5
Attenuation Control
Attenuation Control
Attenuation Control
Attenuation Control
The Majesty contains a built-in Ironman precision attenuator, designed specifically for
this model. The attenuator allows you to reduce the volume level of the amplifier while
retaining the natural overdrive sound and feel of the amplifier. The tone and feel that
this amplifier is designed for are best achieved by a certain proportion of preamp
distortion to power tube distortion, so an attenuator is the best way to control volume
level while preserving that balance.
This attenuator uses transformer coupling and a precision tuned reactive load to best
preserve the natural tone and feel of the amp, even at very low volume. This is the
same general approach used in the highly regarded Ironman standalone attenuator.
There are many different approaches that can be used to generate overdriven and
distorted tones as a low volume. For example, master volume circuits, or a power
reduction scheme such as London Power Scaling have both been used successfully on
various amp models of other brands. However, for the vintage British tones that the
Majesty is designed to achieve, a good quality attenuator such as the built-in Ironman
is the best way to preserve tone and feel at very low volume, because it allows the
output stage to operate the same way at any level of attenuation.
The attenuation control determines the amount of power sent to the speaker, but does
not affect the operation of the output stage of the amplifier itself. The attenuator
absorbs and dissipates any excess power generated by the output tubes that is not sent
to the speaker.
The attenuator is internally connected between the amplifier output and the speaker
jack – the same way an external attenuator would be connected. However, the input of
the attenuator is not accessible, so you cannot use the built-in Ironman attenuator to
attenuate the output of some other amplifier.
