Effects loop volume adapter

lincolnblue

I've just bought a new amp which is being shipped with an effects loop volume adapter. It looks like a little volume control plugged into the effects send and return.
I've not come across these before. Is it working as an attenuator? Is it ok to use or can it damage the amp?

NickL

Perfectly safe to use. It's not an attenuator, it just acts as a second volume control after the preamp, like having a volume pedal in the loop except in a smaller package. They're very useful on older Blues or Hot Rod Deluxes which go from barely audible to deafening somewhere around 2 on the master volume control.

ICBM

That looks like the very neat one made by our own @Danny1969 .

It won’t do any harm at all, and is a very good upgrade for these amps. The only disadvantage is that you can’t put anything else in the FX loop, but that seems to be very rarely done with these anyway - they’re not usually used for anything more than a light crunch even if you use the overdrive channel, so effects sound fine in front.

lincolnblue

Thanks all. Sounds like it'll be a useful addition. No doubt great for home use. I tend not to use an effects loop so to be fine. 

impmann

I have one on my HRD - has transformed it into a much more useful amp. MUCH more controllable, even on stage - and can be used at home without the hair trigger volume control (even on a Mk3 its still a problem).

Its an upgrade - although mine looks cooler as it has a white knob! ;-)

Fortheloveofguitar

I have a pedal version of one of those and it really does help tame very loud amps without tone loss.

 Much prefer these simple gadgets than paying silly money for a tone sucking attenuation device