• From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Topic: What is the difference between?

What is the difference between the THD hotplate and just plugging a wire into your effects loop and adjusting the effect send/return knobs?

hmm

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: What is the difference between?

If your mean putting a volume knob into your effects loop then basically you've put a master volume on your power amp.  The hot plate lets you turn the power down to speaker while handling the load.  A volume pedal in the effects loop will just handle the power amp and let you burn the preamp hot which is how Fender Hot Rod amps work.  Marshalls are different because I think they take power tubes out of the circuit for different channels.  I hope that helps, I'm not sure if I understand the question correctly.

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  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: What is the difference between?

My effects loop has an effects send knob (0-10) and a effects return knob (0-10). I've heard of just plugging a cable in each, with the levels at zero, so you can turn your masters up all the way... you'd essentially use the effects send/return levels for your master volume.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • Registered: 2009-11-22
  • Posts: 6

Re: What is the difference between?

The point of using a Hot Plate, Power Brake or similar is to allow your amp's power stage to kick in. If, for example you wanted to record a crunchy guitar part at low(ish) volume, you could either use your amp's gain high and master volume low to overdrive the preamp (giving you a fizzier tone) or use a Hot Plate, back the gain off and turn up the Master, giving you a much fuller tone with more presence and clarity. Basically, a valve (tube) amp will always sound better when it's turned up loud because the power valves start to distort. A Hot Plate allows this to happen at low volume. Hope that's helpful.

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: What is the difference between?

Attenuators are safer too because they have dummy loads, speakers, or coils to absorb the power.  I have a love/hate relationship with my attenuator because "the sound" has to have some air moving which you'll never get without the volume.  It is great for making super loud amps more useful though.

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • Registered: 2008-10-27
  • Posts: 176

Re: What is the difference between?

And you're sur going to need one  for your Metro 100W plexi coming... Am I wrong StratPaul?   wink