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Post by Darkside on May 12, 2009 0:03:34 GMT -7
Just want to see if it's me or the brake lite - Even at max attenuation (4) I can only turn the master volume o my Maz 18nr to around 10 before it gets way too loud, no way the power tubes are going to distort a this setting. I have the volume at 1 - 2 giving a light sparkle to my tone. I was hoping that the Brake Lite would cut down the output volume enough for me to try it dimed. Is it faulty or does that sound about right? The Brake Lite does work in as much as you can hear a drop in volume, I just assumed it would be a bigger drop at max. My signal path: Guitar > Evidence audio Lyric HG cable > Maz 18jr nr head > evidence audio siren cable > Brake Lite > evidence audio siren cable > Marshall 1933 1x12 > evidence audio siren cable > Celestion G12H30. Advice appreciated. Thanks!
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Post by benttop (Steve) on May 12, 2009 5:43:26 GMT -7
Well it is a bit subjective. I routinely run my Maz Jr NR here in the house with the Brake Lite set to one click, and yeah, it's kinda loud, but then my ears are kinda weak.
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Post by Darkside on May 12, 2009 6:15:52 GMT -7
One of the benefits of years of gigging eh? lol.
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Post by dickenscpa on May 12, 2009 6:26:10 GMT -7
I have the exact same assessment. I thought mine was faulty but like you I can notice a volume drop with each click. On a 5w'er it sounds awesome with the volume around 3 o'clock and the brake lite on 4.
I guess my RXES is just too powerful on the onset. At 45W I'm at it's limit anyway. I just assumed that on 4 w/ the brake lite I could get the RXES above 2 in a gig situation. That's me plugged into the low input and bringing volume down even further with my OD pedal. Above 2 and the soundman says I'm overpowering the soundboard. I have to believe him since I'm cut off in the monitors and my cab still overpowers everything I hear on stage.
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Post by blackice on May 12, 2009 7:18:04 GMT -7
Some sound guys don't like guitar.
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Post by Darkside on May 12, 2009 14:05:20 GMT -7
I have the exact same assessment. I thought mine was faulty but like you I can notice a volume drop with each click. On a 5w'er it sounds awesome with the volume around 3 o'clock and the brake lite on 4. I guess my RXES is just too powerful on the onset. At 45W I'm at it's limit anyway. I just assumed that on 4 w/ the brake lite I could get the RXES above 2 in a gig situation. That's me plugged into the low input and bringing volume down even further with my OD pedal. Above 2 and the soundman says I'm overpowering the soundboard. I have to believe him since I'm cut off in the monitors and my cab still overpowers everything I hear on stage. I guess that may be the case, same as my KT45 - 45w is pushing the brake lite to the max, but I had assumed that with 18w Maz I would be able to dime it and control it to a reasonable level.
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Post by dickenscpa on May 12, 2009 18:53:18 GMT -7
I'm so frustrated I went out and bought a sound meter. I hate to say it, but I was kinda hoping my brake lite was faulty. I got home 5:40 my time and at this second it's 8:34 so I've played with it a while. All my rudimentary test come out as the brake lite does exactly what's it's supposed to do. I have a 5W EVJr and the RXES. My thinking was that an 11db cut would be equivalent to taking the RXES to roughly equal to the EVJr. With the EVJr and no attenuation it was within 2db of the RXES at 9, 12 and 3 o'clock. This was with the RXES thru the BL and the BL on 4. I ran both heads thru the same cab to be as equal as possible. I ran multiple samples and my BL's clicks averaged out to 2/6/8/10 as opposed to 3/5/8/11. Of course there's a LOT of room for error there for an at home scientific hack like myself. It's kinda hard to guage the exact mark when you have to hit a note, turn the knob and catch the meter before the notes fades, so I took those findings with a grain of salt. In the end I discovered a few facts. 1)The brake lite operates as advertised 2)5W or the equivalent after attenuation is still LOUD. 3)EVJr thru BL on 4 sounds awesome, but at 3 o'clock, it's not a bedroom level. 4)Everyone needs 3 amps 1) Cheapie with headphone jack for home practice 2) Low watter for indoor mic'd shows 3) 30+ watter for outdoor stuff There ya have it YMMV!
