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Pre + Power Amp Combo?

M

marshmallow83

Oct 6, 2007
186
1
#1
I've started toying with the idea of making a giggable rig consisting of a power and pre amp instead of your average bass amp head. I've been thinking about it because:

1. It would be cheaper
2. It would offer a little more versatility

Obviously I'd need a cab to go with it, which will either be a 4x10 or 2x12.

My question is, can anyone offer some suggestions on pre and power amps that work well with bass? I know there are pre amps build specifically for bass (I'm interested in the Sansamp RPM, any thoughts?) but I don't know many.

I'm not bothered about having to carry around a bit extra (but obviously the lighter the better). I wouldn't be carrying it all around in a rack, I'd be taking the bare minimum to any gigs (pre/power amp, cab, bass).

If you suggest anything, try to keep the price low. I'd like to stay under £300 for each of the pre and power amps.

Also, does anyone anyone have any general thoughts on the idea as well?

Thanks to all those who help!
 
#2
For preamps, there's pretty much for every brand of amp. I personally love my Ampeg SVP pro. What brand of amps do you like or what type of tone are you going for? Also, there are alot of poweramp makers. I know there is one that's big selling point is that they are super light weight, and I forget the name of the brand, but someone will give it if they read this and know it.

I really like a pre/power set up if you wanna have a big rig with multiple tones running into multiple cabs.
 
#4
I was thinking of going second hand for the pre amp, but power amps are pretty cheap anyway, so I'm not bothered about that.

I'm looking for a really punchy setup, something would give a good metal/rock tone and would compliment the nature of my Spector (that's why I was interested in Sansamp stuff).
 
#5
Pre/power amp rigs are used mostly when you need a lot of volume. They are more expensive and the quality of amps available these days from Markbass, EA, Boogie, to name a few are very, very good. So unless you need the volume to have really two rigs on stage why bother. At first these types of amps were like small PA systems. Most of them ran as a two way system with a cross over. I had one was an 18" and 2X12". It really kicked but I got sick of moving it.
But if you do go that route buy expensive. Preamp the better you buy the better. Aguilar is real nice. Though the Ashley BP41 is a great pre-amp and can be picked up cheap. I've got one I'll never sell. Someone mention Ampeg, but I never was a hugh fan. You can buy them with a preamp tube if that's the way you want to go.
But when you go that route realize you're going to hear the imperfections of your bass also.
If your technic bass or pickups suck they'll really suck with better gear.
 
#6
I researched this for years and this is the bullet proof LIGHT WEIGHT rig I've finally ended up with.

Ampeg SVP Pro (e-bay $325)
Peavey DPC 1400X (1400 watts 15 lbs 1 rack space) (e-bay ~ $500) (here's a review by bass player Mag: Invalid Link Removed)
and the 4X10 of your choice. ( a neo cab from any company would make a very light, loud portable rig!)

The amp and preamp in the 2 space SKB case weigh 34 Lbs (I just weighed them)

You can add efx and things from here.

I use this rig and I'm playing out quit often. I've never run into any problems and Never had to push the power amp above 75%.

There are pictures of my rig in action on my myspace and youtube sites. (along with other combinations of stuff I have)

The Cab on the other hand is Custom built (By myself) and weighs a LOT it's loaded with 4 Emeninece Delta 10s (350 watts a piece) and the cabinet material is 7/8 MDF (medium density fiberboard) It's heavy but its bullet proof also. I leave it right on the band trailer. I would suggest a neo cab.... maybe G-K or SWR.

Speaker though are a matter of taste an you could really go with anything. This preamp and amp rig would handle it and afford you just about any sound you would want to dial up..

There are many power amps out there that are class D technology and very light, Also, new power supply technology has given way to light weight amps such as the Carvin DCM series. There is also a company out there called Powersoft (here: Invalid Link Removed) that makes 1 rack space solutions with up to 4000W (WOW....) I'm guessing there expensive.

All in all, if you have a light weight amp, you could pretty much go with any preamp you like, it's all up to your taste!

Later!
 
#7
Thanks, but i did mention to keep it cheap. I have no where enough money to drop on stuff like Aquilar or Mesa Boogie. I'm not gonna need a lot of volume, and I'm not thinking of bi amping anything at the moment, but the option would be nice to have. I'm mainly doing this because it would be cheaper. I'm thinking about getting a power amp like this:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?moduleno=220514

my bass teacher uses one from the same series, and it's pretty good. I'm mainly looking for suggestions on a cheap (but good) pre amp.

edit: to bassmickeyd
 
#9
It's ok, I was mainly talking to bassmickeyd.

