Power attenuator (guitar)

The Variac method bears the risk that voltage to the tubes can damage the filament or cathode if operated beyond manufacturer specifications.

[2] Power damping is an output level control method that involves the phase inverter and a potentiometer.

The potentiometer lets the musician overdrive that at reduced output, similar to a post phase inverter master volume (PPIMV) control.

Another early model, simply called 'Power Attenuator' by Active Guitar Electronics, used continuously variable power rheostats.

A guitar amplifier power attenuator may also offer a line-level output jack for sending the distortion-processed signal through an effects chain, to a recording console, or for the purpose of re-amplifying signal through a larger or smaller amplifier.