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Amp Heads vs Components?
- Thread starter 5_4
- Start date
John Entwistle was an avid rack user. His early rack (and IMHO all-time best-sounding) rig consisted of Alembic and Stramp preamps into Sunn poweramps and cabinets. He later used integrated Trace and Ashdown amps, but still a few rackmount effects such as overdrives and choruses (although I don't think it sounded as good as the Sunn/Stramp rig).
Basically, if you really like the sound of a certain preamp, you could connect it to a power amp and enjoy it at a high volume. These days you could just plug it into the "effect return" of an amp, and save the hassle of assembling and transporting a rack.
Basically, if you really like the sound of a certain preamp, you could connect it to a power amp and enjoy it at a high volume. These days you could just plug it into the "effect return" of an amp, and save the hassle of assembling and transporting a rack.
Asked & answered.
Ampeg SGT-DI + Straight Ahead Power Amp.
Ampeg SGT-DI + Straight Ahead Power Amp.
I ran a heavy, biamp rack rig on the road in the 80's. I wouldn't mess with that today, although if I was going to be on the road I'd probably rack mount my TT-800 just for the "armor factor", especially considering how light it is to begin with.
Power is cheaper and smaller these days, do not need a rack to push 500 plus watts.
An 800 watt head the size of a hardbound book is a very nice thing.
I will never talk or think down to a player using a rack power amp system. Though to me it is kind of like using a computer with a tower these days for giging.
You can, but a laptop is in most cases just as good and is more convenient.
An 800 watt head the size of a hardbound book is a very nice thing.
I will never talk or think down to a player using a rack power amp system. Though to me it is kind of like using a computer with a tower these days for giging.
You can, but a laptop is in most cases just as good and is more convenient.
I've done component/rack based amp rigs many times over the decades. The most recent was about 10 years ago, I ran a custom made pedalboard mounted solid state preamp into a Crest Pro-Lite 2.0, into a pair of Greenboy Dually 2x15 cabs or sometimes an Ampeg 810e on one side. That was mostly because it allowed me both high volume and headroom, since I was using a lot of effects and often playing loud heavy music with guitarists who were blasting multiple 100+ watt tube full stacks live. It was modular, so easy to scale down for less extreme circumstances. I also ran a lot of rack based guitar rigs going back to the 90's too, mostly with Peavey power amps. It was just an affordability thing, because guitar shops were full of rack gear that was out of fashion and cheap, and I could get a loud rig for cheap. It's not my preference now, I keep things more simple, with fewer points of failure. There's so much gear out there though, it's still easy to do for cheap, with some patient bargain hunting. Especially worth it if someone's ideal tone comes from a preamp/pedalboard setup and they just want to convert that to a live rig.
i keep a rack-based system for a 'just in case' use, e.g., if i wanted to use all of my cabs (three). it's assembled for 2-channel use (two channels of EQ, compression, amplification). the last time i used it was for an outdoor gig. it was overkill for that gig, but it was fun to have it.
i have a couple of small, 'gigbag heads' that cover most of my gigs.
but it's nice to have options...even if you don't need them.
i have a couple of small, 'gigbag heads' that cover most of my gigs.
but it's nice to have options...even if you don't need them.
2saddleslab that is in interesting rig. I don't think I have ever seen anything like that before. (Although I am in G.E.M. ((gear elimination mode)) instead of G.A.S at this stage of my journey and don't research gear much). What does something like that weight and what are the best and worst things you have noticed about it.
It's certainly not your standard issue setup.
The SGT-DI + SAPA combined probably weigh in at under 5lbs [and the SAPA is only $325.00 for 500 watts @ 4 ohms]. What started as the worst part was figuring out a way to set the pre & power amp above the pedal board, since my board has always been on top of my traditional amps and I don't like cables and pedals at my feet. But that turned into one of the best things because the combo phone/ tablet/ computer stand allows for the perfect scaffolding to hold both. Love it when a plan comes together.Another issue was finding a way to sit the flat bottomed board over the cabs top handle, which was easily solved w/ a computer stand. I have 2, silver & black [shown below] w/ small rubber feet that clear the handle [on the silver stand].
It all fits perfectly in a laptop case.
Got to admit it was as much fun putting this system together as it is using it on gigs. The only tiny downside is it takes literally a few seconds longer to setup than the traditional route. All in all I'm thrilled with this format. I love to tinker so this project had my endorphins swimming.
It's certainly not your standard issue setup.
Gotta hand it to ya, that's a pretty slick set-up! I've been resistant to the pedal thing because I have long legs and have to get down on my knees to make any adjustments. And being nearly 70, it's hard to get back up! LOL
I guess you have the pedals that don't need "hands on" under the stand?
