jboyjams wrote:Yeah I've been wanting one of these - especially wondering about the PPIMV.
My 1996 1987x sounds so good but I need to control the volume (had a Hotplate and stil have a UA) - I'm wondering if I'd like a PPIMV better than an attenuator.
When using the PPIMV just to lower the volume somewhat for a gig - and the amp set around 4 for just a little breakup, it is still possible to boost the amp's volume (and gain) with an overdrive or clean boost? (or does it just get dirtier without increasing volume?)
(much nicer people on this forum eh!? - sometimes that other forum wears me out - especially when talking about Marshall amps or the RR)
Hey, man! Good to see you here. I can only assume this forum is going to be slightly more supportive of Marshall type clones, although some of the guys on the other forum are Marshall geeks too.
I can speak to the attenuator/PPIMV thing... I had a '73 1959 (100w) Marshall and an Aracom PRX150-PRO. I really liked the Aracom attenuator; it did a great job taming the Super Lead. Then a guy hit me up, asking if he could drop by with his self-made Metro 1959 that had the LAR/MAR PPIMV installed, to do an A/B comparison of the Aaracom and the LAR/MAR PPIMV.
Long story short, the LAR/MAR won the day. I ended up selling the 1959 and the Aracom and when the RR's became available, i scooped up a used one with the PPIMV.
One of the things that swung me over to the LAR/MAR was that I had realized that I was a "Marshall Guy" and a Marshall head and PPIMV would suit me just fine. (And to narrow it down even further... I'm really a "NMV Marshall Guy" who needs a MV. lol)
Sure, there are situations that an attenuator might better fulfill one's needs. If one has, say, multiple heads and multiple cabs, the Aracom, or another high dollar attenuator, might make sense. But for someone like myself, who has found that a specific amp puts a smile on my face, the PPIMV does as good a job, sonically, and costs a fraction of what a high end attenuator costs. A no-brainer for me.
As to the question about using an overdrive or clean boost... I cannot answer that because i don't have either type of pedal. I would suggest trying the Metro forum and just look for posts about the LAR/MAR and how it works in the situation you're asking about. Good luck with that; would love to hear the answer you come up with.
Amps: Marshall 1w Offset head/cab; Orange Tiny Terror Hardwired; Line6 Amplifi 75
Gits: '07 Gibson Melody Maker; Cort Steinberger