I did. Can’t say enough good things about this power amp! Especially after he made a special bass mod.
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I did. Can’t say enough good things about this power amp! Especially after he made a special bass mod.
I had an issue with my first amp shutting down when I plucked hard on certain notes. I don’t think this has been an issue for many others. When I talked to Jay about it he said send it back for a refund. I sent it back and then got an email about 2 weeks later. Jay said that he added some caps or something and wanted to see if I wanted to try again. I’m very glad that I did! I cannot make it shut down now no matter what.
Jay is completely trustworthy and stands behind his product.
Also, it only costs like $6 to ship this tiny thing back and forth from NY to WA.
I just got hipped to this! Sounds like the perfect solution to my all-in-one pedalboard! I hit him up on FB before I found this thread. You guys have answered a few of my questions, thanks! I asked him about a bigger power module, like, maybe, 700w. I'll let you guys know what I find out when I hear back from him.
It seems like a pretty legit piece of gear. I think I'm a player for this...
It seems like a pretty legit piece of gear. I think I'm a player for this...
Hey. So I talked to Jay on FB. Wanted to let you guys know that this is an updated version of the mini Power Amp. All of the "bass mods" are now standard features.
I also learned that most of his customers are bass players. That was a pleasant surprise.
We are a no go on more power, but the Speakon connector is an option. I'm on the list...
I also learned that most of his customers are bass players. That was a pleasant surprise.
We are a no go on more power, but the Speakon connector is an option. I'm on the list...
I am currently running a Straight Ahead with an RMI Basswitch on a pedal board. I have an MXR 10 band eq downstream from the pre/DI, before the SA (Strait Shead). I obtained the SA in December 2018 from Jay (bass version, 1/4" speaker). As others have stated, it's a fine amp. For something like a quiet combo, church gig with a single cab it's perfect. I find when I run it in a rock situation I need two speakers/4ohm to make it happen the way I need it to, this has always been a given for me. A few weeks back I showed up at a louder gig (where we have always had PA support in the past) only to find a different system ... toast on a stick, no line for bass and a full house of 100 people. I was carrying a single 12, pedal board and an amp stand. I pounded my single 12 Berg really hard, and in the middle of set two, I started having fun and tried to coax more bass out of it than any 12 should probably be asked of, eventually sending the amp into protect mode. I reached down and turned the power amp off, backed my gain down a smidge, turned it back on and had no issues again/since. This is a good amp. I learned the limitation and it didn't let me down, just spanked me for 4-5 bars 
. Sure, this could not have happened if I was plugged into a combo amp with proper input governing, but I have a multitude of ways to pick up gain. I think the flexibility makes it better than any combo on the market and it sounds just fine to me. If I am at a festival with a shared large rig I just slave it via the effect return, retaining my sound simply by turning the amp off and adding a patch cable.
. Sure, this could not have happened if I was plugged into a combo amp with proper input governing, but I have a multitude of ways to pick up gain. I think the flexibility makes it better than any combo on the market and it sounds just fine to me. If I am at a festival with a shared large rig I just slave it via the effect return, retaining my sound simply by turning the amp off and adding a patch cable.Ok, so I'm running a SAMPA with a Mesa Subway+ preamp on my pedalboard. Is this a stadium tour-worthy power amp? Nope. Is this a pretty much any club or bar gig-worthy power amp? If you have sufficient cab coverage, absolutely!
Here's one of my current setups...
I'm using it to power either a 4 ohm Genzler BA410(it's disabled atm) or an 8 ohm Ampeg PN-410(currently in use):
I play in a fairly loud, modern rock, mostly cover band. We do everything from 3 Doors Down & Billy Idol to FFDP, Godsmack, and AIC. I'm old school, so I run my power amp WFO and control my volume with my preamp master volume. I also run my basses WFO(volume-wise, not EQ, I try not to use much EQ)
We are definitely NOT a quiet band, and, even at 8 ohms(300w), I'm having no trouble keeping up. I've never had it shut off on me, other than the time it came unplugged, LOL! It really feels like it "hits" as hard as my full size amps. I've been using it for almost a month now, so it's got about 7 or 8 gigs on it, and it's been rock solid. My only issue now is potentially running out of headroom. It hasn't happened yet, but ya' never know. I can get more out of the amp by adding another cab, I do have another Ampeg PN-410, but I feel like my needs might be better served by getting an Ampeg PN-210. I'm thinking about it.
Jay asked me to start a new thread because most of the info in this thread pertains to the older version. I'm planning on doing that, but I'm also planning on doing a comparison with some other gear, so it may be a couple of weeks before I can get to that. Overall, if your wanting to downsize, or, put together a self-contained pedalboard, this is a GREAT option!
Here's one of my current setups...