BTW, what is the speaker? I can't find anything that looks like it in Ampeg's current lineup. It looks carbon fiber, like GR Bass cabinets.
Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
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Used to run them back in the late 80s/90s and I still have half a rack rig in storage somewhere, just the powerbar, tuner and single-rack-space power amp, as the centerpiece Tech 21 PSA 1.1 is long gone.
Nowadays hard to beat a good multistomp running into one of my little class D heads - fits in a backback instead of a 4-space rotorack case!
Nowadays hard to beat a good multistomp running into one of my little class D heads - fits in a backback instead of a 4-space rotorack case!
What I recall from the early 80s was that anything more than about 300 W required a separate power amp. Those were also the days of "dream big" in terms of equipment needs for future rock 'n' roll glory. I remember that people talked about them, or saw them at shows, but I never saw one in person.
Amusingly, when I was in grad school, a research lab was cleaning house and had a DC300 that they were getting rid of. They asked me if I wanted it. Later, I saw it in the Dumpster.
Amusingly, when I was in grad school, a research lab was cleaning house and had a DC300 that they were getting rid of. They asked me if I wanted it. Later, I saw it in the Dumpster.
Thanks!
My pedals are always on, set & forget, so no need to adjust. The speaker cab is the much maligned Ampeg portabass 112. After blowing the original Neo speaker early on I replaced it w/ a Black Widow that weighed a ton. It currently has an Eminence Delta 12 LFC, which is much lighter. The cab was put thru recovery, which is detailed here:
For the last 10 years 99% of my gigs, both small to medium, as well as many outdoor shows have been powered by my version of the mini monster rig, GK1001RBII into the decidedly unpopular Ampeg PortaBass 112 sporting a 4 ohm caste frame Black Widow. This little combo packs a powerful tight punch, never farts out, and is easy to transport.
[WARNING: PHOTOBUCKET IS DOING IT'S USUAL SOMETIMES IT WORKS, SOMETIMES IT DON'T]
After a recent 3rd Friday of the month gig, which is known for it's great wings [and they sell a ton of wings], the kitchen must have been experiencing...
[WARNING: PHOTOBUCKET IS DOING IT'S USUAL SOMETIMES IT WORKS, SOMETIMES IT DON'T]
After a recent 3rd Friday of the month gig, which is known for it's great wings [and they sell a ton of wings], the kitchen must have been experiencing...
I still have a soft spot for components...but the Bergantino HP Ultra into speakers that can handle the power has exceeded my expectations for what's possible from a small lightweight bass amp.
I ran separates from about 1998 to around 2012 . First a Sansamp RBI into a Crown CE1000 and then Crown XTI 1000 , both amps bridged into 4 or 8 ohms . Later I got am Ampeg SVPCL tube pre and used that with the Crown power . I had them in 3 space lightweight racks so they weren't to bad to haul around .
Since then I started using a Markbass LM II for a backup . After using it on a couple fairly big outdoor gigs I discovered it was just as capable of doing those gigs as my rack gear . I got an Ampeg PF 800 to replace the rack rig and it sounds very close to what my SVPCL/Crown did and has plenty of power too . A few years ago I got a Genz Shuttle 6.0 from a TBer and sent it to Agedhorse for a small noise issue and he went through the whole amp , it's like new . It has almost the same power as the PF 800 and a different tone but wow , it sounds just as great as the Ampeg . My vote is for one of the newer lightweight heads .
Since then I started using a Markbass LM II for a backup . After using it on a couple fairly big outdoor gigs I discovered it was just as capable of doing those gigs as my rack gear . I got an Ampeg PF 800 to replace the rack rig and it sounds very close to what my SVPCL/Crown did and has plenty of power too . A few years ago I got a Genz Shuttle 6.0 from a TBer and sent it to Agedhorse for a small noise issue and he went through the whole amp , it's like new . It has almost the same power as the PF 800 and a different tone but wow , it sounds just as great as the Ampeg . My vote is for one of the newer lightweight heads .
Jim Bergantino
Commercial User
Appreciate the kind words and happy to hear you're enjoying the Ultra. Despite its high power rating, it's equally at home with lower power rated speakers, and at bedroom volume levels too. It's effortless heft and immediacy will allow you to be heard and felt at lower volume levels than even the lower power heads. I can't imagine ever designing another amp after Ultra. It's everything I ever hoped for in a Class D light weight amp. And all the added built in features such as the Drive and VRC truly shine thru with the Ultra's "limitless" headroom and voicing.
Despite my respect for the products, the effortless heft and immediacy of my BS detector is informing me this statement is about 50% marketing puffery. 
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