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crate powerblock cpb150
- Thread starter elavate7
- Start date
It's not real good for bass by itself, no. No lows. I used to bypass its preamp with a VT Pedal as a rainy day rig, though. Sounded good. There's always a little distortion going through it but it's not noticeable in a mix. But without bypassing the preamp, it's pretty useless for bass. Killer for guitar, though.
I took my PowerBlock along as a backup on Saturday in case the guitar player's amp died.
We ended up using it as a power amp for the monitors when one channel of the PA's power amp died.
Useful little piece of gear..and I find that it makes a decent enough sounding guitar amp (within reason).
We ended up using it as a power amp for the monitors when one channel of the PA's power amp died.
Useful little piece of gear..and I find that it makes a decent enough sounding guitar amp (within reason).
Mr. Foxen
Commercial User
Use the CD in to bypass the pre, and it also bypasses the low roll off from the speaker sim, you need an adapter though since CD in is phono.
I just looked at Link Removed and you're absolutely right! I forgot about the speaker simulation.
Thinking about it, it's odd that they put speaker simulation in the main signal path as they sold this amp as part of a modular guitar rig with 1x12 guitar cabinets.
Resurrection time... I can make a swap locally for one of these Crate Powerblocks, and I wonder if I could use it to drive a single-18 cab for when I need to help push more lows out of my presently small-sih rig? I'm currently using an SWR SM-400s into an 8 ohm Acme Low-B2 cab. The SWR puts out enough at 8 ohms to deliver goods through the Acme, but I'm thinking that for a larger space, maybe I could get some help with the lows, which need more energy to put out. I've got this old Bag End S18-D loaded with a JBL E-155 sitting around.
Maybe running a send from the SWR to the CD input of the Powerblock, going into the single 18 cab, would give me the presence I might need? Might I also need a preamp pedal to get the most out of the Powerblock in this scenario?
Any thoughts?
Maybe running a send from the SWR to the CD input of the Powerblock, going into the single 18 cab, would give me the presence I might need? Might I also need a preamp pedal to get the most out of the Powerblock in this scenario?
Any thoughts?
I've used mine as a backup, and regularly put a kick signal (from a triggered D-4 drum machine) into a small sub as we like some kick on stage.
I built an adaptor cord (1/4" TRS with the ring running to a pair of RCA plugs) and when plugged in, it bypasses the cabinet simulator, but I can use the preamp controls. It makes a difference.
I bypass the speaker sim when using it for bass. I bypass the speaker sim for kick/sub uses and for monitor use.
I built an adaptor cord (1/4" TRS with the ring running to a pair of RCA plugs) and when plugged in, it bypasses the cabinet simulator, but I can use the preamp controls. It makes a difference.
I bypass the speaker sim when using it for bass. I bypass the speaker sim for kick/sub uses and for monitor use.
That's a good idea! I wonder how difficult it would be to hunt down the speaker sim filter components and simply remove them?
I have the schematics for this amp somewhere on my PC. I'll locate them and post them.
If you want to make the adapter, take a 1/4" stereo plug and solder two shielded cables, with the hot of both to the ring, and the grounds to the ground. Solder RCA plugs on the other ends of the shielded cables. Nothing is connected to the tip of the plug.
Plug the 1/4" plug into the Effects send/rtn jack and the RCA's into the CD in jacks.
There are two speaker sim circuits. The Effects returns go through them and then to the power amps. The RCA's are after the speaker sims.
Plugging into the Effects Send/Return jack breaks the connection to the speaker sims. Running the preamp to the RCA jacks bypasses the speaker sims.
If you want to make the adapter, take a 1/4" stereo plug and solder two shielded cables, with the hot of both to the ring, and the grounds to the ground. Solder RCA plugs on the other ends of the shielded cables. Nothing is connected to the tip of the plug.
Plug the 1/4" plug into the Effects send/rtn jack and the RCA's into the CD in jacks.
