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I was browsing MarkBass info on pedals
cuz I dig the VLE and VPF filters on my
MB amps and I want to add them to my
other amps, via MB's new pedal.

MB also lists their "Super Pro DI" as a
pedal device, so I bumped into that as
well. OK now ... ever heard of a DI that
can be connected to the speaker output
of your amp ? Maybe this is not the very
first DI of such ability [I don't happen
to know ... ] but it's a rare feature.

THD's "HotPlate" [speaker attenuator]
can do the same job but is about $400.
This MB DI is under $100. There is one
HUGE difference in operation: The THD
provides its own dummy load, so you
don't need to connect any speaker at
all. The MB DI still requires that a
speaker load be attached after itself.

The THD can be the end of the chain,
or it can go between the amp and cab.
The MB fits only the second scenario,
the "in between". Also THD says their
device is only for tube amps. I don't
know why, but they are consistent on
that in all their ads and literature. MB
states no such limitations ... but in
my mind, an all-tube power stage is
the only reason to want to transform
speaker output into line level signal.

IOW if you've got a SS power section,
the signal from the speaker output is
gonna be nearly identical to the signal
BEFORE the power stage, aka the "line
out" signal. But if the pre-power-stage
signal is further cooked by hot power
tubes and a fat transformer, well NOW
you've got a VERY special signal thaz
available ONLY at the speaker outputs.

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