Does anybody use just a power amp and a cab?

beebassdude · #1 02-13-2011, 06:36 PM

so my bee bass is active and has a preamp and ive been wondering lately what if i bypassed the concept of having an amp with a preamp in it and just used a power amp with a cab. does anybody does this or is it possible or does it sound good? im wondering what kinda sound id get just using some sort of crown power amp into a 210 cab.

im new to this idea and im sure some of you have experience so please clue me in. thanks!

bassplayerbob · #2 02-13-2011, 07:32 PM

I really dont think an onboard preamp will have enough output to give to a power amp.

beebassdude · #3 02-13-2011, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassplayerbob

I really dont think an onboard preamp will have enough output to give to a power amp.

i guess im just looking for something that will not color the sound as much. pretty much the "tone" itself from my onboard preamp without a lot of coloration from another preamp. does that make sense?

**gard0300** · #4 02-13-2011, 07:37 PM

I agree the ouput level, it would be really low. Presonus make a a couple nice preamps that dont color the sound hardly at all.

Floyd Eye · #5 02-13-2011, 07:38 PM

Seems like a pedal preamp would work.

AverageWhiteBassist · #6 02-13-2011, 07:40 PM

Groove tubes Brick... to know is to love

beebassdude · #7 02-13-2011, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveProulx

Groove tubes Brick... to know is to love

tell me more my friend.

dmot002 · #8 02-13-2011, 07:43 PM

This is very clean and transparent.

http://www.gracedesign.com/products/m101/m101.htm

bassplayerbob · #9 02-13-2011, 07:45 PM

I tried setting up my old Boss GT10b as a preamp once. ran it straight into a QSC power amp. It was ok for the 1st 2 sets but by set 3 it started to sound kinda mushy and no headroom left. Get a nice clean preamp..Also, i wasnt using any presets from the unit, mostly bypassed.

babebambi · #10 02-13-2011, 07:56 PM

or a DI box perhaps?

Mingo Sanders · #11 02-13-2011, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babebambi

or a DI box perhaps?

A DI takes an instrument level, high impedance, unbalanced signal and converts it to a mic level, low impedance, balanced signal.

OP needs a preamp like the Presonus (because it's cheap to play with) or another that accepts an instrument level, high impedance, unbalanced signal and outputs a signal appropriate to drive a power amp.

My Tribby L-2500 can drive my Crown DC-300A with no separate preamp, but not to perfromance levels.

ampegfuzz · #12 02-13-2011, 08:17 PM

Some sort of active Di. I use a tone hammer to drive a power amp. Granted it has eq but I bet I could run a pre eq from the xlr out for a dry signal path. That way it would be only eq from the bass and a line drivable volume.

luvpbass · #13 02-13-2011, 10:03 PM

They make a couple of pedal versions, which are easy enough and also give you a di to foh if you need it. I like the rbi rack mount myself. you can run it passive, which still gives enough single to drive the amp but can be set flat as hell. also pretty much bulletproof construction.

babebambi · #14 02-13-2011, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mingo Sanders

A DI takes an instrument level, high impedance, unbalanced signal and converts it to a mic level, low impedance, balanced signal.

OP needs a preamp like the Presonus (because it's cheap to play with) or another that accepts an instrument level, high impedance, unbalanced signal and outputs a signal appropriate to drive a power amp.

My Tribby L-2500 can drive my Crown DC-300A with no separate preamp, but not to perfromance levels.

IME, most power amp takes mic-lvl balanced signal quite well ...

m.oreilly · #15 02-14-2011, 12:04 AM

this could be a futile search re which device to use. even after spending $$$$ on 'transparent' gain, your speakers/playing technique/desired volume/room response will more than likely point to a simple amptop pre.

AverageWhiteBassist · #16 02-14-2011, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beebassdude

tell me more my friend.

I have plugged it into the power amp in on amps and it works like the manual says it should. I love the sound, clean yuet muscular. It's a preamp/DI and it works wonders. The ditto is the same thing without an xlr in.

Blankandson · #17 02-21-2011, 03:25 PM

I did this just once, at the Nashville Convention Center. Doing a trade show, they thought I had my stuff, and I assumed they had stuff. So, I went from a P Bass > Crown Amp > Cerwin Vega sub. It worked. I wouldn't do it mainly because 1: that cost too much and 2: the CV weighed over 300 pounds.

Calaverasgrande · #18 02-21-2011, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babebambi

IME, most power amp takes mic-lvl balanced signal quite well ...

that is incorrect. Line level and mic level both exist on XLR connectors. However, line lever is about 40-50db higher than nominal mic level. You can not for instance plug an SM57 into a crown power amp and expect your voice to come out of the other end.
Active bass is a lot higher level than mic level though, so DI woudl actually be giving up some level for the benefit of balancing the signal.
I have been able to drive a cabinet with a power amp directly fed by my bass. It was not as loud as the amp could go, and the impedance mismatch did shave some highs.

babebambi · #19 02-21-2011, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calaverasgrande

that is incorrect. Line level and mic level both exist on XLR connectors. However, line lever is about 40-50db higher than nominal mic level. You can not for instance plug an SM57 into a crown power amp and expect your voice to come out of the other end.
Active bass is a lot higher level than mic level though, so DI woudl actually be giving up some level for the benefit of balancing the signal.
I have been able to drive a cabinet with a power amp directly fed by my bass. It was not as loud as the amp could go, and the impedance mismatch did shave some highs.

interesting ...
I will go back and check my facts
thx for the heads-up

suraci · #20 02-21-2011, 05:43 PM

I am curious how different power amps, brands, and wattages, will affect the sonic picture and playability. I have a bone to pick with the "digital worlds", old claim ( lie ) that digital is clean.. transparent. When I A B C ed three power amps, I was shocked how differently each one sounded. A long time ago..
Calaveragrande Is there an ideal match up of impedances between power amp and "go between" ( mixer, DI, pre amp ) and bass, whether active or not?
I just played an Eon recently on a gig.. no pre of any kind. I lost all kinds of tone because of impedance mismatch, right ? 0_0 thanks