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Description

The Power Soak was the first commercial product by Tom Scholz. It wasn't named "Rockman": this trademark was introduced only in 1982 at the creation of the headphones amp. The Power Soak is therefore "Tom Scholz's Power Soak".

Though the Power Soak was not the first power attenuation device for guitar amps, it was the first to be 100% reliable, the first to respect the sound of the amp. Most of all, it was the first to include a volume control: the previous devices were only dummy-loads without setting.

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tony_poukkula

You don't need loud volume, for great tone and sustain. Drive your tubes hard, and bring the volume down!!

The first product released by SR&D was not called a Rockman. It was simply called "Tom Scholz's Power Soak". The Power Soak is an attenuator, put inline between an amplifier and its speakers. The Power Soak can be used to limit the output level while still maintaining the desired overdriven, saturated sound of an amplifier running at full volume. The first commercial Power Soak was issued at the end of 1980. An updated version of the Power Soak, the model II, was issued at the end of 1981. It has an extra switch made to adapt the Power Soak to solid-state amplifiers. The Power Soak was re-issued in 1992 as a Power Soak model III, lacking the solid-state switch, though the Power Soak III can be used both with solid-state and tube amps. The jacks were also moved to the back of the unit.

Artist usage

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See how Gem Archer uses Scholz Research & Development Power Soak

Gem Archer

Guitarist

Oasis

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Verified via YouTube

Gem has a real hodge podge of amps in his onstage rig, but I'm sure that's a Power Soak sitting atop on of his cabs, there are a few decent shots of it during the concert... no time stamps but can be clearly seen during the show

See how Roddy Frame uses Scholz Research & Development Power Soak

Roddy Frame

Singer, Guitarist

Aztec Camera

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Verified via Killermontstreet

Aztec Camera's Slow Build from Musician, November 1990 by Scott Isler

In recording Stray he used it with a Power Soak; "I couldn't hear the track if I was doing an overdub."

Album Usage

The Scholz Research & Development Power Soak has been featured on the following albums:

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Scholz Research & Development Power Soak, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Dumble Overdrive Special Amp Head
1
Roland D-550
Roland D-550 Synthesizers & Sound Modules
1
Yamaha NS10 Studio Monitor
Yamaha NS10 Studio Monitor Active & Passive Monitors
1
Gibson ES-355 Electric Guitar
Gibson ES-355 Electric Guitar Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitars
1
Ovation Balladeer
Ovation Balladeer Acoustic-Electric Guitars
1
Schecter PT
Schecter PT Solid Body Electric Guitars
1

Community setups

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lothy

lothy

Gear IQ 659

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