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Post by Darkside on May 13, 2009 7:05:15 GMT -7
Well, I guess that's that then. I'm ok with it, I'm sure it's abilities will shine through a bit more at gig levels.
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Post by dickenscpa on May 19, 2009 6:26:20 GMT -7
To throw another twist in. I ordered a less efficient speaker that hasn't come in yet. Take my RXES to Church Sunday morning and put the brake lite on 4. I wound up with my amp a bit above noon volume wise and no pedals at all. On two songs I added a little analog delay. Didn't need anything else. Did not overpower anything or anyone. What a beautiful sound. I played my MIM Tele Sunday and the previous Sunday I played my Classic Vibe Tele. It has much hotter PUPS. I wouldn't think they're that much hotter though. Me thinks someone on the sound board doesn't know what they're doing! ;D I will say that without the brake lite I would have blown the others off stage at that volume. I asked 4 other guitarists in the congregation, who's opinions I trust, they all said sounded wonderful. I didn't overpower the others. I'm not going to worry about it anymore. Got a Ghia that should be here tomorrow and I should have all the dirt and clean I need. I'm just gonna play.
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Post by Darkside on May 25, 2009 13:23:11 GMT -7
Decided to go for an airbrake so if you want a Brake Lite it's on the bay or in the trades section here.
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Post by mwl986 on May 31, 2009 18:43:41 GMT -7
You might try the Airbrake or Weber Mini Mass. The Airbrake is the most effective but it costs more than double a Weber Mini Mass. I use the Brake Lite on my Maz Jr and you're right it is still loud but you get that nice power tube saturation at a lower volume, relatively speaking. I use a Mini Mass on my Marshall 1974X and am very happy with it.
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Post by Darkside on Jun 1, 2009 14:33:44 GMT -7
Thanks for that, I'll check out the Weber prices.
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dany06hd
Full Member
the santa's effect: as long as you believe in, he exists...
Posts: 131
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Post by dany06hd on Jun 16, 2009 1:24:15 GMT -7
even a 1watt amp can be very loud! this is not the amp wattage that is important, but the db that the speaker can produce. if you amp is still too loud with an attenuator, change the speaker for one under 100db. besides I have a minimass that I plugged into the maz 18, and I am happy with it. I sale it.
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Post by dickenscpa on Jun 16, 2009 8:47:49 GMT -7
I told myself I would quit slapping a gift horse in the mouth, but I can't resist. I don't think you can successfully attenuate a 45 or 18W amp to bedroom and be happy. My original assessment was based on a first time out one time crappy sound guy and bedroom assessment. Unfair on my part. But at the time of my original post, all I had to go on. We have since acquired a very good soundman since then. Oxymoron?LOL! The BL on 4 does not have a detrimental sound affect on my RXES or Carmen Ghia, to my ears. At Church in a 300+ person capacity room, I can play my RXES on 12 noon w/ the BL on 4 and my CG at 1 or 2 o'clock w/ the BL on 2 sometimes 3 without overpowering the soundboard, yet hearing my amp on stage. The BL does indeed shine live. Armed with more knowledge about how things are supposed to work, I'm 100% satisfied. I did put a 94db speaker in my Z cab for home use that really tamed the volume even more for home. Beware though and remember to go back to your normal speaker for live, I forgot once and those speakers just don't cut live. Or at least the one I bought didn't. LOL! I picked up a second Z cab for proper A/B'ing and stuck the C12Q in a cheapie cab for home only late night noodling. My pedal board is now an A/B pedal, Route 66 OD/Comp and an EH Delay. I use very light comp from the Rt66 and a touch of delay for a few songs and that's it. The CG is a loud amp so the BL goes on it to get a rich creamy sound at manageable volumes and I have the volume adjusted on the RXES for a beautiful clean and just A/B back and forth and for those giddy moments a bit of stereo. We are headlining an outdoor deal in July and I can't wait. 2 Z heads and 2 Z cabs and no mic'ing. Looking forward to using the overdose pedal for its intended use. Sorry, I get excited, I ramble.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Jun 16, 2009 17:18:21 GMT -7
This is all good news!
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