Pre-amp help?

[Cygnus X-1]

Hey guys,

I'm in need of some help. I'm very close to sealing deal which wil net me this:

Now, I'm not sure if I want the head. For a long time I've been eyeing the new Fender TB series (600 - 1200). So, my question is. Do I need a seperate pre-amp if I go with the Fender head? I heard that they include a power amp inside, is that the same as a pre?

This is the head that comes with the Ampeg:

sorry for the bad photo.

 

[SpiceBot]

I can't comment on the head, as I've been out of the loop for years on that. I can say that Pre-amp and Power-amp are two completely different things. Your Pre-amp is what you use to shape to tonal qualities of the sound you are producing, for instance the 5-band EQ on some amps. The Power-amp is what makes it go boom (adds volume). Hope that helps.

 

[RickenBoogie]

The Fender heads are called "bassamps", ie: preamp/poweramp all in one head. The rig pictured is a preamp, AND a poweramp, as 2 seperates. Alot of players like the seperates, so they can swap out different pre's, but I like a bass head, all in one. If you find one you love, there's no need to change out single components.

 

[Cygnus X-1]

The Fender heads are called "bassamps", ie: preamp/poweramp all in one head. The rig pictured is a preamp, AND a poweramp, as 2 seperates. Alot of players like the seperates, so they can swap out different pre's, but I like a bass head, all in one. If you find one you love, there's no need to change out single components.

Hey Rick,

I just discovered that the Fender 600 and 1200 are both hybrid heads. This may actually work better for me. I just wish I new of a place that carried them (so I can see them in person). The Local GC doesn't have them, nor do the local shops. But from what I've seen on Youtube, I find that the TBs are what I'm looking for.

 

[SwamiRob]

I can't comment on the head, as I've been out of the loop for years on that. I can say that Pre-amp and Power-amp are two completely different things. Your Pre-amp is what you use to shape to tonal qualities of the sound you are producing, for instance the 5-band EQ on some amps. The Power-amp is what makes it go boom (adds volume). Hope that helps.

I don't really know the subtleties of it, but different poweramps would seem to have different tonalities. Obviously tube poweramps have tonality because of the distortion they add to the signal, but it seems even in solid state designs people seem to think that there is an audible difference even between SS poweramps with very low distortion ratings and with enough headroom to not compress when too much power is demanded of them. Don't have much experience with PA stuff or split pre/poweramp setups so can't really speculate as to why that might be.

 

[David Jayne]

That rack head will sound awesome, with tons of power, but I don't blame you if you don't want to lug it around.
The fender heads you've described need nothing else to work. Nor do a myriad of other heads.

 

[Cygnus X-1]

That rack head will sound awesome, with tons of power, but I don't blame you if you don't want to lug it around.
The fender heads you've described need nothing else to work. Nor do a myriad of other heads.

You are right, it does sound pretty awesome. And it looks cool to. If you look under the Korg tuner, you can see the two pull out lights w/dimmer. Pretty sick.

I guess I'm going for the less is more school of thought. Also, I'm a Fender whore . The TB - 600 runs around 1099. I'm sure if I look, I can get it somewhere in te $900s.

 

[Red Planet]

Look at the head in the middle. Around the same cost as the Fender but puts out 12000 watts at 6.75 pounds and sounds like a dream.

Have not played those Fender heads.

The Genz Benz head will rock your world.

 

[Cygnus X-1]

Hey guys,

So I went down to the guitar (I mean Bass) shop today and put the ampeg 610 along with the accompaning rack through it's paces. I grabbed an 08 american standard jazz as well as a Geddy and played the hell out of it. I must admit that this combination out of all I've tested within the last three months, is the one that seems to hit my sweet spot.

I've tried BagEnd, Ashdowns, Edens, Trace Elliots, Crates and Peaveys, Kustoms and Aguilar heads and cabs. So far, this combo is the one that I can't seem to get away from. I also spoke to several musicians that I'm friends with (most of them bass player) and they educated me a bit on Crest Audio. Seems to be a right fit. Also, the cab is a MIA (for those who wondered)

Again, thanks for the input guys.