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Post by jamese (James) on May 29, 2018 20:19:27 GMT -7
HI everyone!
I picked up a used Wreck combo and a used brake lite. I installed the brake lite.
Tele -> Amp . Treble /Bass/Cut set to noon. Volume 9 oclock.
On 0 (bypassed) on the brake lite it's a very clean sound. Progressing up the brake lite clicks it gets dirtier. Click 4 is like having an overdrive pedal turned on. Is this expected?
Thanks!
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Post by purpletele on May 29, 2018 21:05:27 GMT -7
HI everyone! I picked up a used Wreck combo and a used brake lite. I installed the brake lite. Tele -> Amp . Treble /Bass/Cut set to noon. Volume 9 oclock. On 0 (bypassed) on the brake lite it's a very clean sound. Progressing up the brake lite clicks it gets dirtier. Click 4 is like having an overdrive pedal turned on. Is this expected? Thanks! jamse, 4 clicks represents quite a bit of resistance, in fact I bet it pisses off the Wreck. It may feel like a compressed OD on the wreck, I haven't played one with an attenuator. I always thought that it felt like a blanket draped over the speaker. I think you are experiencing a normal condition
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Post by headshrinker (Marc) on May 29, 2018 21:05:29 GMT -7
Doesn't sound right to me. Should just be the same tone quieter. Try it the other way around. Attenuators work better that way in my opinion. Set your amp up the way you want it to sound tone and drive wise on 4 clicks and then start turning it up. Is it the same but louder as you go up? Should be with maybe a slight variation in drive and tone because of the added volume. If you can't get cleans at 9:00 with single coils and the guitar volume turned down a bit with the brake lite at 4 clicks, something is wrong.
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Post by Jaguarguy (Mike) on May 30, 2018 0:54:33 GMT -7
I agree with what Marc says - shouldn't be that much difference in tone. Marc also is right - start with a slightly lower volume than needed. Get your tone and then turn it up.
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Post by jamese (James) on May 30, 2018 6:03:11 GMT -7
Thanks for the replies. I think something is wrong as well.. maybe with the brake lite. The amp sounds unbelievable with it bypassed, and certainly doesn't break up at all at 9/9:30 like it does when the brake lite is on 4.
The problem with dialing in my tone at the lower volume and then moving the clicks on the brake lite to "less attenuation" is that if I use position 4 to get tone, then lessen the attenuation, I'm already starting with such a dirty tone even at 9 on the volume dial... which doesn't seem right.
It'll be easy to diagnose. I'll bring the amp to the store and try a couple of the attenuators they have there.
Thanks again everyone!
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Post by daddyelmis (Greg) on May 30, 2018 6:37:20 GMT -7
I’m running brakelites on my therapy and Z28, and while it does affect tone as more attenuation is added (mostly loss of some higher frequencies), it doesn’t drastically alter tone as you are describing - particularly adding any distortion.
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Post by Rockerfeller on May 30, 2018 6:48:48 GMT -7
The only way what you are describing would happen is if you are simultaneously turning up the Wreck while giving it more attenuation. If you are not doing that, then something is wrong. The tone, clean or overdriven, stays the same regardless of where you set the BL. How are you hooking it up from the amp? A video of the sound differences would be helpful. If you put that up here, someone can tell you what is going on.
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Post by jamese (James) on May 30, 2018 7:05:43 GMT -7
Thanks Rockerfeller. I don't have a video yet. If I can't resolve this by taking it to the store and trying another attenuator, perhaps I'll make a video.
Test setup is simple:
BL is mounted into the combo. 8ohm speaker jack to the BL, output to the speaker. The amp came with the 8ohm jack in use (before I added the BL).. but I just realized I have NOT checked that the speaker is 8ohm. I need to do that. Do the combos typically come with 8ohm celestion gold or 16ohm?
Set BL to 0 clicks, put amp controls at noon except volume at 9:00. Play tele. Clean tone. Awesome. Turn amp volume up to 10:30, it's still pretty clean.
Now set volume back to 9. Set BL to 4.. sounds like I have a tube screamer in front of the amp. Way dirtier than the amp with BL at 0 and volume at 10:30.
