Author Topic: Picks that last + Attentuation! (Read 16612 times)

Bainzy · « **Reply #30 on:** March 08, 2006, 09:46:24 PM »

I think I'll be ordering the power scaling any time after the 20th - I'm getting paid £100 for a recording project I'm doing with a local band on the 19th. One I start work on it, I'll take pictures and document every stage so you guys can see how it works, sounds and how difficult it is to build etc.

_tom_ · « **Reply #31 on:** March 08, 2006, 10:05:18 PM »

Ah right cool. If I dont get a Hotplate off ebay I'll definately look into one of those so long as it doesnt seem too hard to do.

Ooh another thing whilst I'm here - locking castors for my amp! Where could I get some that are suitable from? B&Q or something I'm guessing, but HRDx's are bloody heavy so I'd want it to be strong!

Tinus · « **Reply #32 on:** March 09, 2006, 12:08:01 AM »

I can add to this that a 8ohms Hotplate has served me well in the past 5 or so years. I use it regularly to be able to gig with my Budda 30W combo without upsetting my bandmembers or sound engineers, and still have that wonderful amp-wide-open sound. It has proved itself als a reliable tool, it's pretty much bombproof and it never let me down.

IMO the key with attenuators is to try to use them with some restraint. On my Hotplate I use the -4dB and -8dB settings most. With more attenuation I feel I lose some dynamics and the sound gets a bit dull. Might be lack of speaker colouration making it less realistic.

math2014 · « **Reply #33 on:** March 09, 2006, 07:34:07 AM »

I am using an 8ohm hotplate in order to play with my Laney LC30 at home volumes. It is set at -12db and i got no loss of volume, but when it is set at -16db+ then it sounds a bit so-so. Having said that, the w/o hotplate sound at vol 1/10 in comparison with the hotplate -12db and vol 2.5/10 sound is TOO different with the clear winner the hotplated sound

carlaz · « **Reply #34 on:** March 09, 2006, 10:32:37 AM »

Jumping in late ... but for picks, I've tended to go with fairly heavy picks. I seldom use less than the Dunlop 1.14s; I can find the purple tortex ones in any shop, finding either ultex picks or thicker picks on the street seems tougher.

I've used some Clayton Acetal picks and they seemed OK. Had a giant one that I used on bass for a good while.

I recently tracked down some of the Adamas 2mm graphite picks (possibly now being made by Dunlop). These are tough to find, but I quite like them. I ordered a big bag from some place in the States and hope it will last me a while. :)

_tom_ · « **Reply #35 on:** March 09, 2006, 02:29:10 PM »

I dont like any picks that are too thick. I used to like the Dunlop Nylon 1mm ones but they sound a bit dull to my ears now. I dont like the BK ones that came with my pickups, I dont know which thickness this was though!

As for the Hotplates, I'm so annoyed! Theres a Gibson Power Stealth 8ohm, perfect for what I want, but I only have £150 in the bank, and this one on ebay, including shipping would cost me around £160

I'm reluctant to bid on a cheaper one, as the seller said they couldnt mark the box as lower value, do you think I'll get charged LOADS at customs if I win this?

Dakine · « **Reply #36 on:** March 09, 2006, 02:34:10 PM »

Customs (IF they check into it and pursue, often not worth their time and trouble) is VAT and import of about 8.2%.
Many factors are looked at though as "used", "shipping cost" etc.
Bit of a hard calculation really.
For somthing of that kinda value you may well get away with it.

_tom_ · « **Reply #37 on:** March 09, 2006, 02:38:47 PM »

Ah right, cheers, its just if I go over £150 then its gonna be a bit of a problem, I dont think my dad would ike paying the customs charge if I cant afford it :lol: I think I'll try that then! If not, I guess I'm back to square one

Dakine · « **Reply #38 on:** March 09, 2006, 02:38:52 PM »

I only see one Gibson hotplate on Evilbay but see a few THD ones.
http://cgi.ebay.com/THD-Hotplate-8-Ohms_W0QQitemZ7396268447QQcategoryZ43375QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

If it would help the cause (and you wanna cover any extra postage) you can use my address if you like and I can send it on for you.

