Would this work? Tube amp, load box, slave out, low-wattage power amp

[CaptainWhizz]

This is the idea-
tube combo, speaker out to load box. Slave output to low-wattage sold state power amp (maybe EHX 5mm or something similar), which drives the combo speakers.

Already have the load box, and was probably going to buy a pedalboard power amp anyway, so I was wondering if this would have any advantages over just running my tube combo at low master volume. The slave out is supposed to take some of the character of the power section as well as the preamp, so I’m not sure if that would make much difference if I ran the master on the combo a little higher into the load box.

Looking to see if I can use stuff I already have/ was planning to buy anyway as an alternative to an attenuator.

Thanks.

 

[PFDarkside]

Yes, that’s the concept of the old rack units before the separate preamp/power amp and effects loops became common. You load down the amp, process the signal, then reamp through another power amp. Even after pre/power and effects loops people were still loading down old modded plexis and fenders to add rack delay and reverb.

Just make sure your attenuator/load box is capable of handling the entire output power of your amp.

 

[Mincer]

It is really a roundabout way to do things, especially if we have gear today to deliver a great sound at a lower volume. Many years ago, all we had were very powerful amps, however.

 

[CaptainWhizz]

Just make sure your attenuator/load box is capable of handling the entire output power of your amp.

I jumped in when the Cab Clone got released, one of the things that it actually manages to accomplish is to take the load.
It works ok to do that, let me take a guide track out with the inbuilt “cab sim” to monitor, and run the record out to the DAW to add power amp and cab simulation to later.

I was just thinking I could use the extra power amp to play at reduced volume without going through a mixer or computer.

 

[Top-L]

This is exactly what the Boss Tube Amp Expander does. But its all in one box. The built in supply is (I think) 100 Watt, probably same one as in Katana.

 

[donaldr]

Why not just get a (used) Katana Head to play at 0.5w thru your cab (or even with the builtin 5" speaker)? You will have to EQ anyway to compensate for the lower volume. Just build a couple of low-level patches to recall.

 

[CaptainWhizz]

Why not just get a (used) Katana Head to play at 0.5w thru your cab (or even with the builtin 5" speaker)? You will have to EQ anyway to compensate for the lower volume. Just build a couple of low-level patches to recall.

That would involve me buying equipment that I don’t already have/ was planning to buy anyway, plus I wouldn’t be using my amp, I’d be using a different amp.

 

[donaldr]

I know, but it might get cheaper in the long run and gives you better results. If you go back and forth between loud and quiet you will have to tweak your amp (eq) and pedals (drives, reverb, eq) constantly. You said you needed to buy a small amp anyway. Not sure the EXH 5mm will do the trick.
On my Eleven Rack I have patches for loud, quiet, and headphones.