16 ohm THD hotplate work with an Engl screamer Combo?

Fingers Mcginty

I think my speaker is 8 ohms though ...It's just that there's one for sale on adverts at the mo. I think i need the 8 Ohm though...Is this correct?

Voodu Child

From the THD users manual:

Q. Can I still use the Hot Plate if it has a different impedance than my amp?
A. ONLY if the impedance of the Hot Plate is EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN that of the
amp. However, this will lessen the effectiveness of the Hot Plate’s tone controls.

Q. If I am using just one speaker cabinet, can I still use the Hot Plate if it has a different
impedance than my speaker cabinet?
A. ONLY if the impedance of the speakers is equal to or greater than the amplifier, AND
the impedance of the Hot Plate is equal to or greater than the amp. Again, this will lessen
the effectiveness of the Hot Plate’s tone controls

Paolo_M

Fingers Mcginty wrote: »

I think my speaker is 8 ohms though ...It's just that there's one for sale on adverts at the mo. I think i need the 8 Ohm though...Is this correct?

To max the life expectancty of both your amp and the HotPlate it's recommended to match the impedances. If it's an 8ohm output into an 8ohm cab then you "should" get an 8ohm HotPlate.
That's not to say the 16ohm wont work, it will, it's just that when the amp was designed the output tranformer, valve power dissipation and frequency repsonse calulations were made with "correct" load intended to be attached. Most good amps and attenuators are designed with an error margin built in but it would be better all around not to push it.
I think the Ultimate Attenuator has an impedance selector, so it might be a more versatile unit if you're going to splash the cash.

Alanstrainor

Actually this is something i was curious about myself.
Cheers!

Fingers Mcginty

dammit...ah well I'm sure an 8 ohm will pop up sometime thanks laddies

Vim Fuego

Hi Fingers, just noticed your post after I replied to the ad. I was actually selling the hotplate because I only have 8-ohm stuff nowadays and I just presumed I couldn't get away with the mismatch.

After reading the comments on here and in a few other places, I gave it a go last night. I hooked up the 8 ohm output from an Orange Tiny Terror to the 16 ohm hotplate and into an 8 ohm Marshall 1912 cab.

The effect was pretty much identical to when I was using it with 16 ohm head and cab. The only thing I really noticed was that when I turned the decibel knob, there was a little noise, like an iffy pot on a guitar, but only when you were adjusting the volume.

I know how you feel though, I probably would prefer to have the 8 ohm as well, just because that's the way it's supposed to be but I'm kinda happy to know I can crank the amps I have with the 16 ohm until it gets sold.

bat boy

I've got a 16ohm hotplate, mint, which I bought off ebay for about 180 yoyos, total bargain. Less than they're going for on adverts, so i'd recommend you look there. I have a 120w peavey vtm which is ridiculously loud. Without the hotplate I have practically no volume control with the amp, it goes from really quiet to REALLY loud with one slight adjustment. The hotplate does the business.

Fingers Mcginty

I'm not entirely convinced i need one The tone of the Engl is still pretty good at low volumes and it's not like many other amps in that I've heard they need to be cranked to sound good.
My Engl sounds pretty good at low volumes but it just seems like a bit of a waste that I'm only sitting at level 2 even in practice with a loud drummer. (It goes up to 10)
I just wonder might the tone be a lot better if i could push the amp a bit harder. I get dirty (justifiable) looks if i go past 2 cause the amp drowns out everyone.

Is it a function of ALL tube amps if you drive them harder they sound better??
(your own experience lads and not a cut and paste answer)

Paolo_M

Fingers Mcginty wrote: »

I'm not entirely convinced i need one The tone of the Engl is still pretty good at low volumes and it's not like many other amps in that I've heard they need to be cranked to sound good.
My Engl sounds pretty good at low volumes but it just seems like a bit of a waste that I'm only sitting at level 2 even in practice with a loud drummer. (It goes up to 10)
I just wonder might the tone be a lot better if i could push the amp a bit harder. I get dirty (justifiable) looks if i go past 2 cause the amp drowns out everyone.

