Turn it up, turn it down -- however loud or quiet or tubey you like your sound to be, the new HybridMaster technology from 3rd Power Amplification will be there to help.

HybridMaster's fancy title is "proprietary patent-pending tube amplifier volume management circuitry" but you can think of it simply as real-time volume control technology that extends the capabilities of Dream Series amplifiers with effective volume control ranging from full power down to less than 1W.

This real-time volume control technology is designed to reduce the perceived sound level of vacuum tube-based guitar amplifiers. Ideal for guitarists who perform, record, and practice regularly, HybridMaster delivers the sound of a tube guitar amplifier at reduced volume levels, which is accessed via a single control knob. With HybridMaster, you can adjust your amp’s controls to taste and then set the overall volume via the control knob. HybridMaster technology is initially available only on 3rd Power’s Dream Series amplifier line.

According to 3rd Power, what makes HybridMaster different from other methods of volume management is its control over multiple stages within the amplifier’s circuitry. As you engage the single HybridMaster control, elements such as AC signal attenuation, DC current limiting, and DC voltage regulation simultaneously synchronize to a proprietary algorithm developed by 3rd Power.

“The minute you engage the HybridMaster control on a Dream Series amplifier, you immediately realize its creative potential,” says Jamie Scott, 3rd Power’s founder and designer. “With HybridMaster, you can easily set the amplifier’s tone and overall volume independently without the degradation in sound quality so often associated with other means of volume reduction -- all in real time, on a single knob, without hassles or having to 'crack the code' to get your settings just right. While HybridMaster will be especially appealing to recording and performing guitarists, it’s really ideal for pretty much anyone seeking high-quality tube amp guitar tone allowing them to achieve the desired volume for any location without thinning out the sound.”

As of right now, all Dream Series amplifiers (Dream Series heads, 112 combos, Celestion 12" Gold-equipped combos) will feature HybridMaster. Existing customers will have the option to have their original Dream Series amplifier upgraded at the factory for a fee of $295 including return UPS ground shipping in the continental US.

For more information, visit 3rdpower.com.