and sounds fantastic. I have own the Boss TAE myself to comment on it.

If you were simply going to load down the amp and go DI, then the Suhr RL IR is the best I've owned.

 

[CEG85]

I dont know too much about the mini rockrec but I had the original Rockcrusher, and it sounded great, solid piece of gear.
Cant go wrong with either Rivera or Fryette.

 

[skullfxr]

Just on the topic of Paul Rivera, (I am not trying to act like I really know the guy) but we have had a few conversations over the phone and semi frequent emails. He was being really cool and helpful on something I may do to my K100. He REALLY knows his shit, and from the words we have exchanged, I would honestly take his opinions as a Bible. He is brilliant and does not cut corners, absolute genius IMO. and again I am a nobody in the grand scheme of the 'amp' world, but I would trust his work/products/opinions 100%. He is a nice guy. I am not saying John or Steve are less knowledgeable but Paul DEFINITELY knows what is going down.

 

[ClintN667]

I had the Fryette PS-2. I didnt really notice any coloration between my amps that I used it on. I miss it. I sold it once I ordered a PA50 from KSR and then went with a Captor as an Attenuator/Load box. I really shouldnt have. I may grab another Fryette PS-2. It was just so damn useful

 

[SpiderWars]

Is there any advantage of the PS2 over the PS100 or vica versa? I don't think I need the dual Volume/Presence/Depth but I might like it. Are there any notable improvements to the PS2?

 

[harddriver]

Is there any advantage of the PS2 over the PS100 or vica versa? I don't think I need the dual Volume/Presence/Depth but I might like it. Are there any notable improvements to the PS2?

I guess the high end response was muted somewhat on the PS1 if I remember correctly. The PS1 still sounded good but it must have been enough of an issue for John to revise it to the PS2. I would go for the PS2 personally there isn't much of a price difference. I like the loop availability with the Powerstation and it's plexibility to be used as a 60 watt power amp, attnenuator, load box. Alot of people with Superleads and plexis seem to really like the Powerstation. Dave Friedman raved about them too when they first came out, and Dave F has really good ears IMO. George Metropolous has good ears too.

While the Suhr sounds good I think you might get more use out of the Powerstation if you are not going to record with DI IR's.

If I wasn't already reamping W/D/W with my Matrix power amp and my existing setup I probably would go Fryette PS2 if I needed a load, attenuator/poweramp.