Product: THD Hotplate Attenuator (4 Ohm)
Price Paid: US $260 used
Submitted
10/02/2001
at
02:33am
by
Harry
Ease of Use
:
10
The hotplate is quite easy to use. The smaller the manual the easier
to use.
Sound Quality
:
10
Where I come from, Austria/Europe, Hotplates - especially used ones -are like natural pearls - quite difficult to find. The Hotplate is still an insider's choice herearound. (I've got mine on the US-"Ebay". Check it, my nickname is "triplecaster"). Concerning its sound-quality all other so called power-soaks, power brakes a.s.o aren't comparable to the Hotplate. For example: Before I bought the Hotplate I had tried my '70 Marshall Super Bass w. rewired '76 Hiwatt 4x12" Fane speaker cabinet through a Tom Scholz Power Soak and Marshall's Power Brake... and really was disappointed (played guitars: Gibson Korina V FF-82, Fender Strat '56 Relic, '78 Fender Tele w/Joe Barden neck-PU and SD Tele "Hotrail" in the bridge-position). The bright ringing tones that especially a Strat can deliver, seemed to be cut off by them. (bad for any traditional "zero compromise sound" of cutting purists like J. Vaughan whom I like most)On the contrary the Hotplate, equipped with "bright" and "deep" switch, is delivering the original sound 1:1, naturally overdriven AND still bright. I am sure that the Hotplate is not only designed to provide overdriven sounds by glowing tubes without risking a hole in your eardrums...another nice combination is to use it together with vintage overdrive effects. I've tried the Hotplate with a clean-to-the-bone Fender Dual Professional, volume up to 7-8, and added an old green Ibanez Overdrive II. Such combinations (together with OD 855, TS 808, TS 9/10 etc.) will make your speakers asking for mercy.
Reliability
:
No Opinion
Beautiful like a celeb, built like a tank.
Customer Support
:
10
With respect to customer service, many other producers could/should learn some lessons from THD. My Hotplate, just arrivced from the States had suffered as a result of the rigid U.S. customs security checks. The result: a broken "bright"-switch. Although I would have got any replacement switch herearound I wanted an original replacement part. So I contacted THD to ask if there is such an original replacement part available. Honestly said I expected
that the THD-people from overseas would recommend to contact the nearest European distributor instead of them. Really would have understood this. But, I was totally suprised and couldn't believe that the kind THD-contact person, Mr. Ed DeGenaro, offered to send me the original replacement switch without hesitation. He didn't ask where I bought it, why the switch broke, if the Hotplate was used or new or whatever. He didn't ask much - he did help!! Only a small switch but I won't forget that!
Overall Rating
:
10
(If Bo Derek was evaluated as a "10", the Hotplate should get a "11".)
Although it's quite expensive the Hotplate offers excellent value. And if you want to sell it after some years it still will bring you good money again. If you don't believe - try to find a cheap one on the 2nd hand market!...
Product: THD Hotplate Attenuator (4 Ohm)
Price Paid: US $280
Submitted
01/08/2001
at
10:53am
by
Victor Erwin
Email: verwin<at>attglobal dot net
Ease of Use
:
10
Simple.
Sound Quality
:
10
I tried this 4 ohm version with 3 of my amps - Victoria Double Deluxe (2 12" Jensen RI), Victoria Bassman (4 10" Jensen Alnico RI), Marshall DSL 100 (2x12" Marshall cab w/ RI Greenbacks wired to 4 ohms. It was transparent on the DD and the Marshall, and it actually enhanced the Bassman due to the ohm mismatch. Whenever you use an attenuator, remember that speaker distortion generally goes away. Thus, when I say it is transparent, I'm referring to the sound of the overdriven tubes. the bass switch and the bright switch came in handy at attenuation below 4db. Noise reduction was transparent as well.
Reliability
:
9
With the exception of 3 mini toggles, you could probably run over this thing with a truck and it wouldn't effect it. It would still work even with the toggles broken.
Customer Support
:
10
I called Andy about using it with the mismatched impedence in the Bassman. He was VERY conversational and genuinely appreciative of his customers. He told me about his new amp debuting at NAMM '01. Watch out for this sucker because it sounds like a KILLER design. I also want to put in a plug for Jim at Guitar Ressurection in Austin. He's a great dealer and very knowledgable about THD products. He shipped on the same day as the order. He also had the best prices I could find.
Overall Rating
:
10
I play anything but what is misnamed "metal" today. It is an essential piece of gear for any amp without a master volume - it responds well at clean, edge of clip, or saturated tube distortion. For the Marshall DSL 100, it is useful if you're after a plexi Angus sound at volumes that won't kill small children at 100 paces. The Hotplate works much better than my Marshall Powerbrake does. If you're out to get one amp, grab your favorite non-master volume 30 to 100 watter, get one of these and a Klon or a Fulldrive 2, and make your friends jealous when they hear what real tone is. If it was stolen I'd replace it in a heartbeat.
