Ibanez Promethean

[Mike H]

Yellow clip light? Aren't all the lights yellow when it's on?

The Gain LED is off by default, yellow when clipping. The Master LED is yellow by default, red when clipping. Cf. the manual. The limiter is between the Master and the power amp, so ISTM that if the power amp is clipping, the limiter isn't doing the job.

 

[tombowlus]

This amp clips waaaaay to early... I love the tone but I've got the gain at 25% and master at 50% and I'm clipping constantly

By any chance, are you running an active bass with any kind of bass boost on the EQ?

 

[Kwesi]

By any chance, are you running an active bass with any kind of bass boost on the EQ?

Yep running an active bass, sometimes I boost the bass but most of the time I'm running it with the mids boosted. The bass can go passive and I've tried it but the Promethean just doesn't like it.

 

[tombowlus]

Yep running an active bass, sometimes I boost the bass but most of the time I'm running it with the mids boosted. The bass can go passive and I've tried it but the Promethean just doesn't like it.

Gotcha. I have seen some onboard preamps that can really boost one band or the other, to the extent that it could easily overload an input section. This is where manufacturers have to play the input sensitivity balancing game. If they make it capable of handling a super hot signal, it may not develop enough gain with a low-output passive instrument. If they make it more sensitive, so that passive instruments have a more full tone/volume, you may easily overdrive the input with an active bass (especially if you are using any kind of boost). This is why most amps have either an active/passive switch or else individual inputs for each. By not having an active/passive option, I would presume that the Promethean is designed to handle a wide range of input sensitivities, with the Gain and Master being adjusted as appropriate. I don't see a published spec for the input sensitivity, though the impedance is 470k Ohms, which is a little low (at least for piezos).

That all being said, I have played both active and passive basses through my P5210 combo, and I have never had a problem getting enough volume out of it. My caveats would be that I don't generally run much if any EQ boost on my active basses, and the 2x10 combo is definitely going to crank out a lot more volume than the 1x10 combo.

 

[Kwesi]

Yeah, it's really disappointing because I've never had to be "careful" with an amp before. I don't think I have any hearing problems but my band doesn't have PA so I need to be able to crank it without worrying about blowing the thing up. I actually played loud enough to send it into protect mode and my heart sunk. I've got a Markbass F500 now and it looks like that's going to be the one to stick around and not necessarily because of the tone (which is awesome) but because it can take everything I've thrown at it.

 

[Mike H]

I've heard it suggested that one shouldn't put the Gain past 9:00 - 9:30 with an active bass. [...] EQing and the Vibe control just more add factors to deal with. [...]
I found that the amp behaves far better at 4 ohms than at 8. Maybe the 250W at 8 ohms is just too low. [...]
In any case, I'm going to try a tc electronic RH450. [...]

OKAY ...

The tc electronic RH450 was amazing; at 999.00, though, it's a bit too dear for my wallet. But I digress ...

When I got to the store (Club Bass in Toronto), two P5110 Promethean combos had just arrived, so I was able both to audition the combo and to A/B its head with the floor model. Turns out that the hissy, clippy floor model Promethean was indeed in need of some techie TLC!

We ran the combo's head and the hissy floor model through the same killer Bergantino cab, with my ear up to the Berg's set-flat tweeter. As before, the floor model sounded like a white-noise generator. The new one was dead silent! The tech-savvy proprietor, Dave Freeman, noted a tiny bit of hiss when the Master was turned up full, but I pointed out that the floor model's hiss was independent of Gain, Master or EQ sliders.

And here's a biggie -- I thwacked the living #@*&% out of the low E with the Gain at 11:00 and the Master at 12:00. No clipping out of the new head. I turned the Master up to 2:00, gave some more hard thwacks, got barely a faint pink glimmer from the Master clip LED. Still nothing from the Gain LED. This girl would not clip easily.

Oh -- and the Promethean combo kicked butt in its native, 1 x 10 250W into 8 ohms configuration. Dave and I agree that this little sweetie is a winner.

I wonder a bit about quality control, but at these price points ... who's to say? The competition really does need to worry!

Mike Harrison
Toronto Canada

 

[wateroftyne]

Cool... glad this one is better. These are unbeatable combos...

 

[Kwesi]

I'm jealous

OKAY ...

And here's a biggie -- I thwacked the living #@*&% out of the low E with the Gain at 11:00 and the Master at 12:00. No clipping out of the new head. I turned the Master up to 2:00, gave some more hard thwacks, got barely a faint pink glimmer from the Master clip LED. Still nothing from the Gain LED. This girl would not clip easily.

Mike Harrison
Toronto Canada

 

[Mike H]

I'm jealous

I am too, because I don't yet have it.

But you know what? I'm thinking combo rather than head alone.

Here's why -- I think that these setups make sense:

Big rig = 2 x Bergantino AE112s + Promethean head (500W);
Medium rig = 1 x Bergantino AE112 + Promethean head (250W);
Small rig = 1 x Promethean combo (250W).

(I already own the two Bergs.)

