Slave Amps

TaySte_2000 · #1 06-22-2009, 09:36 AM

Just like to get a pro's opinion this Justin.

I've got a Mesa Boogie 400+ and a Mesa Boogie Strategy 400 (Stereo 200w Tube per side) and I've been using them together some times but generally just the 400+.

It's overkill to have both and I'm in a situation now where I could use the money so I'm think of selling the 400+ and using my Bass Pod Pro XT as a preamp for it and also selling one of my other vintage amps and buying a vintage 120w orange slave amp and just using the pod as a pre to either depending on the situation essentially giving me the following options.

Pod - Orange Slave - 4x10
Pod - Orange Slave - 8x10
Pod - Strategy - 8x10
Pod - Strategy - 8x10 one side and 4x10 the other

This to me seems to cover a wide range of gigs/sessions and allow me to get a consistent tone across a few rigs and even use a tone I used on a recording (using the POD in the studio) to get similar tone live.

Just wondering on your opinion as to whether this seems the height of flexibility or something that isn't really going to be all the good as the Pod is only so good as pre etc or not that usable in a live situation.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated and I would still have 1 100w tube amp lying around if I ever needed something without the pod.

Thanks

jmjbassplayer · #2 06-22-2009, 11:24 AM

Hmmm. If it were me, I think I'd stick with 400 + and 8x10. It's just such a good tone.

If you really want the flexibility, then rock POD with Strategy (or better yet, a more high-wattage QSC or Crest amp). It'll probably sound good as well. And it'll be more portable than POD + Strategy.

Not enough headroom on that Orange slave amp, methinks.

Best,
JMJ

TaySte_2000 · #3 06-22-2009, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmjbassplayer

Hmmm. If it were me, I think I'd stick with 400 + and 8x10. It's just such a good tone.

If you really want the flexibility, then rock POD with Strategy (or better yet, a more high-wattage QSC or Crest amp). It'll probably sound good as well. And it'll be more portable than POD + Strategy.

Not enough headroom on that Orange slave amp, methinks.

Best,
JMJ

Yeah, I see your point. I'd love to keep the 400+ but need money and already have a buyer and the Strategy does suit my rig, running 8x10 one side and 4x10 the other, so I'm cool with that and I want to stay with the tube power section because there just better/more mojo than a traditional poweramp.

The Orange would be for lower wattage things anyway, I have 2 100w PA heads from the 70's that handle these sorts of things fine on their own so I know the wattage is cool and the plan would be to sell one of those 70's PA heads and have the orange therefore giving me 4 quite different tube amps to work with my cabs in lots of different situations.

But some careful consideration will be going on when I hook the pod up to the strategy but at least I'm able to A/B between them.

TaySte_2000 · #4 06-30-2009, 06:36 AM

Blah Blah Blah you were right

of course, the Pod and Strategy didn't sound as good (mainly as loud) as the 400+

So that's staying and possibly kicking out the idea of the Orange slave and getting a Buster 2x10 combo for my smaller gigs as that is easily loud enough for what I need.

So yeah Justin 1 - Tayste 0

casio · #5 06-30-2009, 10:45 AM

can't beat the mesa man! (though I'm as of recent on aggie territory here with justin)

jmjbassplayer · #6 06-30-2009, 12:34 PM

Glad you saw the light. Dude, just get one good sounding head going (400+) and call it a day. Spend your time rocking, and forget about all the A/B/C/D'ing!

JimmyM · #7 06-30-2009, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmjbassplayer

Glad you saw the light. Dude, just get one good sounding head going (400+) and call it a day. Spend your time rocking, and forget about all the A/B/C/D'ing!

LOL! Good advice for us all. I know I've gotten a little mental about all the possibilities over the past year and a half, but only because I spent 30 years just rocking and totally ignoring the tech side of it. Now I'm trying to do a little catch up, but I went too far to the other side, I think. Now I'm trying to find a balance. You don't need to buy and sell gear all the time...you don't need to own every pedal on the market...I'm paring back down to the essentials...bass and amp. And VT Pedal. And Micro Pog. And Nano Small Stone, and SYB-3 and Whammy IV and vintage Electric Mistress and multis and stereo rigs and...

Damn you, Tayste! There I go again! Time to practice...