Just an offer.

Am NOT soliciting 100's of "can you ship this guitar,amp,bass" questions but will do all I can to help a fellow forumite if I can.

Nick

_tom_ · « **Reply #39 on:** March 09, 2006, 02:40:55 PM »

Quote from: Dakine

I only see one Gibson hotplate on Evilbay but see a few THD ones.
http://cgi.ebay.com/THD-Hotplate-8-Ohms_W0QQitemZ7396268447QQcategoryZ43375QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

If it would help the cause (and you wanna cover any extra postage) you can use my address if you like and I can send it on for you.

Just an offer.

Am NOT soliciting 100's of "can you ship this guitar,amp,bass" questions but will do all I can to help a fellow forumite if I can.

Nick

Wow thats pretty cool of you, but I dont know if I'm gonna be able to afford 2 lots of postage, depends how much it'd cost to get it to you I guess.. is "Jefferson NC" anywhere near you?!

I've only found one or two Hotplate sellers that will ship to the UK from america, I wish I had a 16ohm amp as these seem to go for alot cheaper!

carlaz · « **Reply #40 on:** March 09, 2006, 02:41:54 PM »

Quote from: Dakine

For somthing of that kinda value you may well get away with it.

Though I always live in fear of Murphy's Law on this issue.

Anyway, if you blow 150 quid on this, you'll just get another GAS attack later on without any cash to cure it! Go forth and acquire jobbage -- be it only weekend bar-tending or something. Then blow as much as you can on gigs and gear before you do something dangerous like getting married and suddenly find your money disappearing into other things associated with Real Life. I thank the gods regularly that I bought my guitars and bass right after uni! :)

_tom_ · « **Reply #41 on:** March 09, 2006, 02:44:01 PM »

I have an interview at Co Op on saturday, so hopefully that will all go well, maybe GAS wont be such a problem then!

I remember reading somewhere (I think on HC or something) that a 16ohm attentuator will actually work with an 8ohm amp, apparently doubling the ohmage isnt bad, but doing less (Ie getting a 4ohm) is bad...hmm

Dakine · « **Reply #42 on:** March 09, 2006, 02:46:48 PM »

Well
the one I am looking at does not qoute postage but another (same model) say $17 or about a tenner. As for postage to UK I am unsure as am sure they are abit heavy. Try looking at UPS or Fedex (you prob. know more than me on weight).
Also, I know not much about Hotplates, so will the plug/voltage from a US one be OK in UK?
Just some thoughts.

_tom_ · « **Reply #43 on:** March 09, 2006, 03:04:32 PM »

Quote from: Dakine

Well
the one I am looking at does not qoute postage but another (same model) say $17 or about a tenner. As for postage to UK I am unsure as am sure they are abit heavy. Try looking at UPS or Fedex (you prob. know more than me on weight).
Also, I know not much about Hotplates, so will the plug/voltage from a US one be OK in UK?
Just some thoughts.

Yeah apparently they dont use power atall, as they are a passive device. Apparently it wont actually be too dificult to mod my MiniMass for a treble boost, according to people on the HC forums, so I'm still looking into that before I spend a load on a hotplate.

edit - Ted just emailed me, saying:

"Oh...
Tha's an easy one.

Just find the bottom two terminals of the Normal/bypass switch, and put a 10uF/50V non polarized capacitor in series with a switch across those two terminals. "

Anyone know where to get myself that value cap from? I can only seem to fine ones for tone pots, all being /100v ones instead of the 50v I need.. Maplins seems to be good but theres bloody loads there! Cheers for any help

tewboss · « **Reply #44 on:** March 12, 2006, 01:46:23 AM »

see if http://www.hificollective.co.uk sell them