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Post subject: Dr. Z's Brake Lite + Vibroverb + Harp?
Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 7:29 pm
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Howdy!

Does anyone have any experience with the Dr. Z's Brake Lite attenuator?

I'm talking about the small unit that you can mount inside the (speaker) cabinet of the amplifier, not the larger "Air Brake" unit.

I want my beloved '63 Reissue Vibroverb to break up at lower volumes with my harp (harmonica to all you non-blues cats)...

...as it is, it will break up, but I can't get far enough away from the amp to prevent feedback, and the volume is so loud it actually killed a frail old man in front of the stage (just kidding, he was just injured, not killed).

Anybody who has one of these amps knows it's as great-sounding for harp as it is for guitar (I play both), but it is possibly the loudest 40-watt amp ever built...for guitar I can use an overdrive pedal, but harp mic doesn't respond so well with the ol' Tubescreamer.

Anybody have any experience with the Brake Lite? No matter what amp you used it with, please share your impressions.

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Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 8:56 am
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I have one in my 65 Bandmaster combo and love it. Really lets you get the power tubes working but at lower volume. When more people fill the pub/club, I can reach back and click it up a notch.

Highly recommended; for $179 you can't go wrong.

For more dirt for your harp, the Paul Cochrane Timmy pedal is a transparent overdrive/boost - more of your amp. Can be outrageous or add some subtle grit to your sound. Worth checking it out. Totally different from a TS808 or current Tube Screamer - they're in a different league.

Good luck!

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'59? Bogen Challenger CHA-33, '65 Bandmaster, '65 Tremolux, 65 Showman;
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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2010 9:19 pm
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Thank you so much, man...

Can you give me a "breakdown of the breakup"? :lol: Do you lose any tone?

...also; have you ever heard anyone play a harp through it? Many devices/amps/effects/etc. sound great with a guitar but sound like crud with a harp, which is why I have kept the Vibroverb--it sounds equally good for guitar & harp, just a little too clean for my taste.

I've heard good things about the Timmy pedal--but from what I've read they're hard to find...maybe one day!

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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 8:51 am
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The breakup - think of how your amp sounds with volume on 10, and then take that great sound of the power tubes cranked, but at lower overall volume. The only thing you don't get is full interaction with the speaker, but it definitely works for me.

Charley's Guitar Shop in Dallas is a Dr. Z dealer - you could bring your amp, harp and guitar in and try one out to see if you like it before you buy it. Charley's Guitar Shop • 2720 Royal Lane •Suite 100 • Dallas, TX 75229 • (972) 243-4187 - seems pretty close to you if you're in Ft. Worth.

Only amps I've heard a harp through were a silverface Champ cranked with a mic (amazing) and a Princeton with a mic -both sounded good. I think that's where the Timmy could help, but you'd have to try it out to see if it's right for you, your guitar and your harp. If you like the sound of the Vibroverb cranked, this should help get you a little more of that sound at lower volume. It's completely different from a Tube Screamer - just more of your amp.

As for availability, my guy in Redondo, Harbor Music, gets a lot of the Timmy Pedals; check him out at http://www.harbormusic.net - he has a waiting list for Timmy pedals; I only waited a month and a half to get mine.

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'59? Bogen Challenger CHA-33, '65 Bandmaster, '65 Tremolux, 65 Showman;
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Our band: http://www.facebook.com/thetoysband


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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 10:01 pm
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I used to run a silverface Champ--it sounded awesome with the harp, but just wasn't loud enough to cut it in a band (especially in the band I was in at the time--dang, we were loud!)

Charley's is one of my favorite guitar shops in the world; I try to get over there as often as possible! It's a little bit of a drive from where I live, but you gotta go pretty far to get anywhere in Texas. :lol:

I did talk to them about the Brake Lite, and highly recommended it; they weren't very enthusiastic about letting me try it out...maybe if I bring my amp/harp/mic and distract them with my wife (she's the good looking one in our marriage!) I could give it a spin...

I read up on the Timmy--it sounds like a heckuva stompbox. One thing at a time, for now though...I'm happy as a pig in mud with my guitar tone (and pedal board), but have been exceedingly dissatisfied with my harp "breakup" tone...I'd like to try out the Brake Lite first...

Thanks for all your help!

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Screamin' Armadillos
Texas Roadhouse Music
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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 10:34 pm
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If the cables are long enough, ask if you can try it without using the adhesive strips or screwing it into the side of your amp. You could try its big brother the Air Brake, which is free standing and would give you and idea of how it sounds.

Good luck!

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'59? Bogen Challenger CHA-33, '65 Bandmaster, '65 Tremolux, 65 Showman;
'74 SF Princeton; '77 SF Princeton Reverb; Dr. Z Mini Z

Our band: http://www.facebook.com/thetoysband


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2010 12:02 am
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I have brake lite in my 65 princeton RI and agree that it works extremely well without sacrificing tone...super easy to install as well in the event it does not do what you hoped...


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