Amp head Vs Pre+power (Rack Content)

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Tawlks

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Which one is better?

I would assume that having a preamp and a power amp would give you much more flexibility.. also I'm not sure but could you have two channels on the power amp foot switchable and have two different preamps running into it?

What does RT think? Would the rack setup not be much more expensive?
 
the head wins for weight and ease of transportation. If you're carrying your own stuff at gigs, not only will it be easier on your back, but you really probably don't even NEED anything more than your one head/cab, to be honest.
There is potentially more room for flexibility with the rack setup. In my case, my poweramp has two separate sides, so I could run a separate preamp into each side of the poweramp and run a splitter, if I wanted to.
Let me reiterate though, this thing, in a rack case, is large, awkward, and HEAVY.
 
I like racks more, simpler to set up for me at gigs. They can weigh a lot less than some amp heads, plus they have wheels. ;)


Both have their place, it's all taste. I found I had more troubles with pedal boards and heads as far as hooking up and transporting than a rack. But I like heads too, so I went all rack heads. :rock:
 
Shark Diver":1tfy9f2q said:
I like racks more, simpler to set up for me at gigs. They can weigh a lot less than some amp heads, plus they have wheels. ;)


Both have their place, it's all taste. I found I had more troubles with pedal boards and heads as far as hooking up and transporting than a rack. But I like heads too, so I went all rack heads. :rock:
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:thumbsup: :rock:
 
for versatility the rack wins. Combine any pre and any power amps. Heads are easier to carry around. Like the other's said, its about taste.
 
I have both setups and both have their pros and cons. Heads always seem to have some "mojo" that rack preamp/poweramp setups lack.
 
I was using a Pre/poweramp/effects rack setup for the cover band I'm in as I need at the least 5-6 different tones to pull the songs off convincingly or as close to as I can tonewise. I now have the Meathead and it gives me all I need and then some!! ( Sounds alot better too! ) And the Meathead and the pre/power setup weigh about the same so....
 
muudrock":331m52gp said:
I have both setups and both have their pros and cons. Heads always seem to have some "mojo" that rack preamp/poweramp setups lack.
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agree. Also depends on what kind of effects you want. If you want stereo separated effects, a head 'aint gonna do that.
 
muudrock":1gowy9fw said:
I have both setups and both have their pros and cons. Heads always seem to have some "mojo" that rack preamp/poweramp setups lack.
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I don't know. It seems that AIC and STP did very well with the pre/power set up. It really depends on what preamp, tubes, power amp you have. I put NOS Mullards in my X99 and have been running it with a VHT Classic, I'll put that up against any head around.
 
I'm torn too,I like amp heads for gigs,easy setup,easy to transport.
But I like racks for more options,easy to change preamps,or carry
two plus effects.However i'm pretty cut and dry,meat and taters player.
I don't need a rockstar rack so I'd go with a head.
I use my rack for recording,plus,just think,troubleshooting a rack before
a gig,changing cables,trying to find the sorce of the problem.You don't
have those problems using a head,except maybe tube failure.
 
again with this":2obuiwxb said:
muudrock":2obuiwxb said:
I have both setups and both have their pros and cons. Heads always seem to have some "mojo" that rack preamp/poweramp setups lack.
Click to expand...

agree. Also depends on what kind of effects you want. If you want stereo separated effects, a head 'aint gonna do that.
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Not my experience, AT ALL.
 
I've been heading over more to rack stuff over the past few years. Still use my head for recording, but if and when I start gigging again, I'll be using my rack
 
I've been running an Axe-fx 2 and carvin ts100 for the past year and I'm going back to a tube head and using the fractal in the 4 cable method. Yeah it's heavier all in one case but you know where all your gear is at all times plus 2 people can usually lift the combo head/rack cases pretty easily.
 
another positive for stereo rack / poweramp is if you have a tube failure on one side you still have the other channel to keep you up and running
 
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