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Attempting to reduce load-in…small amp edition

burgerdj

burgerdj

Dec 4, 2006
4,074
6,673
Maryland
#1
For a while now, I have been gigging and rehearsing with a single 15 along with a separate non-micro head and my pedal board. I want to reduce my schlep and can't decide if I want a class D that fits in my gig bag or to mount a power amp (SD Powerstage/Ant/Jule) to my board. My preamp is a Genzler Magellan, which I really like and would prefer to avoid stacking preamps. Not many small class D have effect loops to bypass the built-in preamp.

Question: For those who have a pedalboard mounted amp, has it worked for you as intended? Any major unanticipated drawbacks?
 
#2
Actually, many that don't have an effects loop do have a power amp input via the aux input. For example, the Subway D-350, Shuttle 3.0 and Magellan 350 all have preamps that can be bypassed.

(These are just some that I am familiar with)
 
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#4
@agedhorse @fdeck really appreciate the assist on the Aux-In. I always neglect that, assuming it's for an iPad. @agedhorse is the Mesa D-35O Aux at line or instrument level? I made the mistake of running the Magellan Pre at instrument level into a Return using a TS cable and it was not ideal! Lesson learned. Time to start RTFM!
 
#6
The best way to be a one load sheep, is to simply get a cart or dolly

I have a double gig bag, so two basses are strapped to my back.
I can load my two 210 cabs, stack my pedalboard, and fold out guitar stand that is shaped like a short tolex case and solid state amp head on top.

Or I can bring one 212 cab, a big tube amp, and said pedalboard & guitar stand on top.
I've even put my old Mesa 215 on the cart and roll in one trip.

Either way, I am not carrying anything, always roll in. I've played Seahawks games, county fairs, and city center events were parking is 1/2 mile away.
 
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#7
mikeswals said:
The best way to be a one load sheep, is to simply get a cart or dolly

I have a double gig bag, so two basses are strapped to my back.
I can load my two 210 cabs, stack my pedalboard, and fold out guitar stand that is shaped like a short tolex case and solid state amp head on top.

Or I can bring one 212 cab, a big tube amp, and said pedalboard & guitar stand on top.
I've even put my old Mesa 215 on the cart and roll in one trip.

Either way, I am not carrying anything, always roll in. I've played Seahawks games, county fairs, and city center events were parking is 1/2 mile away.
Click to expand...

That works until you get to ledges, curbs and stairs! ;)
 
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#8
burgerdj said:
@agedhorse @fdeck really appreciate the assist on the Aux-In. I always neglect that, assuming it's for an iPad. @agedhorse is the Mesa D-35O Aux at line or instrument level? I made the mistake of running the Magellan Pre at instrument level into a Return using a TS cable and it was not ideal! Lesson learned. Time to start RTFM!
Click to expand...
Aux input will handle line level from -10dBu to way beyond +4dBu. It's perfect for running the Magellan pre into, just be sure to use a TS cable and NOT a TRS cable. The stereo summing at the aux input will conflict with a balanced signal (the Magellan 1/4" output is TRS balanced if you use a TRS cable into a balanced input).
 
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#9
Smallmouth_Bass said:
That works until you get to ledges, curbs and stairs! ;)
Click to expand...
There's a solution to everything!
A dolly and most carts have big wheels, curbs have never been a problem...you can pull a dolly up a curb, you do the same with a cart, pull the handle bar side up and the big wheel side with climb it too. There will also be a driveway or pedestrian ramp somewhere along that curb... no curb is an endless continuous 'cliff'.

I have not seen a stairs-only venue in nearly 30 years! How do wheelchair people get there? Seriously. Those old venues around here have either been renovated long ago, or simply out of business. I'm serious, do these venues shut out handicapped patrons?
 
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#12
murphy said:
I found the Mesa solution great.
I had the Magellan amp ... and am very happy to replace it with my Mesa Subway 800 amps. A great improvement.
Click to expand...
DSFDF.

Tone is really very subjective!

Both makes are much better than your average bass amp.

I know people who have tried both amps and they preferred the Magellan - I'm not taking sides, I'm just saying both are great, but if anyone prefers the tone and versatility of one over the other that's fine.
 
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#13
Just to prove a point and also to feed my masochistic urges, I once lugged an upright bass, a fretted bass and my coustic ImageI setup with pedal board in 1 grab and a city block and a half walk. That was heavy because the upright is probably over 22 lbs to begin with. It will probably be comical and dangerous if it was a windy day. Now adays, I can use my AI cpmbos + Extension. Anything else louder , I bring the Bergantino powered IP 310. Enough surface area and power
 
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#14
The Harley Benton GPA- 100 seems to have the right Idea size wise but it is only 100 watts and well a Harley Benton:) Jule Amps Simone 500 seems best bet if prefer Amp on pedal board

Seymour Duncan if considering Guitar version 200 watt for lower cost;

Warwick Gnome i Pro V2 has Aux in [not sure how it is implemented in signal path] also an accessory for mounting on Rockboard Pedal boards
 
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#16
fdeck said:
Something I've learned is that you can download the owners manual for most amps, and they usually contain a block diagram. For instance the manual for the amp that I use, a GK MB200, shows that the aux input that bypasses the preamp.
Click to expand...
The MB200 has an 1/8" aux in, which I would be nervous about (TC Electronic BQ500 and Darkglass micro heads are the same way).

The Traynor SB200 has a 1/4" aux in.

I understand the concern about stacking EQs, but I have done it with both a Gnome and now a BAM200 and it's not really been an issue.
 
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#17
InkCow said:
I understand the concern about stacking EQs, but I have done it with both a Gnome and now a BAM200 and it's not really been an issue.
Click to expand...
Agree. When using the Quilter with an external preamp, I've tried both and it didn't make a big difference (with all the EQ knobs at noon). I think it depends on the amp: if the amp has a strong internal voicing that the Fender Rumble, it's probably better to use the aux input or the FX return, but if the amp is flat/neutral like the Quilter I'm not sure it makes a huge difference.
 
#20
burgerdj said:
Question: For those who have a pedalboard mounted amp, has it worked for you as intended? Any major unanticipated drawbacks?
Click to expand...
For my pedal board mounted amp, I didn't like that I needed longer speaker cables coming from my pedal board back behind me to the cabs. All my instrument cables are long enough but my speaker cables weren't. I've spent decades stepping over instrument cable but the speaker cable bugged me as it's thicker.

I also found my pedal board got heavy quick.

I also noticed quite a bit of heat from the pedal board. Nothing blew or broke though

I went back to using my separate amp head.
 
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