POOOOWEERRR!!!!

[RyRob813]

I've had many an amp thread recently, as I'm getting ready to a serious rig-reduction (but power promotion) in a few weeks

I'm pretty much sold on getting a nice 2x12, and probably a markbass 750 watt, forget the exact model number, and I'm still choosing cabinets.

At any rate, I'm going to spend a good deal of money on this, as well as selling all 200 pounds of my bulky rig I'm currently playing through.

This is all for the sake of transportability, but without sacrificing quality and power. What I'm hoping to do is set myself up to be able to one day use that same head through a couple of 8x10's for example. I am a music school student, and I have every intention of becoming a serious professional, and I want the gear to match the skill level I'll hopefully obtain over the next few years.

I'm fairly new to the idea of pre/power amps/ rack systems. I've read the sticky about it, but I don't fully understand.

Are there specific BASS power amps? Or are they simply amplification of sound, regarless of what you're amplifying?

My real question here is, as I describe above...a high powered head through a smaller cab, but one day play it through a bigger cabinet, and potentially add something like this: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

to it?

Is that correct thinking?

Thanks! (sorry about the ramble!)

 

[dsanders]

Your thinking is not "flawed" in the least. You can always send a line out from your head to a power amp if you find yourself needing more power down the road. Ideally you may want to find a preamp and power amp combo now that you like. I went to separate components about 4 years ago and love it. Look at it this way, if you find a preamp that you like then power amps are interchangeable. If you find a power amp that you like then preamps are interchangeable. If you buy a self contained amp head and decide you want to try something different, they you have to dump the entire thing to find a new flavor.

For instance, as long as I am young and willing to haul around my Crest CA6 then I can pop in whatever preamp I want. As for power amps, if you can handle the weight you will not find much better for solid responsive tones then the Crest CA6 & CA9. Remember though it doesn't matter how amazing your preamp is if the power amp you are using is sub par you will never get good solid tone. As for your preamp, I can't help you there. That is all dependant on what the sound in your head is .

 

[IvanMike]

no, there are not bass specific poweramps, just poweramps.

if you plan to buy a poweramp now, i would reccomend getting one with the most power you can afford. there really isn't a HUGE difference tone wise between solid state poweramps, but there is some. there is a bigger quality difference between brands.

most heads will allow you to use a line out these days to run more power from an external poweramp. as long as the head has a solid state power section itself, (almost all do), you don't need to plug speakers into it when just using it as a preamp.

remember to balance your desire for a big rig for "when you go pro" with some measure of portability. Most of the gigs and all of the practices and jams you'll be playing at will be smaller, many of them will involve stairs and needing to use a hyundai as transportation. My rig is insanely loud but fits in a coupe. i only bring the entire thing out at the largest gigs, for a practice i can bring a small head and one tiny cabinet.

as far as preamps go, you have to find one you like. most heads these days will allow you to use the effects return or another method to use the poweramp of the head with an external preamp if you don't yet have a poweramp.

 

[RyRob813]

That makes a lot of sense, thanks!

 

[BassmanPaul]

I agree with our friendly neighbourhood moderator. The bIG advantage to pre/power is that you are not locked into the tonal palette forced onto us by bass amp companies. You get a power amp that suits your needs and can mix and match pre-amps until you find one that pleases you or drive it from an existing amp. My favourite is the Carvin DCM1000. At a bit over $300 it's cheap power.

Paul