Is it a function of ALL tube amps if you drive them harder they sound better??
(your own experience lads and not a cut and paste answer)

I have four valve amps (Marshall JCM 800, JMP50, Vox AC50, and a Harley Benton 5W) at the moment and played countless others and can honestly say that, IMO, you need to be pushing them passed 4-5 on the dial before you start getting the good stuff. A well designed preamp will still sound pretty good, even great at lower volumes but the amp will still sound even better when the power amp gets working. I'm referring to clean tones as well as dirty here, the Vox has an ECC82 in V1, which is a very low gain valve, and is very clean but sounds better a higher volumes.
Valves sound great because they are non linear in nature, the more they are pushed the more non linear they get, the better they sound. Transistors are almost perfectly linear and produce a similar sound at almost all volumes they are capable of.
Valves also have "better" distortion charactoristics because they are not perfect and aren't able to cut off or saturate immediately. This produces a rounded clipping rather than a sharp, brittle cut of of a transistor. Again you have to drive a power valve pretty hard to get it close to saturation/cut-off.

Voodu Child

Fingers Mcginty wrote: »

I'm not entirely convinced i need one The tone of the Engl is still pretty good at low volumes and it's not like many other amps in that I've heard they need to be cranked to sound good.

Well, if you think your amp sounds great at low volumes, then you should just go with your ears. At the end of the day, if you want to know if it sounds better cranked.....just crank it :pac:

Anyway, i'd agree with Paulo. When you crank a tube amp you're overdriving the power section. Its a different kind of clip/distortion to what you'll get from your gain knob (ie the preamp) ; not as harsh and very touch responsive.

Whether your preamp is running clean or dirty, cranking the power section just ads that 'something'... and you could sit here all day explaining the technicalities or describing the sound, but its much easier (and more fun:pac:) just to crank it up and get a feel for yourself.

500x

Hi There, An ENGL Screamer user here... But I've changed from the combo to the head(s) now.

As the lads said, running the 16 OHM unit between your 8 OHM output and 8 OHM speaker will work. However, you will probably be working your valves a little harder than if you were using an 8 OHM unit. Same thing as running a 16 OHM speaker off your 8 OHM poweramp output... It's not gonna blow anything up:), but it's just not the optimum way of doing things.

Personally, I wouldn't bother using a Hot Plate or something similar on an ENGL amp. To me, they are something for giving you that overdrive you can only get from a Fender or master volume Marshall running flat out (and that's a power valve debate for sure), but that's just me!

Finally, I'll say.... Great choice in amplifier! I've two Screamer heads, and I completely love them. Try an extension cab under your Screamer Combo, you will not be disappointed. I stupidly sold two ENGL E112V cabs, major regrets.

Fingers Mcginty

Yeah I was considering another cab alright. There's just something harsh about the amp at the moment...could be the vintage 30 in the open back combo that's doing it?

500x

Fingers Mcginty wrote: »

Yeah I was considering another cab alright. There's just something harsh about the amp at the moment...could be the vintage 30 in the open back combo that's doing it?

Hey Fingers Mcginty, Yeah think we spoke about this one before. I was happy, but not delighted with the Screamer Combo on it's own. Adding a closed back 1x12 though, it is like night and day.

The open back cab on top gives you plenty of air in the sound, and the closed back on the bottom gives it thump that is simply not available in the combo on it's own.

The head version running through a closed back 2x12 or 4x12 sounds great great great, but it doesn't 'breathe' like the combo/extension configuration. There is a little more 'thump' or 'balls' or whatever with a fully closed back set up, but it's definitely a little more compressed sounding.... Which isn't a bad thing necessarily, but ya know what I mean... Besides, the combo/extension setup has enough low end for anyone who is not in to competing with the bass player. I roll back on the bass with the head/cab setup nowadays.

If I sound like I regret selling the Screamer Combo and extension cab, well that is because I do. It was probably one of the best amps I ever used. Very portable too.

Just as an aside, one of my ENGL Screamer heads lives in Germany, where I run it through a very old flood damaged Marshall 4x12 with green backs. Now, that is beautiful... No matter how you adjust the controls on the head, you just get thick cream pouring from the cab.... Spose ya'd better like that tone, or ya'd wanna ditch that vintage Marshall sharpish! I happen to love it. I think the cab is probably ruined because of the flood damage, but for some reason the Screamer just loves it.... It doesn't scream though, it more, uhh, moans?

Fingers Mcginty

500x...Correct we did indeed talk about this before
I'm liking the screamer more each day. It seems the amp sounds much better after you play it a while. I suppose I'm not looking for more volume at all just a decrease in the harshness and a better overall tone.
I'll look out for another 1x12 Engl cab. I don't want the hassle of lugging around a 4x12 at all ........although they do look cool

Fingers Mcginty

just got a 112 cab for this combo and the difference is unbelievable.....heavenly:D