Powerstage 170 speaker question

[electramone]

So the PS170 will handle ANY cab? I see it handles 4-8-16 ohm but is there a suggested speaker rating? I'd want it for a small rig. Single 10" or 12" Any suggestions on a speaker setup for it? I love tweeds if that helps. Thanks for any advice.

[Sirion]

Re: Powerstage 170 speaker question

It should work fine with either. The main difference for solid state is how many watts are being produced. The PS will give 170 w with a 4 ohm setup, ca. 85 w with an 8 ohm setup, and ca. 42 w with a 16 ohm one.

Beyond this, we really need more to give recommendations. What does the rest of your rig look like? What styles of music are you playing?

[electramone]

Re: Powerstage 170 speaker question

My rigs have always been tweeds and blackfaces with a dyna comp and a TS9 or 2. Been using a Paisley drive recently too. Was looking for a small pedal platform set up just for the home studio so I'm not cranking. Some low power clean headroom and have some pedal fun is what I was looking for. At 170 watts I didn't want to push a weak speaker but is it really 170 or does it adjust like an attenuator to what your plugging into? Thanks for the response.

[GoldenVulture]

Re: Powerstage 170 speaker question

My rigs have always been tweeds and blackfaces with a dyna comp and a TS9 or 2. Been using a Paisley drive recently too. Was looking for a small pedal platform set up just for the home studio so I'm not cranking. Some low power clean headroom and have some pedal fun is what I was looking for. At 170 watts I didn't want to push a weak speaker but is it really 170 or does it adjust like an attenuator to what your plugging into? Thanks for the response.

The PS will give 170 w with a 4 ohm setup, ca. 85 w with an 8 ohm setup, and ca. 42 w with a 16 ohm one.

.

[Sirion]

Re: Powerstage 170 speaker question

I don't think it works the way you suggest an attenuator does (I know nothing about them). Cranked it should supply 170 watts to a 4 ohm rig (85 with 8 etc.), but with solid state rigs one would commonly buy something slightly larger than one needs, simply because they tend to sound better without being fully cranked. As such, even a Greenback in a 1x12 could work, as long as it is 16 ohm and you avoid turning the volume past 12 o'clock. At 8 ohm something like a Creamback or a Vintage 30 would be able to use at least three-fourth of the power before running into trouble.

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Powerstage 170 speaker question

There are so many good low-wattage tube amps for less than the Powerstage costs. I'd go with one of those instead and avoid any potential problems.

[Sirion]

Re: Powerstage 170 speaker question

Y'know, unless there is some very weighty reason why you want to use the Powerstage, I would agree: it is a specialist solution, and isn't necessarily for everybody.

[electramone]

Re: Powerstage 170 speaker question

Thanks so much for the advice. Yea, I wouldn't be gigging with it. I own some nice boutique stuff but am stuck because I have the bassman/super thing covered on the loud end and the champ thing covered on the 5W end but nothing in the middle. Maybe a Pro Jr. or a Princeton RI might just do the trick for my pedal fun. Thanks so much.

[Mincer]

Re: Powerstage 170 speaker question

The PowerStages (both of them) are more of a solution for modelers, or for those that have preamp-type pedals. If you are used to using a regular amp, going to something like a PowerStage + modeler (or preamp) would be a bit of an adjustment, as it spits up the combo parts into separate components.

[electramone]

Re: Powerstage 170 speaker question

Got it. Great advice thanks.