I've been researching into the Sansamp RPM, and I'm really interested in havimg a try of it. I don't know of any local shops that have one though. So before I go and see if I can get it ordered in, do you have any form of experience with it?

I'm thinking of pairing it up with that Maplin power amp. It's as powerful as I'll need for the moment, and if I need anything more powerful, I'd probably buy one of the other power amps they have on offer (which seems like a pretty good deal, seeing as they have a 1600 watt power amp for exactly the same price!).
 
#12
marshmallow83 said:
I was thinking of going second hand for the pre amp, but power amps are pretty cheap anyway, so I'm not bothered about that.

I'm looking for a really punchy setup, something would give a good metal/rock tone and would compliment the nature of my Spector (that's why I was interested in Sansamp stuff).
Click to expand...

Poweramps can be cheap. Yes. There too however you tend to get what you pay for.
Mine was the most expensive piece of equipment I have ever bought.
It sounds great and has never given me any trouble at all.
You can of course always upgrade :)
 
#13
Jazzbass 5 said;
"Peavey DPC 1400X (1400 watts 15 lbs 1 rack space)
I use this rig and I'm playing out quit often. I've never run into any problems and Never had to push the power amp above 75%."
That's 850-watts??????????
Where the hell do you play?
In 1964 the Beatles toured with a 300-watt PA. People complained their kids would return home from a Beatles concert deaf. ..... Unfortunately it was the other way around the the Beatles stopped touring.

We always get what we pay for. (Good point)
But, if you're not going to Bi-amp and you don't need the power why spend the money for the pre-amp/power amp combo?
I had a power amp go DC on me and took a 18 CV speaker with it, though it sounded great on the way out.
You can pickup older good quality QSC, BGW, Crest, Bryston power amps cheap, but they'll be the heavy transformer style. Though, I prefer the sound of those over the light weights. I just don't like to lift them.
 
#14
It can be a good way to go cheap if you buy used and don't mind the weight. I bought a used QSC for about $100 (don't remember the model - it was a few hundred watts a side) and a Trace GP7SM and BBE 383 for less than a $100 each. It was weighty, but reliable.
 
#15
I have an RPM coming in next week. I'll let you know how it works out.

As previously mentioned, go the second-hand route if possible. You can pick up some stellar gear for cheap provided you're not overly concerned about weight. You also have the latitude to sell / buy / swap components more easily as your needs (or tastes) change over the years.

Riis
 
#17
To Bassmickeyd

Yeah, it is a lot of power, I like the headroom. Still, the Beatles had a full front system most likely running in the thousands to tens of thousands of watts depending on where they were playing and what the "house" PA might be like.
Remember, My power amp is at 75% and my preamp is only running at 4 or 5 on the post volume. I may be running truly 400 to 500 watts when I'm playing full out. Yes we do run a PA but our stage volume consists of a Marshall 100W amp with a 4X12 cab and a very loud keyboard player.. HA. The drummer is pretty loud too. Still, it all works out and sounds pretty good.
I also have a 2X12 cab and a 2X10 cab, I haven't had to use them (playing out) with the 4X10 cab but we have an upcoming outdoor show and I intend on using the 2X12s with the 4X10s for that show.
 
#19
I've always liked the idea of "channel switching" as found in guitar rigs. It allows you to set up two different tones (and levels, if desired) and footswitch between them. At the time I started playing bass very little was available that could do this. I finally lucked out on a Peavey Max preamp that not only allowed switching between a tube preamp and a SS one - it also allowed one to do a blend, with user-selectable mix.

Then when the Roland V-Bass came out I had what was basically a preamp with way more than two channels, and a superior pedal board to boot.

So that covers why I like separate preamps. I also like separate amps because pro power amps are always robust and have good thermal and shorting protection, perform to spec, and are a lot more like commodities. If you also supply PA you have a selection of power amps you can draw from for varying needs and setups. Then too, you can bridge most of them, or biamp, or have an extra side available for some other sound source, or to run an additional monitor mix or whatever.
 
#20
I'm starting to consider this kind of setup - not because I need to, but because I like playing with stuff - and am thinking about using a Bass POD XT Pro into the power amp instead of a straight preamp.

Can anyone see any issues with doing it this way? Is it worth the OP considering it as an option?
 

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