Thinking of going Power amp pre amp setup.

[brett adams]

Ok where's the Doc and the DeLorean, I'm stuck back in the eighties! Help!

1950 called and they want the fender precision bass back.

 

[primusfan1989]

Been rocking separate pre and power for years now and i love it. Pre amps are totally a subjective thing so I can't really suggest anything without more info on the tone you're going for. As for power, I highly recommend QSC, although Crown and Crest also make quality power amplifiers.

 

[Systolic]

I run a BBE BMAXT into a Crown XLS2002. Very happy.

 

[John Swartz]

I've tried a few different pre-amps (BBE Max, Ashdown RPM-1, BBE 383) into a QSC GX5, and finally settled on a Peavey Max Bass pre-amp (which tube and solid state channels) going into a Peavey IPR-3000 class D poweramp. Had an extra space in the rack and this blacklight I had just managed to squeeze into it behind a 1U rack grill. I like the set-up a lot, but have been contemplating the new GED-2112 pre-amp

 

[murphy]

Just re acquired this power....and a preamp to go along with it

 

[murphy]

 

[mark roberts]

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.

I generally don’t jump into the not agreeing territory...but. Power amps DO have a contribution to tonality. I absolutely notice the difference between Stewart, SWR, Crown, Crest, QSC in circumstances where I do not change settings anywhere else in the system. And even when I attempt change to “see if I can replicate”, from one to another to the original, doesn’t quite work out.

For one...if you intend to use newer tech, check the input sensitivity of the power amp. That may have an impact on your own perceived expectations of “loudness” (I use that latter term to simplify the many posts I have read and the experiences I have had with power amps that indicate .775 volts to reach reported power ratings vs. 2 volts+ to achieve the same.) You WILL notice the difference.

Otherwise, tone is what is perceived by the player, the band, the audience. The latter can play into that. Your fingers or picks (whether single or multi-finger picks) played one way may sound different when played through another power amp on your system. They will certainly sound different at all the different volume levels you may have to accommodate in the venues you play.

I suppose this places a bit of value on your own experience. It’s you, your bass, your system, the venue, the FOH and monitor sound techs that feedback to you.

 

[jazzbass_5]

DON'T DO IT! IT'S A TRAP TO BUY MORE EQUIPMENT!...

 

[Jeff Scott]

DON'T DO IT! IT'S A TRAP TO BUY MORE EQUIPMENT!...

Totally true.

 

[Manticore]

DON'T DO IT! IT'S A TRAP TO BUY MORE EQUIPMENT!...

And the problem is???

 

[Jeff Scott]

And the problem is???

Wait until you get a LOT older, then you may understand, Grasshopper.

 

[Manticore]

Wait until you get a LOT older, then you may understand, Grasshopper.

LOL! I was born when Eisenhower was President; not too sure how much older I'm gonna get, but I can build yet another storage space for antiquated gear in the meantime!

 

[Jeff Scott]

The antiquated gear I am acquiring these day are vintage Gustav Stickley era house stuff.

 

[Manticore]

The antiquated gear I am acquiring these day are vintage Gustav Stickley era house stuff.

You, mon ami, are collecting fine vintage things indeed! Stickley creations are far more useful than vintage bass amplification.

 

[Raulplaysbass]

To me, it was the best change! I recently sold both the Mesa 800 & 800+ for this. Tonal bliss...

 

[Fangry]

To me, it was the best change! I recently sold both the Mesa 800 & 800+ for this. Tonal bliss...

Wow. Never mind the sound, looks won't get much better than that

I used to have the SVPCL, but it didn't put out enough juice to run the entry level Crown I had nor the (still my current) QSC that replaced it to sound anything but wimpy. It was with great sorrow that I sold it.

 

[Raulplaysbass]

Wow. Never mind the sound, looks won't get much better than that

I used to have the SVPCL, but it didn't put out enough juice to run the entry level Crown I had nor the (still my current) QSC that replaced it to sound anything but wimpy. It was with great sorrow that I sold it.

I KNOW RIGHT!!! It's the best looking power amp anyway! Heavier than most but man, what a tone from the SVP-CL & head room for days from the SVP-1600! One of my favorite things about the SVP-CL is the power light going form white to green when the tubes are ready & seeing the house lights dim when you power up the SVP-1600!!

That's too bad about you selling yours. I did hear about that low power issue. I think it mainly happened with other brands of power amps but not the SVP-1600. I think there is a mod for that now.

Cheers!

 

[Jeff Scott]

You, mon ami, are collecting fine vintage things indeed! Stickley creations are far more useful than vintage bass amplification.

Vintage photograph gear, too.

Some examples (pay no attention to the room, we are still finishing up some details on the gut renovation).

Photograph Copyright © Jeffrey P. Scott 2016 All rights reserved.

Photograph Copyright © Jeffrey P. Scott 2017 All rights reserved.

I do have lots of room for more amps, however!

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

traditional linear power supplies

Line-frequency power supplies are still very non-linear.

Any sort of AC-to-DC conversion is inherently non-linear.

 

[SactoBass]

Line-frequency power supplies are still very non-linear.

Any sort of AC-to-DC conversion is inherently non-linear.

Thank you for that correction, Bob!

I meant to say "line frequency" not "linear"