At the recent NAMM show, Radial Engineering Ltd. announce the Headload Prodigy — a guitar amplifier attenuator that allows the artist to reduce the volume levels on stage while driving the amp hard for maximum tone.
Press Release: Radial Engineering Ltd is pleased to the Headload Prodigy – a combination load box and DI that enables one to drive a guitar amp at a higher output in order to maximise the tone, yet produce a lower stage volume when needed.
Like the original Headload, the Prodigy employs custom made cement-encrusted resister coils to covert the excessive power from the amplifier to heat and is able to withstand up to 100 watts RMS. The Prodigy may be used in three different ways, depending on the need. First, it may be used as a simple direct box connection via a built-in Radial JDX Reactor. This combines a reactive load with a proprietary filter bank to emulate the tone of a 4 x 12 half stack using a Shure SM57. The second is as a load box where you can attenuate the output from 20% down to 1% for use on quiet stages. Third, the prodigy can be used without a cabinet for completely silent recording. In all cases, the balanced JDX output is available. This is transformer isolated to eliminate hum and buzz by ground loops and equipped with a pin-1 ground lift and polarity reverse. One merely connects the head to the Headload Prodigy and the desired speaker output to suit.
In order to optimize the playing experience for in-ear monitors, a dual band EQ on the front panel is included. To add greater connectivity options, two additional ¼” outputs are included with one that is post EQ, the other pre EQ, post JDX. These can be used to feed additional amplifiers, effects racks or recording systems and adjusted using the front panel level control. This same control is used to adjust the built-in headphone amplifier.
Housed in 14-gauge steel, the Headload Prodigy features Radial’s unique book-end design that crates protective zones around the switches and controls. An internal I-beam construction adds tremendous rigidity, protecting the internal PC board from being torque which could lead to solder joints going cold prematurely. One or two Prodigys may be rack-mounted into a single 19” rack space using an optional rack kit. Power is supplied by an external 15VDC supply.
