THD Hot Plate
Posted by Ogwog333 from Montana on Aug 9, 2009
Experience w/product: I own it
Reviewer's Background: Hobbyist
Reviewer's Play Style: Rock
When I was 14 (1968) I owned a Gibson SG jr and a Fender Princeton Reverb. I've been looking for that sound for years that I got with the amp cranked with that P 90 on the Gibson.... THE BEST!! Well, FINALLY, with the help of this Hot Plate (8 Ohm) I am getting an even BETTER naturally distorted sound through my double cut Les Paul with the 2 P-90's and my Fender Twin Reverb. Note of caution... if you ride it too hard (go for too much junk), you can blow the circuitry in your amp with this thing like I did.... take it easy.... it puts just the right amount of fur on it across the board: lows to highs. Sensational product for the guy that wants natural vintage rock distortion and not so into other FX...
Perfect for Home Practice
Posted by ChucktasticOne from Chicago, IL on Feb 18, 2009
Experience w/product: I own it
Reviewer's Background: Hobbyist
Reviewer's Play Style: Hard Rock , Alt Rock, and Metal
I am using the 8 ohm version with the following setup:
Guitar ->Rocktron Prophesy II ->VHT two/fifty/two power amp ->THD Hot Plate ->Marshall 412 half stack.
I play a limited edition Gibson Silverburst Standard with thin neck profile and Burstbucker PUPS, a Jackson Dinky with EMG 81/85 PUPS, a Jackson RR offset V with EMG 81/60A PUPS, and a Handmade (by me) guitar shaped like a LP on steroids with EMG 81/EMGH PUPS. I am also waiting (not so patiently) for the clear coat to harden on another Handmade guitar that is a take-off of the Fender Musiclander with Seymour Duncan Live Wire Dave Mustaines. I can't wait to test out that setup!
The THD really does what it's supposed to do. The lowest setting (-16) does change the tone, but not to a point where you can't work with it. The other settings have no noticeable effect on the tone whatsoever. So, you could use it to tame your volume for a small club with no ill effects. Or...., you can use it in an apartment and make some small adjustments with the two switches for high and low tones. My sound is still thick and saturated even on the -16 setting with great sustain and character. Also, (VERY IMPORTANT) each guitar and PUP setup has a different sound. Obviously, the Prophesy and VHT power amp are key to this. But, I still get the same character differences by switching between guitars.
It seems to be built very well. I gave it a half-point off for the mere fact that many musicians that could benefit most from it can't afford to justify the cost for this just too bring the volume down. Unfortunately for them, this cost has a huge effect on the sound you get. Un-saturated tubes and/or solid state amps just don't get this quality of tone. Some of the emulators like Line 6 amps are close. But the interaction of the speaker and amp distortions will probably never be completely emulated.
BOTTOM LINE: This is a genuinely great product that is worth the price, if you can justify it (especially these days). If I had a budget, I would start with a solid guitar with top notch PUPS, then move to a small cabinet with a tube driven amp head or (better yet) VHT power amp. The VHT's have great warmth and clean tone, with all the power you would need to puch all types of overdrive and distortion. Get this product if you can. You won't be sorry!
I can now hear what power tubes...
Posted by Marc Vee from Estero Florida on Jan 19, 2009
Experience w/product: I own it
Reviewer's Background: Professional recording artist/Guitarist
Reviewer's Play Style: jazz, rock, soul, blues and pop
If you play your electric guitar through a tube amp, and can't turn it up past 2 at gigs or rehersals, You are not getting the most out of your amp. Power tube distrotion is what you hear on most great rock,smooth jazz, blues and pop albums, and this device allows me to get my amp to sing at any level. I use a Hot plate on my Mesa/Boogie Mark 3 simulclass amp, and it sounds amazing. The preamp tubes give the amp its basic tone, but the ballsy power comes from power tube saturation and I get it at all volumes. This is a great and reliable product!
takes away some harmonics
Posted by Zap from Toronto on Jan 4, 2009
Experience w/product: I own it
Reviewer's Background: Pro Recording Musician
Reviewer's Play Style: All
This does a god job overall, but the only purpose of this is to keep the volume down on a tube head for other people. But I would definetly not suggest using this on an album since all settings take away a range of bright presence. I noticed this wih amps that have a type of presence that is totally on fire, it eats away at some of those harmonics and the bright switch doesnt recaputre much. Other than that the rest of your tone remains the same. I give this a 3.0 overall out of 5.
Great Tone
Posted by dw from Cincinnati, OH on Aug 16, 2008
Experience w/product: I own it
Reviewer's Background: Recording
Reviewer's Play Style: Rock
I use a THD Hotplate in combination with a Fender Deluxe Reverb reissue and I am now able get great sounding power tube break-up/distortion without hearing loss. I highly recommend the Hotplate if you enjoy the sound of your amp cranked, but can't deal with the decibels. You probably don't need this product if your tube amp doesn't significantly change character as you increase volume (i.e. amps with lots of clean headroom). Overall a great product.
