Micro Amp as power amp advice.

[ajp1991105]

I am currently running a Port City Orleans preamp with a Crown Xti2002 power amp as my main amp rig. The Orleans seems to have a relatively low output and doesn't drive the Crown to full wattage. (Different power and input sensitivity withstanding,) I was looking to possibly lighten my load by using one of the micro heads as a power amp with the Orleans.

My secondary rig is a MarkBass Little Mark tube 800 and I am led to believe that the effects loop on these are parallel. I am looking more for a series effects loop (AKA I want to just plug the Port City into the return to bypass the pre and use the micro head strictly as a power amp.)

Two questions:
1.) Would I run into the same problem with the Port City not being able to run the micro head hot enough?

2.) I am very seriously looking into the GK MB800 Fusion head. Has anybody tried to do soemthing like I have and had success with it?

I'm quite interested to hear what everybody has to say about this. Thanks in advance.

 

[EastCoastThump]

I've used an LMII as a power amp, and it works fine. I can't speak to your exact situation, except as a fan of empiricism. Why not try plugging your pre-amp into your Tube 800?

 

[KevInDaBassment]

I'd say if it's having trouble with the Crown that it may be an issue with the other amps as well...can't say I've used that preamp though. Might want to try plugging it into some amps with effects loops at your local guitar store and see how it comes out.

If you wanted to run it in the effects loop return on the MB Fusion 800 then just get the MB800, you'd be skipping the tube preamp anyways so you could save yourself some money going that route. If you wanted to just use the MB Fusion 800, I'd highly recommend it as I'm a GK fanboy lol.

 

[ajp1991105]

I wish my local store had the GK micro heads to try out :/

For sake of trying all my options, I did just hook up my Orleans to the Markbass tube 800 and it DOES IN FACT run a parallel effects loop, meaning that the pre is runnning through all the circuitry and EQ on the front of the amp which is what I was trying to avoid.

 

[wave rider]

Get one of those clean boost pedal to raise the input level to let your Crown work to full potential?

=wr=

 

[sonic 7]

Get one of those clean boost pedal to raise the input level to let your Crown work to full potential?

=wr=

I was also wondering if that would work, putting a buffer or booster pedal between the pre amp and power amp. Has anyone tried this method of boosting the input into a power amp that requires a hotter signal ?

 

[bobcruz]

Can the Crown be modified to accept a lower input for full power? I know that QSC amps can be so modified and it shouldn't cost more than a booster pedal.

 

[ajp1991105]

I am currently running the rig with a Cusack More Louder boost in between the pre and power amp. Works well enough, but (and maybe I am too picky) but I would like to be able to use just the pre and power without having to add more components and cabling (because most of the venues I play where I am don't also have the cleanest power and that opens up a decent chance for hum and buzz and a plethora of other bothersome things I'd rather not deal with.

I am not sure if the amp can be modified to bring the input sensitivity number down, (if so I would LOVE to do it). Maybe somebody could give us some insight as to if it can. in fact, be modified in such a manner?

 

[JimmyM]

Put the knobs at noon, turn the VLE and VPF all the way down, and it's basically the same as having an amp that lets you bypass the preamp since the LM series amps have pretty much dead flat response when you do that.