Class D head (or power amp) to pair with preamp pedal?

[DanAdams]

Is there a backpack friendly piece of hardware you have in mind for the OP?

Sure. any decent 1-15 powered PA cab.
If that is too big, a 1-12.
If that is too big a 1-10.
If that is too big a 1-8.
I assume he is already holidng a speaker in one hand??? Do any of you know?
If he doesn't need a speaker, then his pedal should get him about all the way there with nothing else.

 

[klyph]

Sure. any decent 1-15 powered PA cab.
If that is too big, a 1-12.
If that is too big a 1-10.
If that is too big a 1-8.
I assume he is already holidng a speaker in one of hands???
If he doesn't need a speaker, then his pedal should get him about all the way there with nothing else.

It's pretty common for venues to provide just a cab as backline. So, please recommend a PA specific power amplifier that fits in a backpack, o wise one. Or, stop making assumptions.

 

[ole Jason]

I like the Gnome. As mentioned the 600 has a loop but the preamp on the smaller ones is very transparent. I'd have no qualms about running a preamp straight in, it won't make an appreciable difference compared to using a loop IMO.

 

[shirojiro]

I'm very happy with my Origin Bassrig SV, and I'm looking for a backpack-friendly solution for when I need to bring my own head to a gig.

Being Canadian, my first thought is the effects return on a Traynor SB-500H, but I wonder if I can go even smaller/simpler/lighter than that.

Thanks, and sorry if this has already been asked and answered a few times here!

The problem with the Gnome is there is no way to access just the power section. He would have to use preamp which he's wanting to avoid.
However, the Genz Benz Shuttle is another good choice.

I must have missed a post but I can't see where the Origin Super Vintage has to go into a power amp only?

That said, I often consider getting one of these for that purpose:

Block-800B - Harley Benton

Power: 800 W RMS at 4 Ohm | Class D power amplifier | 4-Band EQ | Smart Compressor | DI output with pre/post and lift/ground switches | High/Low switch for active/passive bass | Mute function | Tuner output | Line input with volume control | Headphone output | FX loop | Speaker Twist speaker...

harleybenton.com

• Dimensions (W x H x D): 240 x 255 x 88 mm
• Weight: 2.9 kg

 

[DanAdams]

I knew I was going to get slack for the exact reasons I'm getting it.
The player has a preamp pedal that they like. GREAT!
Whether the player needs to feed a PA directly, or a stage speaker, does it matter if the next thing in line is built by a bass brand?
"Voicing" is a word that people use a lot. Does his preamp pedal have a "voice"? does the next speaker also need to have"voice"? do you need yet another "voice"???
Where does the bass gear end, and the PA begin?
My opinion... no gear has to have any bass guitar brand on it to have great tone.

 

[agedhorse]

But the Gnone Pro 600 v2 has a FX loop.
I also second the Quilter.

The 300 watt Gnome Pro has an aux input

 

[Zooberwerx]

It's pretty common for venues to provide just a cab as backline. So, please recommend a PA specific power amplifier that fits in a backpack, o wise one. Or, stop making assumptions.

I always thought it was an "all or nothing" scenario: there's either NO backline or a venue furnished rig...but you can bet one or both of the components is less-than-functional or sub-par. I have a healthy respect for the metro guys in this regard.

Riis

 

[agedhorse]

All bass specific gear is dumb
If you have a bass specific preamp pedal that you like, just look at PA equipment to use with it.
Full range amplification is full range amplification.
With PA equipment you will have gear that is more trustworthy, robust, tested in grueling real world applications, and less expensive...
No one here will agree, because everyone here loves spending money on single application expensive BASS GUITAR STUFF.

Ok, I will be the one to disagree and I will give some reasons why.

Using the case of the effects return into the power amp, some amps (including every model that I have ever designed) include additional elements that affect how the amp overdrives, how it feels and the harmonics that are generated. These are forms of emulating desirable tones and feel that some classic amps exhibit, and frankly many players prefer the sound of such a power amp driven hard.

yup. go to any studio, see how the pro engineers and producers want to record your signal. It likely won't have ANY 'bass brands' involved.