There are two speaker sim circuits. The Effects returns go through them and then to the power amps. The RCA's are after the speaker sims.
Plugging into the Effects Send/Return jack breaks the connection to the speaker sims. Running the preamp to the RCA jacks bypasses the speaker sims.
A google search led me to a forum that led me to [Invalid or Expired Link Removed].
SirMjac28
Patiently Waiting For The Next British Invasion
+1 - drove a PB from a SansAmp BDDI and PBDDI in this manner for plenty of small gigs ...worked great
also my guitar player used it from a Tri-AC into a Peavey 4x10 many times at a venue we often played...one of the best sounds he has ever had (including many a gig on 'nicer'amps -)
sure! send the effects out to the back panel in on the CB will work just fine.
for what they sell for used a PB is a great back up to have around...you can use it, your guitarist can use it or you can use it as a back up power amp...I often wish Crate continued this concept into subsequent versions as we would have a great, portable poweramp readily available
Yout SM400S not have the juice to get the Acme pumping off one channel? I used to run mine in stereo and biamp mode quite a bit, though my speakers were higher sensitivity than the Acme's.
These Powerblocks seem like pretty cool little "do-anything" units.
These Powerblocks seem like pretty cool little "do-anything" units.
The little Crate's are small enough and cheap enough one could use them instead of plate amps to make a fleet of powered monitors everyone could adjust level/eq to their own tastes. Same thing could double as a backup, backline, bass/guitar/keys combo amps.....pretty cool.
Just George
Fingers on 4 Flatwounds
- Dec 29, 2008
- 412
- 413
- Disclosures
- Artist Relationship: Wilkins-Ampeg-La Bella
+1.... I tried one of these when they came out and it was very disappointing for bass.
Billy B, Yep, that's where the schematics are. It wouldn't be hard to bypass the speaker sims. On the preamp schematic the sim circuits are under the MAIN BOARD type, built around IC7 and IC9. I've had the amp open. I'll stick with my jumper for the time being rather than pull it out of the case.
Again, it's fine for bass with the speaker sims bypassed. The bass control is voiced a bit high. It uses a Fender type tone stack. There are some diodes in the gain loops of the two stages of IC1 that probably aren't ideal for bass or monitor use. Plugging a Sansamp or other preamp into the CD jacks would likely work better than the stock preamp.
I'd like to replace the passive Fender type tone stack with a Baxandall boost/cut type. Still useful for guitar (Carvin uses Baxandall in their guitar amps) but better for bass.
One could tune the tone stack down by doubling the tone stack caps. The .0068uF input cap could probably be made larger.
Again, it's fine for bass with the speaker sims bypassed. The bass control is voiced a bit high. It uses a Fender type tone stack. There are some diodes in the gain loops of the two stages of IC1 that probably aren't ideal for bass or monitor use. Plugging a Sansamp or other preamp into the CD jacks would likely work better than the stock preamp.
I'd like to replace the passive Fender type tone stack with a Baxandall boost/cut type. Still useful for guitar (Carvin uses Baxandall in their guitar amps) but better for bass.
One could tune the tone stack down by doubling the tone stack caps. The .0068uF input cap could probably be made larger.
+1 - drove a PB from a SansAmp BDDI and PBDDI in this manner for plenty of small gigs ...worked great...
...sure! send the effects out to the back panel in on the CB will work just fine.
for what they sell for used a PB is a great back up to have around...you can use it, your guitarist can use it or you can use it as a back up power amp...I often wish Crate continued this concept into subsequent versions as we would have a great, portable poweramp readily available
I'm still trying to get the dude to swap... thanks for the confirmation man!
The SWR apparently puts out 250w per sideat 4 ohms, but in bridged mode it'll do about 500 or so at 8 ohms. Weird... anyway the speakers in the Acme are, as you say, not effeicient, really, so I think more juice will be in order. Bridged, the SWR seems to be doing fine- the Acme is working out quite well.
Thanks you guys.
