Marshall PB-100 Power Brake

Pretty versatile, really. You can switch from 16, to 8 ohms on the same unit. That's already cooler than the hot plate, (no pun intended).

Also, you have several steps of attenuation and a dummy load feature. Now you can run your tube amp straight into your mixer without having to drag out your 4x12. : )

It's pretty transparent. In other words, it sounds a lot like your amp. It's more dependent upon the cables you use going into, and out of the power break that the power break itself. Get yourself some good high dollar, quality cables like Monster....and you'll be fine.

The tone change that has people freaked out is coming from their amps...not the power break. I find it amusing because, presumably, that's why people buy the PB in the first place. They want a tone difference, don't they? They want their amps to sound as if they were "cranked", but at a low db level. Your amp is going to sound different when you use this unit. It's meant to. In fact, if your sound didn't change, the unit would be a complete failure. The key is to listen to the unattenuated, pass-through sound, as opposed to running your head straight into your cabinet (with good consistent cabling). The unit is pretty transparent.

Great! I've even dropped it on hard pavement. It's built like a tank. A word on the supposed damaging effects of this unit:

The people that have had problems with their amps "frying" while using the PB are quick to blame this unit. One thing they don't realize is that this unit is going to stress your amp and it's components because, with this unit, you have the ability to make your amp work (for hours without ear fatigue) as if it's being pushed very hard at loud volumes. Your amp doesn't know the difference. Therefore, any weak components (caps, resistors, tubes, etc) that your amp may have.....will show up. The power break is not damaging your amp. The shorted tube, or the weak output transformer was going to happen anyway. It just happened sooner rather than later because of the continued, unusually high stresses that you are able to put your amp through with the power break. It's something you normally wouldn't be able to do without it. For example, I've been using the PB for 10 years with the same amp with no problems. I've gone through a lot of tubes....but that's to be expected. It's actually a more reliable load than your cabinet, as a speaker cab's impedance changes as you play them from long periods of time.

Never had to call Marshall or Korg

It's just expensive. However, you get what you pay for.

Very simple and straightforward.

I have found this unit to be more transparent than the Hot Plate. I hear that the Weber unit is even better but I have not tried one. The tone suffers a little as you get into higher degrees of attenuation but that is unavoidable because you are losing 2 of the 4 factors that determine your overall tone-the speakers being driven hard and the movement of lots of air.

Rock solid.

Not used.

If you know what you are doing these units do not kill tone and they do not fry amps. All attenuators will affect tone as attenuation increases, you can not avoid it. If your amp fries it is not because of the Power Brake it is because you were pushing it so hard. You can not run an amp at 8-10 all the time and expect tubes and transformers to last. If you use this as intended, to run your amp at a level where tone is good (6-7 is fine on my '73 Super Lead) and attenuate it down to a level that would be tolerable for a small club, it is awesome. If you try to turn a 100W into a whisper you will lose tone and you will fry your amp.

It just sucks power & TONE!!!

Waste of $$$ I sold it on EBAY (made a few bucks too, sucka)

Who Cares

Who knows!

Waste of money! there are too many good tube amps with master volumes or low power amps that you can get the tone without this piece of crap!

All the features you need- volume and ohm selector.

First off, I am a HUGE Marshall fan. I love them. I've had alot of them, some good some bad. Some even great. But I've never switched to another brand because they have the sound I want.
Given that background, this unit S-U-C-K-S. If you are looking for an attenuator, which is an absolute necessity for a Marshall valve amp, don't buy this one. It really sounds horrible. I had one, then replaced it with the Weber MASS (look it up on the web). They are much more inexpensive, and honestly sound 50 times better. Simply no comparison. Or go to Legendarytones.come to read the review. I've heard THD Hotplates are just as good, but I can't verify that. Whatever you do, get rid of your Powerbrake, it sucks the tone like no other. Notice the extra fizz in your tone? That's the Powerbrake my friend.

good

no comment

See above. I'm just trying to help out here- go with the Weber MASS. You can even order it to your specific desires (wattage, ohms, brightness switch, etc). I recommend getting the brightness switch.

Again- I LOVE MARSHALL. But this thing sucks.

Read the previous revies, there's not much to it: an Input, two speaker Outs 8 or 16 ohms selectable, and a 3db incrementing output selector.

I've played and Ibanez UV777, an Ibanez 7421, and a Washburn N2 all with their respective stock pickups through a Marshall TSL 100. The lower volumed settings DO INDEED muffle the sound tonaly, despite what some other reviews say. I bought this with the intention of cranking my Marhall up to 6-7 to get that cranked sound at bedroom levels, which I found pretty much impossible to do with the PB100. Before the PB100 I could only turn my amp up to 1 or 1.5 without irritating the living shit outta the neighbors (the TSL100 is LOUD). With the PB100 I can only get my marshall up to about 4 with the PB set to the 1st or 2nd notch, which does cause tonal sufferage, despite the fact that I still can't get my amp as loud as it needs to be to hit that tonal 'sweet spot'. If you're looking for an attenuator that sounds like a cranked amp at tollerable volumes, then this is probably not the device for you. Amp set to 4, PB set to 1 or 2 was still QUITE loud. Personally, I was looking to set my amps vol at about 7, gain maxed, neighbors happy - the PB100 fails in that respect. It just doesn't get quiet enough while having the amp cranked. Tried this with the amp at 25w & 100w as well as 16 & 8 ohms.

