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Post by real oldster on Jul 9, 2005 17:33:37 GMT -7
For a few years it has appeared the Airbrake has been a top choice for attenuation, however I felt it was too expensive. Now there are inexpensive options such as the Mini-MASS and I'm looking again. My question: Have other manufacturers caught up with the Airbrake? Is the price still justified? Anyone with experience with both the AB and Mini-MASS? Thanks
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Post by Laroosco!! on Jul 10, 2005 23:06:53 GMT -7
I have a miniMASS that cost me $100 and sounds great.
A friend of mine manages a music store and sells tons of Hot Plates and Power Brakes, and he was super impressed with the MASS.
I'm sure that the Z attenuator sounds awesome, but for 1/3 of the price I have a feeling that the MASS sounds pretty damn good.
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Post by stormholloway on Jul 11, 2005 17:15:38 GMT -7
Hmm. I'd like to hear of an A/B between the two as well. I'm in the market for an attenuator.
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Post by Curt on Jul 12, 2005 8:18:18 GMT -7
I have an Air Brake but have not tried others, The AB works well, one thing...seems to me that on pure class A amps (my Ghia and Maz Jr NR) it darkens the tone on settings 3 or more. When I had a Route 66 I did not notice this effect.
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Post by fphatphinger on Jul 17, 2005 7:36:58 GMT -7
I got the Air Brake and use it with my Maz 18 head. I set-it on the number 2 setting to clip off the tops of only the highest of those Fender frequencies. It does the job without affecting my touch or EQ.
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Post by DRZ on Jul 17, 2005 11:51:13 GMT -7
For a few years it has appeared the Airbrake has been a top choice for attenuation, however I felt it was too expensive. Now there are inexpensive options such as the Mini-MASS and I'm looking again. My question: Have other manufacturers caught up with the Airbrake? Is the price still justified? Anyone with experience with both the AB and Mini-MASS? Thanks Well let me address a couple of points. As far as the price being justified, yeah it may seem the price is high for what it is , but it is licenced design with a fee for each unit sold. Also Ken Fischer is stickler for specific parts , the ceramic high wattage Ohmite wire wound resistors have just the amount of inductance and tone responce that only he can truely appreciate and the Ohmite wire wound 50 watt rhostat is very expensive , and hard to get part. Now i can't just blame Kenny as I went overboard on the design of the Alum. box, powder coat, and silk screen ( my cost is $55.00 per box ) . So take all that, distribute to 50 dealers at wholesale price and you can see I make less then my good friend Ted Weber on each. Ted takes a good design , buys parts off shore, and sells direct and offers a very nice product. I think that my selling the Trainwreck Airbrake has raised the awarness in attenuators , and now all of us Weber, THD , and myself sell lot's of attenuators which is a good thing for all. Mini Mass = Great for a low cost attenuator that you need from time to time, say at home to keep family peace. Hot Plate = Great for studio use, lot's of nice features, well built. Z-Airbrake = Wonderful device to carry in your gig bag , very transparant , and built like a tank, you just never know sometimes how loud is too loud. DR.Z
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Post by Bill on Jul 17, 2005 14:26:11 GMT -7
Don't get any better than that!
I've read in many forums, debates and questions about the various attenuators on the market, and right here you get a no BS response on the topic from the man himself ;D
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Post by taswegian on Aug 10, 2005 4:55:06 GMT -7
It's pointless complaining about the price of the airbrake as the doc pointed out, it is that good and worth it, but the other point being, Doc's amp prices are so competitive that you can buy a GREAT Dr Z amp AND an Airbrake for less than the price of other boutique amps. You've gotta love that! New favorite club setting... Route 66, treble 12 o'clock, Bass 3 o'clock, Volume 12 o'clock, airbrake on 1. Turn it off and unplug for last set!!! Classic tone with humbuckers.
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Post by Curt on Aug 10, 2005 8:33:36 GMT -7
Right on !!!!!!
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Post by terryg on Aug 11, 2005 16:07:36 GMT -7
I totally swear by my Airbrake. It's pretty much just as important/plugged in as much as my guitar is. I'll be getting another one, too. If I were to conjure up any regrets about using it, it would be that I'm using it because I'd be too loud otherwise...which kind of implies I'm not getting to hear my speakers fully working. Hardly a regret, since I get to *play* the amp thanks to the settings I can use.
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