Powerful amp (at 8-ohm) needed

[Gladowsky]

I am currently running a Bag End system with 4x10 speakers at 8 ohms. My current Mesa M-Pulse is maxed out (320 watts-8 ohms). Here's what I'm looking for in one amp:

- compression: individual threshold & ratio
- tube preamp
- 700-800 watts at 8 ohms output.
- cost under $3000


I will most likely have to go with separate components. Recommendations would be welcome.

[4-string]

Used Eden WT-800 (or even WT-600). + a compressor pedal.

[Tim1]

If it was me I would get a second hand Mesa 400+ - happy with 8 ohms, subhjectively louder than an 800 watt transistor amp, plenty of tonal options and natural tube compression. But then, I love tubes.

[Zooberwerx]

I'm a fan of separate components....pick 'n choose what sounds good to you (and is available), swap out when desired without having to deep 6 the entire rig. The power amp is the easy part. Just about any "1400" amp (Mackie 1400i, Crest CA-6, QSC 1450, etc) will do 800 watts bridged into 8 ohm. Then check Bongomania's site for his top picks on pedal and rackmount compressors. The preamp will be more difficult; may want to check out basstasters.com and do an exhaustive search here on TB for reviews, raves, etc.

Last of all....buy used!

Edit: You can do this for well under $1K if you give it some thought and shop around.

Riis

[maevinj]

Originally Posted by Gladowsky

I am currently running a Bag End system with 4x10 speakers at 8 ohms. My current Mesa M-Pulse is maxed out (320 watts-8 ohms). Here's what I'm looking for in one amp:

- compression: individual threshold & ratio
- tube preamp
- 700-800 watts at 8 ohms output.
- cost under $3000


I will most likely have to go with separate components. Recommendations would be welcome.

Are you happy with the sound you're getting out of the Mesa? Maybe look at one of the bigger Mesa heads.
Are you wanting to be louder? If so, more speakers would be better than more power.

[babebambi]

Originally Posted by Gladowsky

I am currently running a Bag End system with 4x10 speakers at 8 ohms. My current Mesa M-Pulse is maxed out (320 watts-8 ohms). Here's what I'm looking for in one amp:

- compression: individual threshold & ratio
- tube preamp
- 700-800 watts at 8 ohms output.
- cost under $3000


I will most likely have to go with separate components. Recommendations would be welcome.

The Carvin BX1500 got the power, but only one knob compression, and no tube pre / only tube driven power section.

Mesa M9 has the has tube pre, 2 knob compression, but "only" 450 watt.

But neither of these head sounds like the Mesa M-Pulse series. I think the closest tone wise with that kinda power in a head is the TITAN V-12. Tube in the pre, but I don't think it got compression.

Would be much easier with components.
Eden Nav and their power amp is my top pick.

[Sartori]

Originally Posted by maevinj

Are you happy with the sound you're getting out of the Mesa? Maybe look at one of the bigger Mesa heads.
Are you wanting to be louder? If so, more speakers would be better than more power.

+1

Also, a second 8 ohm cab would drop the total impedance down to 4 ohms, getting more wattage out of the head, since it has an SS power section.

[RickenBoogie]

+1, adding a second 8 ohm cab seems the most logical thing to do.

[Sartori]

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

+1, adding a second 8 ohm cab seems the most logical thing to do.

Indeed. He could add another of the 410 he's got for the same sound, only more of it.

[PSPookie]

Will the impulse handle a 2 ohm load? If so, you might be able to rewire the cab.

[Sartori]

Originally Posted by PSPookie

Will the impulse handle a 2 ohm load? If so, you might be able to rewire the cab.

For what purpose?