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Post by Rockerfeller on May 30, 2018 7:26:01 GMT -7
I have a Wreck and a BL and what you are describing doesn't match my experience with either of them. Email the mothership directly and ask them about it: repairs@drzamps.com
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Post by mrcapers on May 30, 2018 8:14:09 GMT -7
Is it the stand alone Brake Lite? If so, maybe it's hooked up backwards.
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on May 30, 2018 8:15:50 GMT -7
I think you've got a problem with the Brake Lite. I had a similar issue and solved it by cleaning the Brake Lite switch with a shot of DeOxit contact cleaner. The other thing I'd do is make sure that the two rings that go around one of the resistors are tight and making solid contact with the resistor wire. If you do clean it, try not to get any on the resistors. It'll stink when they get hot in operation.
If that doesn't work, give Z amps a call. They'll help you out with customer service like you've never enjoyed before.
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Post by jamese (James) on May 30, 2018 8:54:15 GMT -7
It's the brake lite that needs mounting in the cab. Is it the stand alone Brake Lite? If so, maybe it's hooked up backwards.
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Post by jamese (James) on May 30, 2018 17:23:05 GMT -7
Ok so maybe my ears were deceiving me. I don't know. Last night when I was fiddling with this and perceiving tubescreamer like overdrive with the BL on 4... it was right after a band rehearsal (I use a different amp). Maybe something was messed up with my perception. Today I rented a Rivera Rockcrusher and tried it out with the amp. The sound is very similar when attenuating heavily, and certainly not as dirty as I remember from last night (with either the BL or the Rockcrusher). I'm going to watch the NHL playoff game and then try again later.
Initial impressions are that the Rockcrusher is a better attenuator with less effect on tone, but it's twice the price of the BL (new prices) and much bigger (with more features too), and doesn't mount in the cab. However I could use it with my 100W amp too,. so there is that.
I don't generally need the BL 4 click setting (2 or 3 will be fine). I will try cleaning it as previously suggested in this thread and see if it makes a difference.
I'll try some more experiments over the next couple days and report back.
Thanks so much to everyone for their comments so far!
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Post by dcarver on May 30, 2018 22:34:08 GMT -7
Hi jamese. Have you checked out the Brake Lite owner's manual ? Here's a link: drzamps.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Brake-Lite-manual_full-11-22-16.pdfYou can download it from the Brake Lite page on the Dr. Z web site here: drzamps.com/product/brake-lite/There are some gut shots of the BL in the manual. You might compare them to yours to see if yours has been modified. Also see if the contact rings are in the factory set locations. Something sounds fishy. A BL shouldn't cause dirt box level distortion. Good luck. Hope you find the problem.
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Post by purpletele on May 30, 2018 22:51:36 GMT -7
Hi jamese. Have you checked out the Brake Lite owner's manual ? Here's a link: drzamps.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Brake-Lite-manual_full-11-22-16.pdfYou can download it from the Brake Lite page on the Dr. Z web site here: drzamps.com/product/brake-lite/There are some gut shots of the BL in the manual. You might compare them to yours to see if yours has been modified. Also see if the contact rings are in the factory set locations. Something sounds fishy. A BL shouldn't cause dirt box level distortion. Good luck. Hope you find the problem. I forgot that those were adjustable. He may have a BL that's cranked down
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Post by premiumplus (Dave) on May 31, 2018 6:38:37 GMT -7
Hi jamese. Have you checked out the Brake Lite owner's manual ? Here's a link: drzamps.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Brake-Lite-manual_full-11-22-16.pdfYou can download it from the Brake Lite page on the Dr. Z web site here: drzamps.com/product/brake-lite/There are some gut shots of the BL in the manual. You might compare them to yours to see if yours has been modified. Also see if the contact rings are in the factory set locations. Something sounds fishy. A BL shouldn't cause dirt box level distortion. Good luck. Hope you find the problem. I forgot that those were adjustable. He may have a BL that's cranked down And/or that wasn't tightened up snugly enough after the rings were adjusted. If the contact on those resistors isn't solid the cabinet resonance is going to rattle them. If that's happening it would explain the distortion.
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