Mike Harrison
Toronto Canada

 

[Mike H]

I'm thinking combo rather than head alone.

I bought the p5110.

The first thing I did at home was take the head out and plug the two Berg AE112s into it along with my 1961/66 fretless Fender® Precision®. 500 Watts. Breathtaking.

Then I put the combo back together. First-rate sound. Excellent tone-shaping capabilities, vintage to modern. The 6-band is very effective.

I've been home for less than an hour but I need to go to the ATM now to transfer some funds. Many thanks to Dave at Club Bass for his service and his patience. Invalid Link Removed

Mike Harrison
Toronto Canada

 

[Supertanker]

Congratulations!

Enjoy your new Ibanez hardware.

I'm coming up on a year and I'm still loving mine...

 

[Mike H]

Congratulations!
Enjoy your new Ibanez hardware.
I'm coming up on a year and I'm still loving mine...

Thanks. I'm back from the bank and into it again. The combo sounds so good by itself that I hardly know what to say. And the head with the Bergantinos ... scary. My loyal Yorkville BM400H beater is back on backup duty ...

The tone shaping is simply amazing. Want a Portaflex? Got it. Want a Bassman? Got it. Want an SWR ? Got it. Want a David or Nemesis Eden? Got it. Want a Markbass? Got it.

Want a Promethean? GET IT.

Mike Harrison
Toronto Canada

 

[Mike H]

I have played both active and passive basses through my P5210 combo, and I have never had a problem getting enough volume out of it. My caveats would be that I don't generally run much if any EQ boost on my active basses,

That's one of the things I like about my G&L L2500 -- in both active and passive modes, the tone controls (bass and treble) are not cut/boost with center detent; they are simply roll-offs exactly like the tone control on a passive Fender® Precision®. Treat full open as zero and you're safe.

and the 2x10 combo is definitely going to crank out a lot more volume than the 1x10 combo.

Sure -- double the wattage! I get the 250W with the 1x10 combo but the 500W with my 2 Bergs. Promethean head + 2x8 ohm Bergantino cabs = simply gorgeous.

Mike Harrison
Toronto Canada

 

[Mike H]

I bought the p5110.

Okay, I just tried the headphone jack for the first time (with my AKG K181 DJ, a superior professional headset). Not the slightest hint of hiss, even with the High pot cranked and the 10KHz graphic all the way up (+10db).

Beautiful fidelity. (Good headphones do help.) A++

Mike Harrison
Toronto Canada

 

[Mike H]

Perhaps those who have had the P500H head or the P5110 combo for a while can help me, and perhaps others, with this.

With the combo, the head is attached to the cab by four bolts. Obviously, when the head is detached, there remain four holes, which in the long term ISTM would be dust collectors.

According to this pic Invalid Link Removed of the P500H (the site is German, but it's the best pic I could find -- good site and good videos, too), there are plugs/caps for the four holes.

Are these caps specific to the "head only"? The manual states that "When attaching the amplifier to the cabinet, take the rubber caps off in advance (Only head model)." Assuming that "Only head model" is Engrish for "Head model only", my question is this: can one obtain these plugs for the head in the the "Only combo model" = "Combo model only"?

No plugs/caps came out of the box. But I want them.

S. O'Terrick
Toronto Canada

 

[gafbass02]

I'm the guy that returned the hissy promethean. The 2nd one still was a bit hissy but nothing like the first, sadly the bag fell apart instantly, and although I loved the sound and power reliability had me concerned. One day I'll get another promethean head and two p110c's and try it that way. Hopefully get a good one next time.

 

[PaulNYC]

There is always black electrical tape.

 

[Mike H]

I'm the guy that returned the hissy promethean.

Fortunately for me, it was the store proprietor who said "hmm" about the hiss, and 'twas I who ran with his "hmm". The original unit is going back.

The 2nd one still was a bit hissy but nothing like the first, sadly the bag fell apart instantly, and although I loved the sound and power reliability had me concerned.

I don't understand the expression "the bag fell apart."

One day I'll get another promethean head and two p110c's and try it that way. Hopefully get a good one next time.

Shouldn't need more than one repeat. I'd be concerned myself.

Mike Harrison
Toronto Canada

 

[Mike H]

There is always black electrical tape.

Tacky. Uh, pardon the expression.

Mike Harrison
Toronto Canada

 

[smeet]

Wow, you guys almost have me convinced... I have some questions.

I currently gig with my Aggie DB750/S410 rig (and Sadowsky vintage 5).

I never get anywhere close to cranking the DB750 (master on 3 or so). But, we do play very loudly, mostly in places with no PA support for bass. Our sound varies from metal to smooth jazz to polka over the course of a set. I love the feeling of limitless power and dynamics I get from the Aggie. I have a mid-focused sound, but because of the power, I get the low end without any eq.

I don't ever like to run an amp anywhere near its capacity. I'm just assuming the 110 combo won't do it for me at our volume levels. I know this is an individual thing, but could the 210 combo (with no extension cabs) possibly give me a thick, powerful, relaxed sound with a HARD hitting drummer? It's the speakers more than the amp that worry me.