Power amp suggestions for Axe FX, Kemper, etc.

[Hiwatts and Gibsons]

I didn't know there was a difference in tube generated watts vs. SS. I just know that bass amps tend to be SS (almost completely even except for a rare Ampeg reissue) and higher wattage these days. My Carvin R1000 from the 00s is a 1x15" 2x10" bass combo that runs 1000 watts. Nice built in compressor, parametric, and graphic EQs too.

That's because on SS amps the wattage rating is a hard ceiling that is usually reached at the upper limit of their volume/output control. They can be driven harder by hitting them with a hot signal, but that does not translate into much additional volume, and instead creates a very unpleasant and typically unwanted harsh and jagged hard clipping distortion.

Tube amps on the other hand tend to reach their rating at or just above halfway on their volume/output control, and then start to create poweramp distortion which is a smoother and often desirable type of soft clippjng distortion which is smoother and introduces some nice natural compression. With the preamp levels high and the master volume/output maxed most tube amps put out about twice their rated wattage. This is also why one should purchase attenuators rated for twice their tube amps output rating.

 

[maug2122]

what piece of gear is that?

A Digitech 2112 SGS that has two 12ax7 tubes, that has two balanced outputs, that go into two VHT Valvulator 1's, each with a 12ax7 tube, which means three tubes pumping into two channels.
The gain knob on my 2112 increases the voltage going thru the two tubes.
For my ears it provides more of the traditional dynamics of today's IRs.

A Crate Power Block seems to be semi transparent, it just dims my highs very very slightly, but a BBE 482 Sonic Maximizer in the CPB effects loop compensates that slight darkening of that factor for me.