I'm using it to power either a 4 ohm Genzler BA410(it's disabled atm) or an 8 ohm Ampeg PN-410(currently in use):
I play in a fairly loud, modern rock, mostly cover band. We do everything from 3 Doors Down & Billy Idol to FFDP, Godsmack, and AIC. I'm old school, so I run my power amp WFO and control my volume with my preamp master volume. I also run my basses WFO(volume-wise, not EQ, I try not to use much EQ)
We are definitely NOT a quiet band, and, even at 8 ohms(300w), I'm having no trouble keeping up. I've never had it shut off on me, other than the time it came unplugged, LOL! It really feels like it "hits" as hard as my full size amps. I've been using it for almost a month now, so it's got about 7 or 8 gigs on it, and it's been rock solid. My only issue now is potentially running out of headroom. It hasn't happened yet, but ya' never know. I can get more out of the amp by adding another cab, I do have another Ampeg PN-410, but I feel like my needs might be better served by getting an Ampeg PN-210. I'm thinking about it.
Jay asked me to start a new thread because most of the info in this thread pertains to the older version. I'm planning on doing that, but I'm also planning on doing a comparison with some other gear, so it may be a couple of weeks before I can get to that. Overall, if your wanting to downsize, or, put together a self-contained pedalboard, this is a GREAT option!
As requested- update regarding the SA power amp. I had one issue (as described in my earlier post), but that was due to user error - me exceeding the input gain threshold of the amp during a really challenging situation, which put it into protect mode. As stated, it was corrected immediately with a reset. I have since played many shows on mine without issue. I added a computer fan to the top for extra security, but had to remove it when I added an onboard wired iem setup because the fan increased the noise level running off the same AC power source and being too close together. Anyway, I will be using this thing in a sauna this summer once a week and will repost if I have any issues. Jay is a great guy and this product really fills a niche. Here is a pic of my current setup. Maybe someday I will actually run some "effects" on this rig 
Pedaltrain JR (V1, 16.5" X 12.5") Signal chain-
Active bass (Sadowski or Pedulla)
RMI Basswitch
Compressor pedal (via Basswitch effects loop)
DI out- XLR to FOH, run post (very little eq happening on BW)
MXR 10 band EQ (via Basswitch 1/4" out, for stage only)
This EQ has 2 identical mono outputs
#1- Straight Ahead power amp
#2-Zoom pedal (used as amp/cab sim for in ears only)
Rolls PM351 personal mixer (inst in from Zoom, band feed, aux send via XLR (mic) input with -40 attenuator adapter added. This gets you a balanced feed to this 9v mixer).
Tuner on top of the Rolls (via BW tuner out/not in chain)
Underneath is a C7 power supply and an attached 18" cable "tail" for power and a speakon connection.
Pedaltrain JR (V1, 16.5" X 12.5") Signal chain-
Active bass (Sadowski or Pedulla)
RMI Basswitch
Compressor pedal (via Basswitch effects loop)
DI out- XLR to FOH, run post (very little eq happening on BW)
MXR 10 band EQ (via Basswitch 1/4" out, for stage only)
This EQ has 2 identical mono outputs
#1- Straight Ahead power amp
#2-Zoom pedal (used as amp/cab sim for in ears only)
Rolls PM351 personal mixer (inst in from Zoom, band feed, aux send via XLR (mic) input with -40 attenuator adapter added. This gets you a balanced feed to this 9v mixer).
Tuner on top of the Rolls (via BW tuner out/not in chain)
Underneath is a C7 power supply and an attached 18" cable "tail" for power and a speakon connection.
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I think Facebook is the only way, unfortunately. He probably sells them as fast as he can make them on the side. Maybe he will see this and offer you an email
AFAIK, Facebook is his sole communications medium. Even when I bought my SAMPA, all communication was thru FB. Like @kingmusicism said, I'd guess he sells them as fast as he's making them, and he probably doesn't want/need a ton more traffic. Create a throwaway acct. or find someone you know that has one(I don't think the kids are using FB much, these days, the adults have ruined it for them, LOL!).
Still using mine. It's back powering my full band rig, instead of just my acoustic show rig. I actually prefer my HX Stomp/SAMPA rig to the Kemper Profiler PowerHead that I just sold. Craziness!
So, I talked to Jay a bit earlier and, there is now an email address...
[email protected]
Ya' don't hafta use FB now, yay.
[email protected]
Ya' don't hafta use FB now, yay.
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I use my Straight Ahead with an Ampeg Classic pre, sometimes with a tad of compressor, into either an Eden112EX or 411 Live with an Eminence Legend (both 12s) and rarely need to be put in the PA...
it really is an extraordinary thing, and a Jay is one of the most reputable people I’ve encountered.
it really is an extraordinary thing, and a Jay is one of the most reputable people I’ve encountered.
Can anyone comment on the limiting abilities of the SA? Does it have anything like Peavey's DDT limiting or does it just go into distortion?
I have one of these being built. Got the neutrik jack and switchable 120/220 voltage. Super looking forward to being able to have a small pre and this power amp so I can have the same sound anywhere. Also, Jay is amazing. Shot me a quick email just to let me know he had started on my amp. Great guy.
