http://cgi.ebay.com/Soldano-Hot-Mod...1QQcmdZViewItem


What the hell is this, and why have'nt I seen it before?


From a second-long glance at the description, this is basically a preamp tube that adds an extra gain stage, as if it were a built-in Tubescreamer or something. And it seems like they cost just a little bit more than a boost pedal. But from what I'm reading, basically you stick this in your Marshall that gets at best an AC/DC tone and you get brutal-gain-in-a-can?

Not so much brutal i wouldn't have thought, unless the amp you plugged it into was already fairly high gain. It just adds an additional gain stage- sounds neat though!

__________________

It's a cool idea though..

is the tube in it replacable, or do you have to buy a new hotmod everytime the tube dies?

__________________

that should work in a recto right? xdislexicx??? where are you???

__________________

Hmmm, the only problem I see with this is that it seems to adds extra PREAMP distortion, which has more a fizzy, buzzy character than power tube distortion.

__________________

it's ment mostly for master volume amps to get extra juice without cranking it.

in a high gain amp like a recto i think it would be kinda rediculous and pointless. as when you get that much gain, you don't notice the increase that much. it's kinda like me turning the gain in my powerball up past 5, no point and not really much difference.

one gain stage will be a bigger difference on a medium or low gain amp. you put a tube screamer in front of a jcm 800, and the increase in gain sounds intense. though the pedal itself has hardly any gain to it.

they're no longer made, so if it went, you'd have to track down another one on the used market for a high price.

for the money, you might as well have someone mod your amp with another preamp tube for extra gain imo. or buy a tube boost pedal.

__________________

Thank you Dr. Tube

__________________

word. More gain for the recto would be kinda silly. I actually got to turn the thing up around 6-7 tonight...god that thing is fuckin nuts.

I still plan on sending it to voodoo...get the 800 dollar mod...that should be interesting.

A tube based question though, when I play, (or when my friends play through it) I notice a little tiny bit of blue glowing in the bottom of the power tubes...but not every single one...if I need to I'll take a picture. One guy I know said it may mean they are about to go bad...but they are fairly new JJ's...

__________________

i've always been told a tiny bit of blue while you are playing is nothing big, in fact normal. but when the whole tube glows blue and there isn't even any signal running through it. that is when you need new tubes.

__________________

ahhh..I should be ok than

__________________

You only need to worry if the tubes start glowing red, thats a bad sign.

__________________

#2. Should tubes glow?

Yes! If they are not glowing they are not working! The plate structure should never glow orange or have any spots on it that are orange. The heater or filament which runs up the center of the tube is the only part of the tube that should glow orange.

A blue or purple glow that pulses under load is normal. A strong purple glow that shows up when a tube is not under load at idle means the tube is "gassy" and is on it’s way out. This is usually caused by improper vacuum and when under lead shows a very intense purple glow.

-from eurotubes.com

__________________

Good info! Eurotubes is a great website.

__________________

Metallica used to get their Marshall's "Hot Rodded" to fit the tone and gain they needed.

This is basically that same thing that the gear-techs would do to their amps.

I'm suprised you of all people hadn't heard anything about this?

__________________

REALLY?! you guys hadn't heard of this? surely you didn't think marshalls actually SOUNDED LIKE THAT!! did you?

__________________

I meant the fact that people were using custom tubes, Swan.

__________________

i'm sorry. i was actually being sarcastic to all the other ppl. you know your stuff. and i'm sorry you thought you were the target of that.

__________________

Haha, its cool.
I fucked up.

__________________