Rack time again! Fryette / Engl / Mezzabarba / KHE

[JerEvil]

After spending some time with the Mezzabarba Nirvana and having the Ceres I’ve decided I hate running cables to/from various Returns in amps.

Always loved the PS1 I had. Found one of these guys in stock so figured I may as well grab one.

2 channels, 6550 for power tubes and reactive load to boot.

Got my sights on a Kartakou Colossus 5150 preamp and likely an Engl 670 preamp.

UPDATE:
Got everything in the rack finally! Wiring it up and hope to get some vids ASAP!

The Mezzabarba has some mods done by Pierangelo. A bit of a Bass reduction on the Crunch/Lead channels and more aggressive gain structure mod on the Lead channel. This mod will be available on orders going forward as well as on the Trinity.

 

[mnemonic]

How does it compare to the old PS1?

I know it’s meant to be flat but I’m really curious how 50 watt 6L6gc compares to 100 watt 6550.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

I have eyed this thing recently for the same reason... also for slaving purposes. I dig that it is 100 watts and has all the features which make it a win with preamps, slaving, as a load, or attenuation.

 

[Inearthed]

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this one & hopefully a demo?!

Got my sights on a Kartakou Colossus 5150 preamp and likely an Engl 670 preamp.

I actually have a Kartakou Colossus I was going to list in a couple weeks, if you're interested

 

[JerEvil]

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this one & hopefully a demo?!



I actually have a Kartakou Colossus I was going to list in a couple weeks, if you're interested

I am quite interested.

 

[JerEvil]

How does it compare to the old PS1?

I know it’s meant to be flat but I’m really curious how 50 watt 6L6gc compares to 100 watt 6550.

I think it sounds a bit bigger overall. The 2 channels is very cool as well. I mean you can basically make a NMV single channel amp a 2 channel with effects loop.

 

[thenine]

Ultimate pedal platform?

 

[PDC]

Such a cool and versatile piece of gear. Friedman BE-OD pedal in the front with time effects through the loop. 4-cable method from your pedal board with boutique ODs and ‘amp-in-a-box’ stomps lined in and a dedicated loop. This thing can do so much more than knock down the load of a non-MV head.

 

[Inearthed]

I am quite interested.

I'll PM ya

 

[MatrixClaw]

Super curious about these things. With all the new pedal preamps coming out lately, plus all of the great modelers out now, this would make an awesome, tiny, rig and I imagine these are super affordable on the used market, too.

Do you still have the KSR Ceres? How's it sound through this?? I have a Line 6 PowerCab+ that I use with my Fractal FM3. Was thinking of buying a Ceres to try with it.

 

[JerEvil]

Super curious about these things. With all the new pedal preamps coming out lately, plus all of the great modelers out now, this would make an awesome, tiny, rig and I imagine these are super affordable on the used market, too.

Do you still have the KSR Ceres? How's it sound through this?? I have a Line 6 PowerCab+ that I use with my Fractal FM3. Was thinking of buying a Ceres to try with it.

Yeah I still have the Ceres and it sounds great!!! I am working on a vid comparing the Ceres and this to my Gemini. I’ll likely do one comparing powering a Helix to the PC212+ and Quilter for power as well.

These are super scarce in the used market. I got lucky that Vintage Audio had 3 in stock. Used there’re selling for the same price just because of wait times. You can find the PS 1 and PS2 used for great prices though.

 

[MatrixClaw]

Yeah I still have the Ceres and it sounds great!!! I am working on a vid comparing the Ceres and this to my Gemini. I’ll likely do one comparing powering a Helix to the PC212+ and Quilter for power as well.

These are super scarce in the used market. I got lucky that Vintage Audio had 3 in stock. Used there’re selling for the same price just because of wait times. You can find the PS 1 and PS2 used for great prices though.

I'll definitely have to keep an eye out for the Ceres/Gemini comparison. I've been curious how close they actually are to the real KSR amps.

 

[JerEvil]

I'll definitely have to keep an eye out for the Ceres/Gemini comparison. I've been curious how close they actually are to the real KSR amps.

Yeah I’ve not done a “back to back” yet so I’m looking forward to it too! Lol.

 

[stephen sawall]

I keep thinking I need one of these.

 

[SpiderWars]

These are super scarce in the used market. I got lucky that Vintage Audio had 3 in stock. Used there’re selling for the same price just because of wait times. You can find the PS 1 and PS2 used for great prices though.

Yep, I really wanted the PS100 but for the reasons you mentioned a PS2 was just sooooo much cheaper so I got a perfect used one...and love it. I know lots of folks use the Suhr RL with great success but it just never sounded right to my ears. Weird high end. The PS2 does even if I use the line out to go to the same power amp I was using with the RL. Never tried the OX box but have heard good things. Also have a Rivera mini-RockRec load box and I like that one a lot too. Both get VERY hot running a 100W Marshall full bore...but not nearly so hot if variac'd down.

 

[Donnie B.]

I keep thinking I need one of these.

Before I hooked mine up I didn't realize it'd be the most game changing piece of gear I've gotten
in the last 10 years. Finally! an attenuator that let's you play big kick ass amps at manageable volume
levels without losing any of the kick ass!

 

[glassjaw7]

I ordered a PS-2 a couple weeks ago from GC with a discount code. Still on backorder but I can’t wait. I have a few big amps I’d like to try out with it and I’d also like to try a Synergy module or Studio/Triaxis if I can find one and use the PS as a power amp. As a side note, anything Boogie Mark related has absolutely blown up lately! Crazy

 

[Smash]

I loved the Ps-100. It seemed to knock down the noise of any amp you plugged into it, I guess because fryette's power amp is so transparent. I have no idea why. The only problem I had with it is I got a ground loop when trying to use the zuul in the loop. That was a pretty big reason I had bought the thing since I had an Avenger with no loop.

 

[JerEvil]

I loved the Ps-100. It seemed to knock down the noise of any amp you plugged into it, I guess because fryette's power amp is so transparent. I have no idea why. The only problem I had with it is I got a ground loop when trying to use the zuul in the loop. That was a pretty big reason I had bought the thing since I had an Avenger with no loop.

That’s a bummer. I’ll be running my Zuul in the loop of the amp switcher. If it’s noisy I’ll use one of the gates on the Helix I suppose.

 

[blackba]

Yep, I really wanted the PS100 but for the reasons you mentioned a PS2 was just sooooo much cheaper so I got a perfect used one...and love it. I know lots of folks use the Suhr RL with great success but it just never sounded right to my ears. Weird high end. The PS2 does even if I use the line out to go to the same power amp I was using with the RL. Never tried the OX box but have heard good things. Also have a Rivera mini-RockRec load box and I like that one a lot too. Both get VERY hot running a 100W Marshall full bore...but not nearly so hot if variac'd down.

The Suhr RLIR actually has a high cut which changes the reactive load response. This is not on the standard suhr RL. When I compared just the load on the PS2 to the suhr RLIR, I found the suhr brighter and more open and articulate. The PS2 had more low end thump regardless and yes I tweaked the switches.

The PS100 looks great, I like that they added a line out level control. Its sure hard to find new PS2s right now, but PS100s are out there.