THD Hot Plate

[Metalblaze]

Ah, at last! That is exactly what I need for home or rehearsals or even for home recording. I use POD XT for having cranked tones in low volumes but I think this is much better if you have a nice tube amp. The only drawback is that the tubes will age faster playing the amp at full charge.

Have any of you any experience with this?

http://www.thdamps.com/products/hotplate.htm

 

[jmh151]

Re: THD Hot Plate

I have one for my tube amps. I hate the sound/tone of it on my Marshall, so I got the Carvin which V3 which sounds better at lowers volumes.

Others prefer the weber mass or minimass. I haven't/ All I can say is the Hotplate really muffles your tone

 

[Metalblaze]

Re: THD Hot Plate

Really? That's disappointing. I thought it would add the missing low end and mids in the low volume situations.

 

[FAC]

Re: THD Hot Plate

Really? That's disappointing. I thought it would add the missing low end and mids in the low volume situations.

Depends on how low you want the volume to go. I have one and I think it sounds pretty good for what it is with mild to medium attenuation. I am attenuating a 22 watt amp...perhaps it reacts differently with a bigger amp. It has some EQ switches to help bring back the lows and highs as you attenuate more...I think they work pretty well. Is it an exact replica of the full volume sound? No. Does it serve a purpose (me not getting kicked out of my house)? Yes.

At severe attenuation, it sounds a bit fizzy, but I get the impression that all attenuators do to some exent with severe attenuation.

My advice would be to try one, if possible.

 

[aleclee]

Re: THD Hot Plate

At severe attenuation, it sounds a bit fizzy, but I get the impression that all attenuators do to some exent with severe attenuation.

Yup. I used to own a Mass and currently have a Mini Mass and Hotplate.

IME attenuators are great for knocking down the volume in situations like rehearsals or small clubs but if someone is looking for cranked amp tone at practice amp levels then they're setting themselves up for disappointment. I break out my micro cube for practicing (when I plug in at all) and use an iso cab or speaker simulator for low-volume recording.

 

[Metalblaze]

Re: THD Hot Plate

Thanks for the insight! I'll try to find and try one.

 

[these_go211]

Re: THD Hot Plate

it totally depends on how loud your amp is and how much you want to knock it down. i have one and use it to knock down my amp -4 or -8. i think it still sounds great but then again i'm using a zvex 1/2 watt!

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: THD Hot Plate

I have two Hot Plates, a 16Ω for my Vox AC30, and a 2Ω for my Fender Super Reverb. I think they're great. If you attenuate by more than 8dB, you start noticing some tone degradation, but it's not bad, especially if the alternative is getting a visit from the local police.

My Hot Plates are a necessity for playing these amps at home. I love them enough to own two of them.

- Keith

 

[Metalblaze]

Re: THD Hot Plate

Hmmmm, things depend from the individual situation then. Thanks all.

Edit: That's ok with the small degradation of tone. If you think that the degradation when on low volumes is quite a big one. At least at my situation.

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: THD Hot Plate

I have two Hot Plates, a 16Ω for my Vox AC30, and a 2Ω for my Fender Super Reverb. I think they're great. If you attenuate by more than 8dB, you start noticing some tone degradation, but it's not bad, especially if the alternative is getting a visit from the local police.

My Hot Plates are a necessity for playing these amps at home. I love them enough to own two of them.

- Keith

I agree. -8 is about the most you can go without the tone taking a big hit. Attenuators were never meant to take a dimed plexi to bedroom levels and still sound good and they don't.