Hotone? Which?

[DoctorZeus]

I have been looking at the very inexpensive Hotone amps. I picked up a 2x10 Ampeg cabinet for next to nothing. Figured I would get a cheap head too. This would be exclusively for at home practice. No gigs.

In searching the internet some people use other Hotone "guitar" heads for this purpose. For example, the Siva. These guitar heads are half the price of the Thunder bass.

I am wondering which to get. Some say the guitar heads are even better for bass than the Thunder. Anyone have an practical knowledge.experience with this?

 

[InkCow]

I haven’t, but depending on the price you’re talking about may be worth just taking a shot. It will definitely make sound, and probably a better bass sound than majority of little practice amps.

As for the Thunder, I probably wouldn’t bother, personally. The Valeton TAR-20B is about the same price, @20w, and the Joyo Bantamp BaDass could be found for just a little more (and it at least has a tube preamp). Although, to me, the Joyo is just expensive enough to consider just getting a real amp, like a used Warwick Gnome, TC Electronic BAM200, or Acoustic B300D. I appreciate that that’s basically doubling the budget, but you also have a 100% useful amp that does everything the Thunder (or the other two) does (aux in, headphone out, etc.) as well as actually being able to be heard over a mouse farting (as well as a DI out).

The Gnome and BAM200 are basically no larger than the Thunder, anyway.

 

[Michedelic]

I have been looking at the very inexpensive Hotone amps. I picked up a 2x10 Ampeg cabinet for next to nothing. Figured I would get a cheap head too. This would be exclusively for at home practice. No gigs.

In searching the internet some people use other Hotone "guitar" heads for this purpose. For example, the Siva. These guitar heads are half the price of the Thunder bass.

I am wondering which to get. Some say the guitar heads are even better for bass than the Thunder. Anyone have an practical knowledge.experience with this?

That Hotone series isn’t much more than a cute novelty. Another vote for the Warwick Gnome, the non-“I” version.

 

[InkCow]

That Hotone series isn’t much more than a cute novelty. Another vote for the Warwick Gnome, the non-“I” version.

Indeed. I loved my original Gnome and only sold it because I bought something with a little more power, although I haven’t actually needed the extra headroom I bought it for or ran out of it with the Gnome.

 

[msb]

I picked up a HoTone ThunderBass on a whim after seeing it on kijiji. I didn’t run speakers with it , but used it a lot as a headphone amp. It has a mini aux in so you can plug in a phone or tablet.

Great little headphone amp.

 

[HelpImaRock]

HO TONE

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

I got a Gnome i Pro from Amazon Japan for under $180 shipped. That's about half the street price. It's labeled in Japanese, but that's really kinda cool, IMO.
https://www.amazon.com/Warwick-GNOM...=B09J1437HR&psc=1&ref_=pd_basp_d_rpt_ba_s_1_i

BBB

 

[PennyroyalWe]

I have the thunder bass. It’s a fun little amp if you enjoy a vintage overdrive kinda tone. It also sounds really good with a guitar through it.

My biggest gripe is that when you plug anything into the headphone/line out there’s this jetson’s car kind of squealing, so not very good for recording if you don’t want to mic a cab.

 

[hamertek98]

I got a Gnome i Pro from Amazon Japan for under $180 shipped. That's about half the street price. It's labeled in Japanese, but that's really kinda cool, IMO.
https://www.amazon.com/Warwick-GNOM...=B09J1437HR&psc=1&ref_=pd_basp_d_rpt_ba_s_1_i

BBB

That's pretty cool with the lettering!

 

[Rev_Slinky]

I only have experience with the Thunder Bass. I mostly use it for portable practice with an aux-in. It works just fine for that, and you can even give your time a bit of wooliness, if you want to. For around $60 used, that's not too bad.

It works alright through a cab as well, though it lacks the power to show up in every cab. I used it with a 100W Ampeg 2x10 cab providing accompaniment for a play one time and it was able to fill that small theater at the same relative level as the actor's voices. That said, I still mostly use it for play-along practice, with headphones.

 

[stigbeve]

I got a free B-52 4X12 guitar cab so I bought the Captain Sunset.
It sounds really good for metal with my Strat guitar.

I have played my Ibanez bass through it and it worked fine.
My GK2001RB and 4X10 obviously sound better for bass but those
are at the practice spot.

 

[Dynomuttasaurus]

I have the thunder bass. It’s a fun little amp if you enjoy a vintage overdrive kinda tone. It also sounds really good with a guitar through it.

My biggest gripe is that when you plug anything into the headphone/line out there’s this jetson’s car kind of squealing, so not very good for recording if you don’t want to mic a cab.

Hmmm, I have a Thunder Bass and it doesn't make any unusual noises. I generally practice with headphones and using the aux in. I've also used it with a 1x12 cab to jam with acoustic guitars and an unmic-ed singer. Way better sounding that any basic 1x8 combo bedroom amp. But, that's its comparison. You'll never get over a drummer, unless they have an extremely light touch and brushes. For ish used and just home practice, it's a solid choice.

I actually own the Siva too. Had never thought about using it for bass. Just stepped into the other room for a head-to-head. The Siva is cleaner, but that is probably due to the internal gain range - because along with the cleaner tone, it has WAY less volume. Based on my quick comparison, there is no comparison. The Thunder is far better choice.

 

[johnh89]

Loving the thunder bass . Sits on top of a PJB C2 as my permanent practice amp . I have big toys to play out with , but have a huge soft spot for the little Hotone . It definatley is not a little novelty item . A load of folk seem to get off on dissing inexpensive gear without actually owning or even listening to it . I love my PJB stuff and Markbass gear but use the Hotone within its design limits and it is a great thing .

 

[coyote1]

How is this pronounced? Is it Hot One? Or Hoe Tone?

 

[ashtray]

I have the Thunder bass head, plus 2 or 3 of the guitar heads. Fun little 5W (?) amps. The Thunder actually has good tone! Louder than expected, but make no mistake, it is no 200W head. If you want tiny but also usable outside of a bedroom, get at least an Elf.

Haven’t tried bass through the Hotone guitar heads. Likely wouldn’t sound great - the guitar heads are really voiced specific for a specific guitar tone.

 

[InkCow]

How is this pronounced? Is it Hot One? Or Hoe Tone?

My understanding is Hot Tone, but in my head (and in my heart) it’s Ho Tone

 

[Ethix4]

I got a Gnome i Pro from Amazon Japan for under $180 shipped. That's about half the street price. It's labeled in Japanese, but that's really kinda cool, IMO.
https://www.amazon.com/Warwick-GNOM...=B09J1437HR&psc=1&ref_=pd_basp_d_rpt_ba_s_1_i

BBB

I thought about this but it’s 100v for Japan , I wonder if your juicing yours up with some more power this way and how safe it is?

 

[hamertek98]

My understanding is Hot Tone, but in my head (and in my heart) it’s Ho Tone

Hoe Tone....

 

[DoctorZeus]

Another vote for the Warwick Gnome, the non-“I” version.

Why no love for the "I" Version?

 

[Michedelic]

Why no love for the "I" Version?

If you don’t need the feature, why pay for it? If you just needed a small amp to make some kind of noise at a certain price point, a used basic model would be closer to your goal. Plus, 200 watts should suffice.