#1333557 - 01/31/01 10:08 PM
THD UniValve... is it "the answer"?
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michael saulnier
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Registered: 12/06/00
Posts: 4070
Loc: San Diego,CA,UNITED STATES
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This was the highest rated NAMM guitar product on Harmony Central, but no one has mentioned it on this site, (as far as I've read)... Any one see one, play with one, have any thoughts or experience with concept, (low power tubes driven hard), or even their "Hot Plate" attenuator?
One of the first guitar related websites I found was dedicated to the idea that powertube overdrive and distortion were superior to pre-amp based distortion. I agree.
The real life example was the classic Marshall Plexi "cranked" to 10. Huge sound. Then, using your guitar's volume control, you found the clean or overdriven sounds you wanted by rolling on or off the guitar volume. Just one problem... Too loud for most home studio, rehearsal or small club gigs.
THD UniValve says it provides the answer... It's a 15 watt tube based head, (with the ability to replace the tubes for different sounds without re-biasing the amp), that does this trick. They say you can turn up master volume to 10, and using their built-in "Hot Plate" attenuator, set the output volume level at whatever volume and still keep the tone. This sounds great if the result matches the marketing...
I also like the idea of keeping a "suite" of tubes in the studio to go for different tones when needed. Sounds very flexible...
Any thoughts?
guitplayer
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#1333558 - 02/01/01 12:15 AM
Re: THD UniValve... is it "the answer"?
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zenfreud
Senior Member
Registered: 01/31/01
Posts: 79
Loc: west coast,UNITED STATES
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This looks like it could be the total tone tool I've been looking for. Will have to hear it of course. I wonder if this amp is better at clean, crunchy or shred? Have yet to hear one amp that really does it all (I'm very picky). Anybody heard it at NAMM? But the price: $949? C'mon, can't manufacturers make something like this at a more reasonable price?
I have had good results with a similar product called the Blues Master (discontinued) from Hughes & Kettner. It retailed for about $350 ten years ago. It had a tube pre and tube power section as well. Still have to crank it through a speaker at non-apartment-approved levels to get the tone. Has filtered line level out that is pretty convincing for a clean Fender sound.
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#1333559 - 02/02/01 07:42 AM
Re: THD UniValve... is it "the answer"?
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lrbreez
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Registered: 04/08/00
Posts: 675
Loc: Walnut, CA, USA
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Best attenuator that I have used is the Marshall Power Brake. They are the only ones that I have ran into that maintain the tone at lower volume. They go for aroung $25O.
Buddy
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