• Registered: 2006-05-12
  • Posts: 74

Topic: THD Hotplate..... what's the skinny?

I know Joe doesn't use one or if he ever has, but guys, give me some feedback on the THD Hotplates. I've heard everything from "great to garbage". Please give me your thoughts from actual experience. Thanks ! I've got to get this JMP cranked at smaller gig levels. I know the ClearSonic panels are an option but tell me about the plates.

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

Re: THD Hotplate..... what's the skinny?

Actually I think Joe does....
Joe says:
I should actually explain my home practice low volume rig..  I live in LA at a condo complex.  Very Hollywood types live here.. They have no interest in hearing the bluesboy crank up the jams late at night so I devised a rig for my house ..?1.  1987 Marshall Silver series Marshall 50 watt 1X12 combo.. ?2  1965 Fender Princeton Reverb or a 1957 Fender Vibrolux with a Kendrick reverb unit?3 THD Hot Plate ( for Princeton Only)?4 paired down pedal board (spare)?   AB/Both switch, Vox Wah , TS 808 RI , Fuchs Audio prototype "Creme " pedal and A boss DD-3 delay. ?I get a pretty good approximation of my big rig at TV volume.. You know  watching a Law and Order Marathon and playing guitar at the same time  kinda thing. Can hear the TV and guitar at the same time.. No Broom sticks from below..( been there done that).  ?Anyway.. There is always another way to get your tone..

Also, check out Bob's from www.eurotubes.com discription of how attenuators affect your tone.  I heard the THD is a fine unit if you match your impedences correctly.  Bob reccomends the Weber Mass Unit which I can personally attest to.  Attenuators CANNOT replicate the same harmonic sustaining magic of an amp at full volume however CAN make an overbearingly loud one usable.  It makes my '65 Bassman usable in a small room but the Bassman still sounds way better at no attenuation.  Good luck hope this helps!

'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: 2006-05-12
  • Posts: 74

Re: THD Hotplate..... what's the skinny?

I read a very unfavorable write-up about the Weber attenuater but didn't want to go by one opinion. I've read a lot of your posts StratPaulguy and I've concluded that you are indeed a very intuitive and intelligent person... and opinionated... which is good. Thanks for you insight !

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

Re: THD Hotplate..... what's the skinny?

summers wrote:

I read a very unfavorable write-up about the Weber attenuater but didn't want to go by one opinion. I've read a lot of your posts StratPaulguy and I've concluded that you are indeed a very intuitive and intelligent person... and opinionated... which is good. Thanks for you insight !

Man that's very nice and touching!  I appreciate the compliment. I could talk gear ALL DAY!!!  I have the Stereo Mass actually which is essentially 2 100watt attenuators in one.  I really like it because it works for all impedences (unlike the Hotplate) and it has stereo capability.  I take it for what it is...it doesn't make my big amps sound as good as they do cranked but I find that for small combos it really works great!  They also have built in speaker motors vs. coils and resistors which evidently make it sound "more natural".  I dunno they are both good units I would probably spring for the Weber because they are usually cheaper and came highly recommended to me! Good luck man and us all know how it pans out for ya!

'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.