Power amp suggestions

[metalmachine1983]

I'm using a AMT SS-30 Bulava and I really dig the tone in my DAW and the effects loop of my 5150.

Any Cheapish solid state suggestions to power it besides the powerstage 170?

I'm open to power amps, solid state guitar heads and solid state Bass heads for power.

my cab handles 480 watts.

I play all forms of metal.

 

[devastone]

Re: Power amp suggestions

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/search.php?s=isp+stealth

 

[Sirion]

Re: Power amp suggestions

This would be the cheapest solution:

https://www.ehx.com/products/44-magnum

Of course, it can't give anywhere near the wattage your cabinet can handle.

Another option would be to look at the used market. There are tons of solid-state power amps out there, and most of them very cheap, since classic rack power amps are not in vogue (to put it mildly!). Something like a Marshall 9040 would serve you well, but be warned that it weighs a fair bit, and you should look for a later version with a master volume.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Power amp suggestions

Cheaper Class D power amps don't have a lot of power and don't sound great. Vintage power amps are super heavy. So without going with something like the PowerStage 170 or 200, those are really the choices.

 

[devastone]

Re: Power amp suggestions

I know this is the Duncan forum, but there are other choices. The Powerstages are supposed to be great, but FWIW, I've been using an ISP Stealth for years, and they have the Ultra Lite which is a direct competitor to the Powerstage 170 for quite a bit less and Buck was designing them way before SD got into the game. Okay, it doesn't have a mid control, but easy enough to deal with in whatever preamp you are using.

I love Duncan pickups, I just think the Powerstages are a little overpriced. Of course, that also could be MIM vs MIC (Made in Michigan vs Made in California).

 

[metalmachine1983]

Re: Power amp suggestions

thanks for all the replies guys this helps

 

[metalmachine1983]

Re: Power amp suggestions

Do you guys think running through the effects loop of a used solid state head would be a good option?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Power amp suggestions

Do you guys think running through the effects loop of a used solid state head would be a good option?

Many people do that, too, and have for years. The downside is the weight.

 

[metalmachine1983]

Re: Power amp suggestions

light weight would be nice but not a requirement. any suggestions for a good cheap head for that pourpose or will about any do?

 

[devastone]

Re: Power amp suggestions

Define cheap, the IPS Ultra Lite is only $266. I mean, you can look for a $100 amp on craigslist.

 

[metalmachine1983]

Re: Power amp suggestions

both yeah I was thinking 200 and less for used ss. otherwise I'll just go with the isp

 

[devastone]

Re: Power amp suggestions

Might want to read some of this too - https://www.sevenstring.org/threads...n-powerstage-170-pedalboard-poweramps.321598/ doesn't make it a clear cut choice.

I haven't pushed my IPS, it works for what I need. I have used a MosValve and they sound great, but it's a 2U rack, so definitely not small.

The Quilters are supposed to be nice too, not sure if they fit your price range though.

 

[LLL]

Re: Power amp suggestions

ART SLA-1.

100W each channel (100W+100W)

I use it with my rack rig for live... works fine, sounds fine.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SLA1--art-sla-1-100-watt-power-amplifier

Keep in mind you will need banana plug adapters (to go from amp out to speaker cables), like these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07T9ZCV78/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

or these:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BN2XF64/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Need more wattage? ART SLA-2.

 

[metalmachine1983]

Re: Power amp suggestions

so my budget opened up. I'm considering a quilter labs tone block 202 or 202 overdrive

I only considering the overdrive just for the option of another gain. I'm better the regular 202 will be better suited to what I'm wanting to do though. it has the flat frequency response for preamp or you can select another voice for a good dirt pedal platform


anybody use quilter lab stuff?

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: Power amp suggestions

Do you guys think running through the effects loop of a used solid state head would be a good option?

Yes - I used this kind of setup up until recently (now i use a keyboard amp or PA depending on size of the gig. I made the change because I nowadays need extra channels for drum machine and vocals).

This particular solid state head fits the bill in terms of being liteweight (42 lbs), cheap, good tone, and plenty of power for your cab (120 Watts RMS).

An Acoustic brand G120H DSP head. I did a quick search on the internet and see in used condition, they can be had for btw $100 and $130. I am not sure I want to sell mine yet even though I no longer "need" it.

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: Power amp suggestions

Yes - I used this kind of setup up until recently (now i use a keyboard amp or PA depending on size of the gig. I made the change because I nowadays need extra channels for drum machine and vocals).

This particular solid state head fits the bill in terms of being liteweight (42 lbs), cheap, good tone, and plenty of power for your cab (120 Watts RMS).

An Acoustic brand G120H DSP head. I did a quick search on the internet and see in used condition, they can be had for btw $100 and $130. I am not sure I want to sell mine yet even though I no longer "need" it.

View attachment 104708

... and if you ever needed it, the Clean channel on that amp is very good. That was one of the original reasons I bought mine a couple years back. And the tones from the Distortion channel are good and useable if not necessarily great. So, its good to have fallback options, if there are technical difficulties with other parts of your setup.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Power amp suggestions

Need more wattage? ART SLA-2.

THIS is what I need for my Amp SCR-DI!!!!!!

540 bridged!!!! Bass > Pedals > Ampeg > ART > Hartke Cab!!!!!!!!!

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: Power amp suggestions

Yes - I used this kind of setup up until recently (now i use a keyboard amp or PA depending on size of the gig. I made the change because I nowadays need extra channels for drum machine and vocals).

This particular solid state head fits the bill in terms of being liteweight (42 lbs), cheap, good tone, and plenty of power for your cab (120 Watts RMS).

An Acoustic brand G120H DSP head. I did a quick search on the internet and see in used condition, they can be had for btw $100 and $130. I am not sure I want to sell mine yet even though I no longer "need" it.

View attachment 104708

yep, I was going to say -for cheap -you can get a smaller form factor rackmount version of a Yorkville/Traynor, Acoustic, Sunn, GK, Peavey, Crown Solid State power amp with Eq controls and BIG POWER for $100 online -if you need big volume and control.

 

[donaldr]

Re: Power amp suggestions

THIS is what I need for my Amp SCR-DI!!!!!!

540 bridged!!!! Bass > Pedals > Ampeg > ART > Hartke Cab!!!!!!!!!

Way better options for bass. There're tons of good class D bass heads, from 200w to 1000w. A lot lighter than an ART SL-2. Put your Ampeg SCR-DI in front or in the fx return if you want that sound.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Power amp suggestions

But I didn't want a Class D amp head!!!! Just the juice and use the SCR as the Preamp!!!!! Floorboard + Cab for stage sound...

And I ended up with a Hartke TX300, which I really like.