Weber Mass Lite Attenuator / Peavey Classic 100 application

[tbonuss]

MODERATOR PLEASE DELETE DOUBLE POST

Hello all--

I just happened upon a Weber Mass Lite (100 Watt) attenuator and am interested in using it on a Peavey Classic 100 (Watt) head.

Before I start messing around with this, and make some kind of boneheaded irreversible error, I thought I'd get ask the good people here for some guidance.

1. Communicating with Weber and they caution agains using the 100 watt rated attenuator on a 100 watt head above half volume. Evidently, I need the 200 watt version to do that as they advise the amp can put out 50% over rated power when overdriven (?).

2. The amp has 3 output impedances (16, 8, 4) and the Weber will adjust accordingly (however it does that).

3. I keep the preamp gain moderate as I'm trying to get a balance with power amp distortion.

So...

The first thing that occurs to me is that I should buy the 200 watt version. However, based on what I read, I like the way this one has one rheostat for low-mid and one for mid-high. That configuration really makes a lot of sense to me. Guess I could buy a second one and run on the parallel amp outs...oy.

The second thing that occurs to me is that I should get an estimate of maximum output power based on my settings. I don't know the best way to do that.

Third, not sure if impedance mis-matching can help here, and may be a bit risky as I'm trying to dime the power amp (well actually, trying to figure out the reasonable limit and see how that sounds).

Fourth, *eventually* maybe I need to put a half power switch on this thing. Look at me, trying to lead my own thread off topic.

I dunno...help, thoughts, harassment? Any additional information I should provide?

Thanks in advance!

[Enzo]

WHy would you intentionally mis-match impedance. set it up properly.

Your settings do not determine power. Yes, it will be louder at 7 than at 3 and will be putting out more powr then, but there is no way to look up on a chart what some combination of knobs will produce. If i turn the master down, I can turn something else up and be right back where I started power wise.

You only get power tube distortion when you push the power tubes past their full on level.

[tbonuss]

Thanks Enzo, I sent you a PM.
I don't know why this created two threads.

[lowell]

Maximum power based on your settings: Measure RMS voltage on the speaker. Square that and divide by speaker ohms. P=V^2/R. Weber is saying that once clipping starts to occur, RMS power increases exponentially... or rather a lot more.

[Enzo]

Don't worry about the double, we'll just all continue in the other one, and this one will fade away.