Its all about choice and what you like, and bank account. Have used lots of amps, SVT, Sunn, Acoustic, other Ampegs, my rack set up was a Furman parametric eq preamp and a Crown DC300A, looked good and sounded real good, now I like my Mesa D800 much better than any tried so far. Nothing against any others used or tried, but nothing so far I would trade for it either. Spent a lot for the latest and greatest with the most knobs and dials and specs. Won't make you play better unfortunately. Its cheaper to get quality and what you really want the first time instead of upgrading several times.
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I like using separate power amps and pre amps because it gives you more flexibility having 2 channels, especially if the amp is bridgeable. And I've found standalone power amps have more honest power ratings than all in one bass heads.
I only use one channel of the power amp giving me 500 watts at 4 ohm, and I have a built in back up amp in case anything goes wrong.
I only use one channel of the power amp giving me 500 watts at 4 ohm, and I have a built in back up amp in case anything goes wrong.
As odd as this sounds, this is one of my favorite sounding rigs. It's centered around the tech21 RBI, but there is something about the bite that old Peavey Megabass with the two combined that really makes the rig sound good. The Megabass is essentially two 200 watt power amps that can run full range or biampable. I generally run it in full range mode, and into two 8 ohm cabs, one into each side, much like a traditional power amp.
my effects always go with me, and it's nice when I'm going ampless as I can really dial in a great sound into my ears with this. It's a little noisy for recording, but for live it's great.
my effects always go with me, and it's nice when I'm going ampless as I can really dial in a great sound into my ears with this. It's a little noisy for recording, but for live it's great.
I read/hear similar comments all the time, but frankly I'm not sure it applies today. It seems to me that for the cost of a rack case, 2 preamps, a power amp and the inevitable rack jewelry (tuner, lit power strip, whatever), one has arrived within a hair (a hundy or 2?) of simply having 2 great, light, portable heads.....1 on the cab and another in the the gig bag pocket.....wanna switch......not even a screwdriver required......and when you have 2 micro heads, you not only have a backup for your pre, but for the power amp as well. The only logical reasons I can see for having a rack are: 1)if you need additional processing, like a compressor, in your signal and want the ease of having all components prewired/connected, 2)if you really dig the aesthetics of a rack (which I totally get-I love it) or 3), if the rig sits and never gets moved. Until recently, a rack tuner was a plus...but let's be honest, a good tuner now costs under $20 and weighs/takes up as much space as a large cockroach. Can you tell my rack stuff is for sale
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I enjoy the setup. A big fan of the versatility a dual channel power amp affords. Cab ohm rating becomes less important with two channels. This one also has built in, user settable hpf or lpf. A handy feature. Would love to experiment with some other preamps!
Ah you caught that huh.
. That is totally useful, easy to check wiring before I plug in my rig and let's me know what I'm getting to my amp when it's plugged in to my system. I paid 6-7 bucks for it on line a few years ago, I'll see if I still have a link for it. I will edit if I find it.I Found one at Walmart. 7.99. I did flip the face by removing the screws on the back and flipping it over so it would fit in my rack. Well worth 8 bucks.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/AC-80-30...5210&wl11=online&wl12=930492048&wl13=&veh=sem
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thanks. i built it a few months back. it's got open sides and back so i don't have to put a fan on the tube gear or put space empty spaces above and below the power amps. i built a similar 3u rack case for the gear i need to move around, too.
Then again, if you already have a power amp you like, holding onto it is the cost effective option.
My QSC PLX1602 has the power, doesn't weigh that much, probably will never die and if it does, can be fixed and now that my last three preamps have been on my pedal board fits in a shallow 2U case.
A Mesa Subway head costs 1049€ here. Sure, I'd like one, but for some reason went for the 269€ preamp version. I could've sold the QSC, but for what, 200€?
The current trend of cheap preamp pedals has made running a pre into a power amp, a powered cab or just into the board a very attractive option.
more pics of the rack. made it with cherry 1x3s and plywood. covered with duratex. i made the tl606's a few years back.
if i had a table saw, i might have made it with birch ply. otherwise, it's too much time and hassle to set up rails to rip identical pieces with my circular saw. doing the 1/2 roundover on the cherry was easy. took screws and glue well. hardly any additional prep work before putting on the duratex. i got the cherry from home depot online, 32ft for 60 bucks. delivery was free. would work with it again.
I'd make the whole thing from cherry and just oil it. Looks nice, and after some time the cherry darkens and becomes really nice looking.
A lot of people on this forum like Crest but, to be honest, the contribution of the power amp to the tone of the rig is miniscule compared to the pre-amp and speakers. Just go with a Crown, QSC, Crest, Carvin or whatever decent power amp that has the power and features you need.
sounds cool, but this rack matches the rest of the speaker cabinets and rack cases i've built. this is 4 space head i made for mesa 50/50 and mesa studio preamp. the cabinet is for guitar, peavey bw 1502 and evm 15l. half open/half closed.