Hasn't given me a problem ever. Based on other reviews, I immediately inspected the wiring and found no faults. I've played
through the PB100 for a couple hours straight at moderate levels and
it never did get hot.

Haven't had to contact them.

Bottom line, if it were stolen, I wouldn't get another one. I'de be better off having a tech do a mod-job on my amp....like a master volume control perhaps...which would probably give me the results I was looking for anyway.

his whole rig belongs to my freinds studio

Well I used one in the studio for thefirst time.I ran a 1973 super lead through it into a 4x12 Marshall cab loaded w/ 25W(blackbacks??197?).I found my favorite tones w/ vol 1 on 8.5 and vol 2 on 4-5 with the powerbrake cut back 1 step.I found that stepping it back one step added a bit of compression and browned up the tone abit I really liked it.I actually lik3d the amps tone attenuated 1 step better than straight out.Two steps back was pretty good but not as natural 3 back was getting a bit artificial and more than that was too much IMO.I'll giveit an 8 as I think it should sound better when stepped back more.

Dunno but if Marshalls een making them this long I doubt you'll have trans problems just use quality speaker leads.We used 14guage(over kill)

Like it.

very simple use. go from the amp to the powerbrake to the amp.
8 and 16 ohm choice is excelent.

Using a marshall superbass 73. no major tone alteration at around 4 klicks down. The superbass starts distorting at around 2.5 so you can go from a nice bluesbraker sound to van halen wild distortion, all that thanks to the powerbrake. been playing for 20 years and i must say it is a must part of any vintage gear, especially if you play at home a lot.

doesn't heat up or anything looks like a very reliable piece of equipment.havnt giged with outside so i will take off a point, just for the doubt.

makes me enjoy my marshall sound and that's the point.....

see other reviews

using a superbass 73 with greenback celestions and a les paul.
i have been searching after the vintage sound forever.Been playing for 20 years now.Angus young tone is the benchmark and now i hqave got it with the powerbrake.Going 4 kotches down from minimum attuanation gives me the braking of power tubes without too much tone change, at slightly more than bedroom levels.The bass has to be turned down and you should go for more treble. Great choice for cranking marshall amps.It does what it suppose to do.....Love it.

haven't had for too long but it seems raliable....does'nt heat up like some reviews stated....

One knob is all you really need. Ability to switch ohm settings, unlike a THD hot plate. Piece of cake to use.

I use this with a Mesa Dual Rectifier. I usually play a Les Paul Standard with EMG 81s in both slots. Most people are not daring enough to crank a recto up to 7,8,9 or dare I say, 10. Rightfully so, Rectos are much louder then just about any Marshall. I bought this to see what it would be like at higher volume levels. Let me just tell you, a dual rectifier on 7 pushed down to a decent volume sounds better then any cranked Marshall I've played for Metal. I think people trash Rectos because when they think of a recto, they think of the sounds that a recto produces at a low volumes (which is still realitivly loud actually) Most have not heard a rectifier when it's power amp stage is working hard. It is really an increadible sound. I would never go to a gig without my power brake.

Almost as much of a tank as my Recto. The PB just needs some diamond plating and they would be equal haha. And to all of the idiots blowing their output transformers: Did it ever cross your mind that running your amp's signal throgh a guitar cable is not the best idea? Marshall would not put out a product and keep it out this long unless it was safe to use. It's your fault that your vintage amp is dead... sucks to be you! a 6amp speaker cable will do the job perfectly. If you use the right cables and have the ohms set right, you will not have a problem.

Don't know.

Best 100 bucks I've spent so far. If it were to get lost or stolen, why I would go buy another one. I got mine for 100 bucks off eBay and it is just great.

Offers eleven steps of 3dB attenuation increments, which i thought was pretty good. The unit i've got is the Limited edition power brake in White, it's for Jim Marshalls 35th anniversary in the music buisness, i've read that these ones in white were only made in small numbers

Sounds great when you use it right!
If you turn any valve amp up & cut it all back down again to bedroom levels with any kind of attentuator you will hear what im talking about. Use it to set you amp at louder levels while still driving the speakers to get that "oomph"

It's very reliable!
don't use guitar leads as speaker cable & you'll be right

I opened my one up & averything seems in perfect order & it doesn't even get hot when it's running

Havent needed them yet!

Top bit of gear!