Post by ruger9 on Jan 22, 2008 14:45:50 GMT -7
I've been using 2 Weber Mini-Masses for over a year now, at home, to reign in my amps to reasonable levels (but not "bedroom" levels... I'm still pretty loud, but nowhere near gig volume.)
Anyway, I finally got an Airbrake today. I know alot of people here either use Webers, or have questions regarding the Weber vs. the Airbrake, so here goes.
Setup used: Tele into RxJR, various pedals but also NO pedals. Eminence Red Fang 1x12.
The RxJR was set with MV on 10 & volume on 4.
The Weber is a 25W, and the attenuation is set to minimum (Webers have an insertion loss of 3db or 6db, I forget), and that's enough.
The Airbrake was 4 clicks down.
I'll start with the Weber since that's what I've been using: the 25W Mini-Mass. At first glance, the Mini-Mass works very well, and the "infinite attenuation control" is nice instead of "steps" like the Airbrake has. However, the MM tends to cut a wee bit of high end. It has a treble compensation switch to offset this, but I've never liked the tone of the switch. HOWEVER... using it with the RxJR, which is a bright amp (like alot of Z's), the slight loss in highs actually "warms the amp up a bit", which I happen to realy appreciate with the RxJR. Besides... my treble is only on 2, so I could always boost the treble right back up if I wanted to right at the amp. But I have always gotten a very good tone out of my Webers. They are not "transparent", but as stated, you could just turn the treble on the amp up a tad.
Now, today I plug in the Airbrake. Holy transparent. NO high end loss until you hit the bedroom setting. I was actually taken aback at just how transparent it is. And the bedroom setting works pretty well, considering. I like the Airbrake's bedroom setting over the Webers max attenuation. But FOR ME, the Airbrake did not help warm the amp up at all, and the slight ice-picky was back. I was able to turn the treble on the amp down to 1 or 1.5, but I don't like doing that (and I'll tell you why)...
Alot of amps, Z's especially (from what I've read & my own experience), have alot of tone & GAIN tied into the treble control. The lower I set the treble control on the RxJR, the more I feel like I'm "choking" the amp. Setting it at 2 is OK, but truth be told I'd like to get it even higher (which is why I'm in the process of procuring a Weber 50W Blue Alnico 1x12 setup). Anyway, I really don't like turning the treble down that low.
Honestly, in my quick shootout, I prefer the Weber ON THE RxJR. But the Airbrake is most definitely more transparent. I'll have to live with both for awhile to get a beter feel for what I think of them. The bedroom setting on the AB is really cool.
Anyway, I finally got an Airbrake today. I know alot of people here either use Webers, or have questions regarding the Weber vs. the Airbrake, so here goes.
Setup used: Tele into RxJR, various pedals but also NO pedals. Eminence Red Fang 1x12.
The RxJR was set with MV on 10 & volume on 4.
The Weber is a 25W, and the attenuation is set to minimum (Webers have an insertion loss of 3db or 6db, I forget), and that's enough.
The Airbrake was 4 clicks down.
I'll start with the Weber since that's what I've been using: the 25W Mini-Mass. At first glance, the Mini-Mass works very well, and the "infinite attenuation control" is nice instead of "steps" like the Airbrake has. However, the MM tends to cut a wee bit of high end. It has a treble compensation switch to offset this, but I've never liked the tone of the switch. HOWEVER... using it with the RxJR, which is a bright amp (like alot of Z's), the slight loss in highs actually "warms the amp up a bit", which I happen to realy appreciate with the RxJR. Besides... my treble is only on 2, so I could always boost the treble right back up if I wanted to right at the amp. But I have always gotten a very good tone out of my Webers. They are not "transparent", but as stated, you could just turn the treble on the amp up a tad.
Now, today I plug in the Airbrake. Holy transparent. NO high end loss until you hit the bedroom setting. I was actually taken aback at just how transparent it is. And the bedroom setting works pretty well, considering. I like the Airbrake's bedroom setting over the Webers max attenuation. But FOR ME, the Airbrake did not help warm the amp up at all, and the slight ice-picky was back. I was able to turn the treble on the amp down to 1 or 1.5, but I don't like doing that (and I'll tell you why)...
Alot of amps, Z's especially (from what I've read & my own experience), have alot of tone & GAIN tied into the treble control. The lower I set the treble control on the RxJR, the more I feel like I'm "choking" the amp. Setting it at 2 is OK, but truth be told I'd like to get it even higher (which is why I'm in the process of procuring a Weber 50W Blue Alnico 1x12 setup). Anyway, I really don't like turning the treble down that low.
Honestly, in my quick shootout, I prefer the Weber ON THE RxJR. But the Airbrake is most definitely more transparent. I'll have to live with both for awhile to get a beter feel for what I think of them. The bedroom setting on the AB is really cool.