THD Hotplate?
- Thread starter shreder75
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MikeS
Bengalsologist
Re: THD Hotplate?
Depends on how you use it. Using one to bring a cranked 50 watt head to volume levels destroys tone. It’s useful for allowing your tunes to cook while keeping the volumes to more reasonable levels.
For instance, I keep my DSL50’s volume right around “8”. Unattenuated, “8” could bring down the house. I use the HotPlate to bring the volume down to the level it would be at if I turned the amp down to 4-5. Attenuate much more than that and you really begin to hear major tonal differences. THD has tried to make up for this by including a couple switches on the face of the HotPlate, and while these do work to recover some lost frequencies, the HotPlate still cuts out some low tones and accentuates the top end when you try to attenuate too much.
Depends on how you use it. Using one to bring a cranked 50 watt head to volume levels destroys tone. It’s useful for allowing your tunes to cook while keeping the volumes to more reasonable levels.
For instance, I keep my DSL50’s volume right around “8”. Unattenuated, “8” could bring down the house. I use the HotPlate to bring the volume down to the level it would be at if I turned the amp down to 4-5. Attenuate much more than that and you really begin to hear major tonal differences. THD has tried to make up for this by including a couple switches on the face of the HotPlate, and while these do work to recover some lost frequencies, the HotPlate still cuts out some low tones and accentuates the top end when you try to attenuate too much.
shreder75
New member
Re: THD Hotplate?
I'm just trying to get the master volume on my amp to the sweet spot..I'm not looki'n to run it full out..but I find myself, even at gigs, not being able to go above 9:00 on the master...and that's just when it starts to get into that sweet spot range..everything above that is gravy...
my amps got a half power switch which brings it down to 50 watts..but I find that I like it better on full power at 100 watts..because it seems to breath more and has more oomph..
I'm just trying to get the master volume on my amp to the sweet spot..I'm not looki'n to run it full out..but I find myself, even at gigs, not being able to go above 9:00 on the master...and that's just when it starts to get into that sweet spot range..everything above that is gravy...
my amps got a half power switch which brings it down to 50 watts..but I find that I like it better on full power at 100 watts..because it seems to breath more and has more oomph..
some_dude
Raging BB Gunologist
Re: THD Hotplate?
As mentioned, when used at the -4db and -8db settings it's pretty good. At -12db it starts to alter your tone....largely because you're speakers aren't moving like they should.....but I point out that they'd be suffering the same problem if you simply turned your master volume down, only you wouldn't be getting a hot power tube tone.
One thing to note; it's not a miracle worker, and it wound give you stellar tone at bedroom levels....but you will sound better (IMO) than you would playing with your master volume at 1.
Another thing to note; The whole pupose of a Hotplate is that it removes headroom. It does this to all channels, including your clean. So, if you're nocking the equivilant of 50w worth of headroom off your amp, don't expect your clean channel to sound like it still has 100w of headroom. You'll need to turn it back up to match the volume of the lead channel, and you'll probably end up overdriving your cleans too.
Anyway, I love mine.....but those are some of the problems I've seen people complain about.
As mentioned, when used at the -4db and -8db settings it's pretty good. At -12db it starts to alter your tone....largely because you're speakers aren't moving like they should.....but I point out that they'd be suffering the same problem if you simply turned your master volume down, only you wouldn't be getting a hot power tube tone.
One thing to note; it's not a miracle worker, and it wound give you stellar tone at bedroom levels....but you will sound better (IMO) than you would playing with your master volume at 1.
Another thing to note; The whole pupose of a Hotplate is that it removes headroom. It does this to all channels, including your clean. So, if you're nocking the equivilant of 50w worth of headroom off your amp, don't expect your clean channel to sound like it still has 100w of headroom. You'll need to turn it back up to match the volume of the lead channel, and you'll probably end up overdriving your cleans too.
Anyway, I love mine.....but those are some of the problems I've seen people complain about.
Simon_F
Super Moderator
Re: THD Hotplate?
I bought one recently for use with my 50w Marshalls. As the other guys have said, it's GREAT for running the amp at the sweet spot but keeping the volume at small gig / band practice level. It reins things in nicely but keeps your tone true. Using one to crank the amp but play at bedroom volume is a waste of tubes IMO - you'll get just as good (or better) results using pre-amp gain or a pedal or a solid state amp.
I bought one recently for use with my 50w Marshalls. As the other guys have said, it's GREAT for running the amp at the sweet spot but keeping the volume at small gig / band practice level. It reins things in nicely but keeps your tone true. Using one to crank the amp but play at bedroom volume is a waste of tubes IMO - you'll get just as good (or better) results using pre-amp gain or a pedal or a solid state amp.
PUCKBOY99
Irish Flagologist
Re: THD Hotplate?
There ya' go !
I had a Quick Rod & had the master pretty low with the gain to taste & then the boost slightly higher...to BOOST it.
The amp sounded WAY better by itself instead of through the Weber MASS I have. Not sure why, but I could never find a good spot with the MASS.
There ya' go !
I had a Quick Rod & had the master pretty low with the gain to taste & then the boost slightly higher...to BOOST it.
The amp sounded WAY better by itself instead of through the Weber MASS I have. Not sure why, but I could never find a good spot with the MASS.
TwilightOdyssey
Darkness on the edge of Tone
Re: THD Hotplate?
I use one & love it.
I use one & love it.