[johnk_10]

if you add an additional 4x10 matching cabinet, you'll increase your output ALOT (getting both more power and cone surface area).

if you don't want to carry around a second cab, i'd go the preamp/compressor/poweramp route, since that way you can get just about any sound you want, with a better compressor and whatever amount of power you choose.
for $3K, you could just about be able to get anything.

and all these one will cost alot less than that:

for the preamp, i can recommend:

Ampeg SVP-CL (used) ($350-$50)
Yamaha PB-1 (used) (a$150-300)
Demeter HPB1 (around 600-650 used)
Alembic F2B or F1X ($500-600 used)
Ashly BPE-41 (used) ($150-250 used)
Tech 21 Sanamp RPM ($225-275)

for the compressor:
DBX 160X (or 160A) ($200-250 used)
Aphex 661 ($300-400 used)
Drawmer DL241 ($250-350 used)

for the poweramp:
Crown xti1000 (bridged mono @ 1000 watts/8 ohms) $399 NEW
Crown xti2000 (bridged mono @ 1600 watts/ 8 ohms) ($439 New)

just throwing in my 2 cents worth..................

[Bass_Pounder]

Originally Posted by Gladowsky

I am currently running a Bag End system with 4x10 speakers at 8 ohms. My current Mesa M-Pulse is maxed out (320 watts-8 ohms). Here's what I'm looking for in one amp:

- compression: individual threshold & ratio
- tube preamp
- 700-800 watts at 8 ohms output.
- cost under $3000


I will most likely have to go with separate components. Recommendations would be welcome.

There are alot of recommendations that meet what you are looking for already.

However, I have to ask this question - WHY ?

If you think that using the same the cab you already have, but throwing alot more watts at it will make you alot louder - it won't.

[Govier966]

Why don't you use the mesa head as a pre and get a power amp to drive the cab and while your at it get a second one because upping the wattage will not be as effective as more surface area displaced.

[Gladowsky]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I appreciate them. Here is more information about my situation:

I didn't mention it at first to avoid the "why are you using two 2x10 cabs instead of one 4x10, but that is what I am doing.

- Each 2x10 cab is wired at 16 ohms so in parallel the two are 8 ohms just like Bag Ends single 4x10 cabinet but much more portable!

- I'm not buying any more cabinets - the two are very portable and should be able to provide the needed stage volume. I can fit all of the gear in my car (not so with multiple 4x10 cabinets. Additional volume should be handled by the house system.

- My M-Pulse sounds awesome and I would really love to use the preamp/compressor/eq from it but will need to call Mesa to learn how to do that (go from the effects out or the slave amp out?).

- Slightly more power would give me more volume. My master level is as high as it will go with the preamp at 12 o'clock. I only need a bit more (the continuous power handling is rated at 800W). My 320 watts (8 ohms) is completely maxed and is under-utilizing the cabinet. Having the master as high as it can go can't be good for the amp - long-term.

[::::BASSIST::::]

Carvin BX1500 would do it.

900w at 8 ohms bridged
10LBS
Compressor
Features out of the wazzoooo.

I've had mine for a few weeks and really dig it.

[Gladowsky]

Thanks for the recommendations.

I'm now looking at the Eden WT800C. Does it have tubes in the preamp?

Are they reliable? Perhaps I'll do a search at TB.

Thanks again for all of your advice.

[Bmorefoozler]

Are your 2x10's stacked vertically to get the cones as high in the air as possible/ Perhaps the increased midrange dispersion from a vertical stack closer to your ears will provide you with enough 'apparent' volume to be happy.
It's free, so it's worth a try.

[PSPookie]

Originally Posted by Sartori

For what purpose?

If he's happy with his tone but just wants more volume then rewiring the cabs to achieve a 2 ohm impedance would let him get more power out of his head -- provoded that the head can handle a 2 ohm load.

I say 2 ohms (instead of 4) because that is often achievable with a 4x10 configuration rated at 8 ohms.

[lomo]

I'll wager dollars to doughnuts that a Mesa M9 will do all you require at a fraction of your budget. Don't let the 450 at 8 Ohms rating fool you. If you can, try one out. My GB Shuttle 9 is rated at 500 and the M9 at 450. with earplugs doing an A-B the Mesa is VASTLY louder (yes I understand gain slopes and all-but I am able to max the Shuttle input and master-with bass volume dropped a bit, but I cannot get near the M9 max without pain). In any event, the difference between 450 and 750 through the same cabs will be barely audible. Then there's the Mesa tone, which is subjective. Just my .02