Best Power Amp for Amp Modelers?? HELP?

[Broadcaster]

Hi Folks,
here's my question...

I have a Vox Valvetronix Tonelab and wanted to by a solid state power amp that will make a good amp for live use. (at least 100 watts)

I was hoping to stay away from tube power amps only because I've had my fill of tube replacments/failures/costly repairs, etc.

Also i was hoping some power amp might have a mono input feature (not bridged mono) were the 2 master volumes still worked independently so i can input a mono singnal from the Valvetronix and control my main cabinet with channel A and channel B can control a secondary floor montor as a second cabinet.

Is there any warm sounding solid state amps with good power/headroom?, or is there any power amps that may sound or have any characteristics of a tube power amp?

Thank you in advance.
Looking forward to some suggestions.

I have 3 tele's all of which have the Duncan Broadcasters PU

 

[Mincer]

Re: Best Power Amp for Amp Modelers?? HELP?

ceck out the crate powerblock. i use my modeler into a powered JBL EON speaker with a 15 and a horn. The modelers really like full-range setups, so keyboard or acoustic amps work well too.

 

[Broadcaster]

Re: Best Power Amp for Amp Modelers?? HELP?

ceck out the crate powerblock. i use my modeler into a powered JBL EON speaker with a 15 and a horn. The modelers really like full-range setups, so keyboard or acoustic amps work well too.

Thanks Mincer,
My problm with the the JBL thing is that I got my cabinets already, and was hoping to mic my cabinet live and not use a di.

Thanks

 

[gordon_39422]

Re: Best Power Amp for Amp Modelers?? HELP?

The absolute BEST tones I ever heard from a modeller/multi-effects processor was when I plugged into a Mesa/Boogie Stereo 2:50... It warmed and livened the Digital tones tremedously. I know this doesn't quite fit what you desire, but that 100-watts was HUGE! And with the left/right speakers placed apart, the stereo effects were awesome! Talk about chorus! The rotary speaker sounded righteous as well!....

For your situation, you could run the processor stereo and run one channel to the cab and one to the monitor.....

Of course, these are just suggestions... Hope you find what you seek!

 

[Mincer]

Re: Best Power Amp for Amp Modelers?? HELP?

ahh, gotcha- if you have your own cabs, then you should make sure you turn off all cab sims in the presets...or send a DI to the house (with cab sims) and use the cabs (without sims) for onstage. Look for a good clean SS poweramp in this case. Tubes will only color the sound for the worse.

 

[Broadcaster]

Re: Best Power Amp for Amp Modelers?? HELP?

Any suggestions for a solid state amp?

 

[tone4days]

Re: Best Power Amp for Amp Modelers?? HELP?

i very much like my carvin dcm 600

bulletproof ... quiet ... loud and clean ... good value price compared to others similarly spec'd


for the cost / size / value ... the crate power block really deserves a look
good luck
t4d

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Best Power Amp for Amp Modelers?? HELP?

Check out the Rocktron Velocity power amps. They seem to get pretty good reviews and to badly priced if I remember correctly.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Best Power Amp for Amp Modelers?? HELP?

+1 on the Crate PowerBlock. The only good thing Crate makes IMO.

 

[larry_emder]

Re: Best Power Amp for Amp Modelers?? HELP?

I dont quite get the powerblock.....just watched a vid on it, and it seems to serve the same function as a guitar head? i though it was just a poweramp for pod's preamp.....but the guy was running the guitar straight into it (and getting some pretty nice distortion)......?

Vid is here
http://www.sonicstate.com/news/shownews.cfm?newsid=2290

 

[larry_emder]

Re: Best Power Amp for Amp Modelers?? HELP?

Oh i get it now......The 'line in' bypasses the powerblock's preamp......so you can use it as both a guitar head, or a modelers poweramp.....VERY handy.

 

[Animal]

Re: Best Power Amp for Amp Modelers?? HELP?

Oh i get it now......The 'line in' bypasses the powerblock's preamp......so you can use it as both a guitar head, or a modelers poweramp.....VERY handy.

Yep, you got it right! Now where can you find a Powerblock in Australia for a decent price? :scratchch

 

[ShredFetus]

Re: Best Power Amp for Amp Modelers?? HELP?

Another thing you might consider is running into a bass head.
They give you large amounts of clean power & you can plug right into the fx return to bybass the preamp altogether.

I sometimes run my GT-8 into a Hartke bass head and get great results...especially with 2 quads coming out of it

 

[danut]

Re: Best Power Amp for Amp Modelers?? HELP?

Just get two of these and run them in stereo. You will never look back!!!

 

[Simon_F]

Re: Best Power Amp for Amp Modelers?? HELP?

I have one of those (Tech 21 Power Engine 60) that I bought recently to extend my Trademark 60 combo. I've played a couple of gigs with the TM60 / PE60 rig and I'm very happy with the results. A full sound with great spread and projection. I haven't tried it with anything other than the TM60 though. You will need two to get over 100 watts, but the advantage is the spread and the stereo capability. Easily portable too.

 

[PUCKBOY99]

Re: Best Power Amp for Amp Modelers?? HELP?

I ran a SansAmp PSA-1 thru a TECH21 Power Engine & it was a perfect match....the other side I ran the TM-60. GREAT little package :bigok:

The local GC was blowing out Crate Power Blocks for $79.00 while supplies last. If you're able to find one, you can't beat that price. If it doesn't work out, you're not out the $300 for the PE-60 or more for something similar.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Best Power Amp for Amp Modelers?? HELP?

I like the PowerBlock for the ability to tailor the different cabs to the different gigs. I just wish there was an easy way to rackmount the PowerBlock and the PodXT so it would be more portable.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Best Power Amp for Amp Modelers?? HELP?

For SS, the Powerblock or Tubework's Mosvalve would get my bidness.

BTW, I use a Mesa 50:50 and it is big, ballsy, and bulletproof. :burnout:

 

[baritone]

Re: Best Power Amp for Amp Modelers?? HELP?

I sometimes use my ToneLab through my bass amp. The cool thing about the bass amp is that it doesn't have any of its own gain stages, so I get all the gain from the ToneLab. Sometimes the amp's EQ knobs can be used to further shape the tone, and sometimes I plug straight into the effect return jack to bypass the amp's knobs, and all the tone shaping is done through the ToneLab. Another advantage with a bass amp (or keyboard amp or acoustic guitar amp) is that the frequency range extends a lot further in the bass and treble registers than a regular electric guitar amp. This gives the moldeler more "space" to display the differences between the various models.