This is not necessarily true, many engineers still mic a cabinet and use that to flavor a mix. There are still plenty of amps being used in the studio, some classic but some quite modern. Unfortunately I can't disclose who, but one of the most well known bass players in the industry is using WD-800's for a new studio project, it's high profile and with essentially an infinite budget too. We also see the Bass-800D getting picked up for studio projects (including a TB member who is in the studio currently working on a new project and the bass tracks I heard today are pretty impressive).

I knew I was going to get slack for the exact reasons I'm getting it.
The player has a pedal that they like. GREAT!
Whether the player needs to feed a PA directly, or a stage speaker, does it matter if the next thing in line is built by a bass brand?
"Voicing" is a word that people use a lot. Does his preamp pedal have a "voice"? does the next speaker also need to have"voice"? do you need another "voice"???
Where does the bass gear end, and the PA begin?
My opinion... no gear has to have any bass guitar brand on it to have great tone.

EVERYTHING contributes to the system's voice, it begins and ends differently for different players. YOU might be happy straight into the board, but there are plenty of players that find that too sterile and uninspiring. There's plenty of room for both camps IMO.

 

[klyph]

I always thought it was an "all or nothing" scenario: there's either NO backline or a venue furnished rig...but you can bet one or both of the components is less-than-functional or sub-par. I have a healthy respect for the metro guys in this regard.

Riis

It seems to be a Canadian thing; I've heard it mentioned by players in Toronto and Alberta.

 

[DanAdams]

Ok, I will be the one to disagree and I will give some reasons why.

Using the case of the effects return into the power amp, some amps (including every model that I have ever designed) include additional elements that affect how the amp overdrives, how it feels and the harmonics that are generated. These are forms of emulating desirable tones and feel that some classic amps exhibit, and frankly many players prefer the sound of such a power amp driven hard.


This is not necessarily true, many engineers still mic a cabinet and use that to flavor a mix. There are still plenty of amps being used in the studio, some classic but some quite modern. Unfortunately I can't disclose who, but one of the most well known bass players in the industry is using WD-800's for a new studio project, it's high profile and with essentially an infinite budget too. We also see the Bass-800D getting picked up for studio projects (including a TB member who is in the studio currently working on a new project and the bass tracks I heard today are pretty impressive).


EVERYTHING contributes to the system's voice, it begins and ends differently for different players. YOU might be happy straight into the board, but there are plenty of players that find that too sterile and uninspiring. There's plenty of room for both camps IMO.

I'll never disagree with aged horse, because I know he's always right, but this whole post starts with a post about a player who already LIKES THE WAY THEIR PREAMP PEDAL SOUNDS! (not straight to the input)
It sounded to me like the OP was looking for simple real world solutions, not high profile / infinite budget techniques.

 

[klyph]

I knew I was going to get slack for the exact reasons I'm getting it.
The player has a preamp pedal that they like. GREAT!
Whether the player needs to feed a PA directly, or a stage speaker, does it matter if the next thing in line is built by a bass brand?
"Voicing" is a word that people use a lot. Does his preamp pedal have a "voice"? does the next speaker also need to have"voice"? do you need yet another "voice"???
Where does the bass gear end, and the PA begin?
My opinion... no gear has to have any bass guitar brand on it to have great tone.

You're getting "slack" because none of your pointless soapbox bs addresses the POINT OF THE THREAD. You have not contributed anything useful to the conversation, and despite being asked by multiple members for concrete suggestions that address THE NEEDS OF THE OP, you have provided NONE.
You could easily start a thread with a snappy, incisive title like "Bass gear is stupid" and have a grand old time regaling us with your opinions. Instead, you have decided to lob some turds into a conversation about PORTABLE AMPS.
Now you're complaining…
Good Job!

