How to Build a Guitar Amp Attenuator

I show you how with just a couple components and some soldering you can build your own Guitar Amplifier Attenuator.

Website article with schematic:

[lllSteve]

Hey I remember watching your Minecraft The Beatles video a long time ago when I was younger and I just wanted to let you know that video was my childhood

[andyreevesarchive]

Made one, just like yours. Works great! Excellent tutorial. Now I can dime the Tweed Deluxe I made and hear that sweet, sweet distortion!

[tchiksguitars]

I like to play Cake to demo my gears too :) also I discovered that attenuators existed like 10 minutes before seeing your video. Thought I'd mention that too.

[carlmclean]

Turn it into an "Active cooling" Attenuator by having 2 PC Case fans in a Push -> Pull configuration on either side of the enclosure (You would have to figure out how to power them though) just be sure to add more holes and a thin dust filter.

[TheGorillafoot]

Building one this weekend. I've built pedals, never thought about one of these.

[schipbreukeling]

nice video, makes me want to build an attenuator myself. I only want to add one thing. For cooling you can also use a heatsink.

[MakeSomething]

I REALLY need to do this! Thank for this tutorial! Hope you're doing well!

[fongy]

Been there done that. My kids have flown the nest. Great content 👍

[robertruth]

Looks like a great project. The only thing I think that I would do on my the vent I would drill them towards the TOP of the box. Heat rises. So when it gets hot inside the box that heat is going to rise INSIDE the box and will have to work its way down to the vent holes to get out.

Thinking even more.... I might open up a hole in the top and put an open screen in it. NOW you will have convection on your side.

Heat will rise out the top....causing cooler air to be drawn IN from the SIDES and help with the overall cooling effect. By the way...if I did THIS.... I would KEEP the air holes on the side low where you have so that the incoming air comes in LOW inside the box.

Very good project though! Well done!

[daviddavidson]

Love those boxes.use them for my projects. There well made.

[RByrne]

I made one, and added 2 micro fans on either side taken from a building automation unit I replaced. It works well. I plan to make an improved version with higher quality audio components and a nicer housing to match my stack.

[petedazer]

I used an Altair unit in the 70’s. An Ampeg V4, with two 4x12 cabinets and the attenuator. In a

[bainmack]

good stuff. For the vent holes, you could probably check how much area removed on vents on attenuators for sale, then drill out a similar area as a starting point.

[zbaby]

I'm thinking some holes on the bottom and the top would help to cool it too. As the heat goes out of the top it would pull cooler air from the bottom through the device.

[nedim_guitar]

Thank you very much for this! I will try this. I have an affordable amp that I could use to test it out on. What about part quality? Some affordable attenuators make the amp lose a lot of top end.

[TJ_Hackr]

0:08 that was a neat little face squish

[prescribedburn]

I have that same Data Transfer box, also bound for a DIY project.

[ecorona]

Great video! and thanks for adding the notes that this is not a load box on your website. I´m looking to see how to build a load box. :)

[viktorblundin]

Hi there! Thanks for a great video as always. Liked and sub'ed 👍
I'm building one just like this now! But I have seen some people on forums saying that it won't actually handle 100W amplifiers. 
You're using it with your Fender Showman right? And that's a 100W amp if I'm not mistaken? Have you had any issues with your L-pad? 

I mean sure, the L-pad probably won't survive if the amp is on full volume and the attenuator is completely turned down.. but it can handle say volume at 12oclock and attenuator also at 12oclock right?

[jpistolas]

What would be necessary to add a 16 ohm out? Great vid!!! I have an old box nearly identical lying around. LOL!