MikeM wrote:
It's possible to build an L-Pad with some inductors that have way less tone loss.. But IMO the only real way to attenuate transparently is with a VVR.
Yes I agree. VVR isn't perfect, taking the amp WAY down in volume lowers the voltages too much and it browns out. I think the best option, for home playing or lower volume recording, would be to use some slight attenuation (6dB or so) and some VVR in the amp. That way you are not stressing either method and you can minimise the amount the tone changes. For gigging a 30 watt or smaller amp, any one of these will work just fine, but if you want even lower volume you'll need to make extra plans or live with the tone change.
Edit:
Also, some amplifier designs lend themselves for better VVR performance. My friend built a 22 watt marshallesque amp with fixed bias and the VVR on that sucks the tone badly when you try to lower the VVR beyond halfway. That practically makes that amp a gig amp only, the cathode biased designs seems to work a lot better with VVR. That may well be because the VVR in his is not well thought-out but I'm not sure. The power scaling in the new 65 Amps amps looks like it works very well even though the amps are fixed bias (I think they are).