 

[DanAdams]

You're getting "slack" because none of your pointless soapbox bs addresses the POINT OF THE THREAD. You have not contributed anything useful to the conversation, and despite being asked by multiple members for concrete suggestions that address THE NEEDS OF THE OP, you have provided NONE.
You could easily start a thread with a snappy, incisive title like "Bass gear is stupid" and have a grand old time regaling us with your opinions. Instead, you have decided to lob some turds into a conversation about PORTABLE AMPS.
Now you're complaining…
Good Job!

I proposed a powered PA cab as a Portable amp, in whatever size the OP requires, with the OP utilizing the preamp pedal that they already own and like.

 

[Mr Joshua]

I proposed a powered PA cab as a Portable amp, in whatever size the OP requires, with the OP utilizing the preamp pedal that they already own and like.

...I'm looking for a backpack-friendly solution for when I need to bring my own head to a gig.

the main thing here is he wants some power to throw in a backpack.

 

[DanAdams]

the main thing here is he wants some power to throw in a backpack.

Are we to assume that he just needs to bring an amp to one venue where a bass cab (but no amp) is provided?
If that's the case, then I will back track.
I've never heard of a gig like that.

 

[klyph]

Are we to assume that he just needs to bring an amp to one venue where a bass cab (but no amp) is provided?
If that's the case, then I will back track.
I've never heard of a gig like that.

Just because you haven't heard of it, doesn't mean it's not a regular reality for others. Everyone else replying here knew EXACTLY what the OP meant. His language was clear and unambiguous. Why on earth would you come in with guns blazing on your "bass gear is stupid " kick without understanding the question being asked?
Feel free to start another thread with a snappy, incisive title like "Bass gear is Stupid"- there have been threads like this in the past.
This isn't one of them.
Glad you FINALLY caught up.
Any suggestions for small amps are welcome, no matter their "intended " use.

 

[Wasnex]

It's the song, not the fussy gear choices that matter.

I play better when I like the sound my bass and rig produce. Lots of people think an SVT and 810 is as good as it gets. For some people it is. But, when I play through an SVT and 810, I perceive the sound as loose, unfocused, and behind. It's figuratively like wading through mud. So IMHO gear definitely matters and different people have different needs. So unfortunately most people need to be somewhat fussy.

Let's make art, not waste money

Sure you can make art out of garbage. But it's not unusual for artists to prefer using the best possible resources.

No judgement on my part. I think people should live within their means and consider opportunity cost before spending money on bass gear. That why I told the OP:

set a budget.

 

[Wasnex]

Sure. any decent 1-15 powered PA cab.
If that is too big, a 1-12.
If that is too big a 1-10.
If that is too big a 1-8.
I assume he is already holidng a speaker in one hand??? Do any of you know?
If he doesn't need a speaker, then his pedal should get him about all the way there with nothing else.

These options may better meet the OP's needs...or he may prefer bass gear. He asked about bass gear; so I suggested bass gear.

 

[klyph]

There are three power amp only products that come to mind, the "Straight Ahead", the "Baby Sumo", and the Demeter 800D. They're more powerful than many of the heads already mentioned, but also more expensive and, in the case of the latter two, hard to find.
I've looked pretty hard at the Traynor, it looks like a really ideal combination of size, features, and price. I've long been a fan of their products, and I'm not sure you're going to do much better with any of the other suggestions offered.

 

[Pep]

yup. go to any studio, see how the pro engineers and producers want to record your signal. It likely won't have ANY 'bass brands' involved.

That's really strange because I was a studio last week and there were 7 Fender basses, 1 Gibson , a Rick, etc. Bass amp rigs were Ampeg SVT, Acoustic, Sunn, Kustom, Fender, etc. Those are bass brands.

 

[agedhorse]

There are three power amp only products that come to mind, the "Straight Ahead", the "Baby Sumo", and the Demeter 800D. They're more powerful than many of the heads already mentioned, but also more expensive and, in the case of the latter two, hard to find.
I've looked pretty hard at the Traynor, it looks like a really ideal combination of size, features, and price. I've long been a fan of their products, and I'm not sure you're going to do much better with any of the other suggestions offered.

Yet they bring nothing more to the table for the OP's needs than just using the aux input or effects return of a small head, especially when considering the cost and availability.