The Fat Man Returns

(Click for a close-up)

Easy, affordable access to pro-quality stereo tube compression has made HHB's original Fat Man an instant hit with recording and performing musicians. Now there's a new Fat Man in the HHB family: the Fat Man 2 Tube Preamp/Compressor, which continues the low-cost, preset theme established by its corpulent sibling. Making its debut at Winter NAMM 2001, the Fat Man 2 will be on display at the HHB Booth #4268.

Perfect as an instrument preamp, vocal processor or a "warm" front-end for any computer-based digital recording system, the HHB Fat Man 2 is a single-channel combined tube preamp and compressor. It simply could not be easier to use, with fifteen presets optimised for a wide variety of sources, including five vocal settings, keyboards, acoustic and electric guitars, basses and drums.

Despite its low cost, more experienced users will welcome a manual mode allowing full control of all compression parameters including threshold, ratio, attack, release and soft/hard knee responses. Control of input/output gain and gain make-up is accessible at all times, in both preset and manual modes.

A high-quality tube preamp stage accepts mic, line and instrument signals, and provides phantom power and a 90Hz low-cut filter. A balanced line output is provided on a 1/4-inch jack connector, and switchable metering of either output level or gain reduction is displayed via a single, retro-style backlit VU meter.

The Fat Man 2 uses a classic dual stage 12AX7A triode tube, powered from a high- quality internal power supply. One stage of the tube is located in the preamp section, while the other is in the compressor stage. Like the original Fat Man, the Fat Man 2 is a 3U half-rack width unit which can be free-standing or rackmounted with the optional 19-inch FatRack.

"It's easy to use, it's versatile and it's very affordable," comments HHB USA President David Beesley. "Anyone looking to add some tube warmth to their recordings or live performances should definitely check out the new Fat Man 2."