AXE-FX Tube Poweramp vs Solid State

[Gainfreak]

As some of you might already know Me,Kage and Harry got together last weekend to program in some sounds for Kages Live Rig. The plan was to update Kages Axe-fx software, program some killer tones for him from Scratch and compare a Tube Poweramp to a SS Poweramp.


After comparing Kages Carvin Poweramp to my Boogie 2:90 using the same speaker cab and guitar my final conclusion and Harry's final conclusion is that we are replacing our boogie 2:90's with the new carvin 16lbs 1500 watt solid state Poweramp. I was really hoping this would work out because loosing the Boogie Poweramp has made my already portable rig even easier to lug around!! There were definite differences between the two but with some tweaking to the axe-Fx's parameters I was able to dial in some killer tones and the feel and tone was most definitely their. One of the major things that I noticed is that I had to goose the levels on the Axe-FX because I had them set to low. Once I did that It made both setups sound much better.
The boog will be used in another rig !!

I know there were some people who were curious as to what the verdict was!!

Im am still in awe of what this thing can do and even at BLISTERING volumse, the tone was there and it is still inspiring to play. Kage can back me up when I say BLISTERING volumes because he was outside smoking a butt and he heard me blazing through his rig outside

 

[Digital Jams]

Ok I'll start the devils advocate witch hunt kill Ralph pigpile

So your saying that the axefx takes out the PA's extra perameters such as presence and depth?

The low end punch is there without the knee-capper of modelers, that weird not held together all too well tone we all know?

So heating up the outs of the axefx compensates for the lack of tubes and 450 volt plates?

HOw much was the check from Cliff and if large your buying the beer and pizza Sunday?



I would not think the feel would be effected by a different power amp since you are playing the axefx so that makes sense. It is pretty mind blowing knowing you for the past 6 years that you can go to a gig enjoying your equipment very much that it will weigh maybe 22 pounds and you are not compromising your tone or feel.

See ya next week!

 

[mentoneman]

As some of you might already know Me,Kage and Harry got together last weekend to program in some sounds for Kages Live Rig. The plan was to update Kages Axe-fx software, program some killer tones for him from Scratch and compare a Tube Poweramp to a SS Poweramp.


After comparing Kages Carvin Poweramp to my Boogie 2:90 using the same speaker cab and guitar my final conclusion and Harry's final conclusion is that we are replacing our boogie 2:90's with the new carvin 16lbs 1500 watt solid state Poweramp. I was really hoping this would work out because loosing the Boogie Poweramp has made my already portable rig even easier to lug around!! There were definite differences between the two but with some tweaking to the axe-Fx's parameters I was able to dial in some killer tones and the feel and tone was most definitely their. One of the major things that I noticed is that I had to goose the levels on the Axe-FX because I had them set to low. Once I did that It made both setups sound much better.
The boog will be used in another rig !!

I know there were some people who were curious as to what the verdict was!!

Im am still in awe of what this thing can do and even at BLISTERING volumse, the tone was there and it is still inspiring to play. Kage can back me up when I say BLISTERING volumes because he was outside smoking a butt and he heard me blazing through his rig outside

G-skills!

i'm ss power amp man as well at the moment after some testing using my eggie head as power and a ss amp for the other side of my stereo rig, and then settled on my current config---eggie->thd hotplate set to load->gforce->ss stereo power->speakers.

more consistent levels and volume control.
i did have the poweblock which is so small and light but it died...cheap piece o.....

aloha!

 

[dstroud]

I had a similar experience with a Sansamp GT2 - of course didn't sound as good as your axe-fx, but the GT2 through a 400 watt solid state power amp sounded just as good if not better than through a tube power amp, except TONS more headroom!

 

[Gainfreak]

Ok I'll start the devils advocate witch hunt kill Ralph pigpile

So your saying that the axefx takes out the PA's extra perameters such as presence and depth?

The low end punch is there without the knee-capper of modelers, that weird not held together all too well tone we all know?

So heating up the outs of the axefx compensates for the lack of tubes and 450 volt plates?

HOw much was the check from Cliff and if large your buying the beer and pizza Sunday?



I would not think the feel would be effected by a different power amp since you are playing the axefx so that makes sense. It is pretty mind blowing knowing you for the past 6 years that you can go to a gig enjoying your equipment very much that it will weigh maybe 22 pounds and you are not compromising your tone or feel.

See ya next week!

Can't wait to hang with ya Bro!! With that said, Im pretty anal when it comes to sounds that I like. I know that I like some tones that other wont but at least I know what I like lol!This setup does it in spades and Im happy as hell that heaviest part of the rig is the speaker cab Now I don't need to tell you that Harry is worse then i am when it comes to a no omprimise rig and he is also sold after hearing what I came up with using kages rig,so to me thats saying something!!

 

[Gainfreak]

As some of you might already know Me,Kage and Harry got together last weekend to program in some sounds for Kages Live Rig. The plan was to update Kages Axe-fx software, program some killer tones for him from Scratch and compare a Tube Poweramp to a SS Poweramp.


After comparing Kages Carvin Poweramp to my Boogie 2:90 using the same speaker cab and guitar my final conclusion and Harry's final conclusion is that we are replacing our boogie 2:90's with the new carvin 16lbs 1500 watt solid state Poweramp. I was really hoping this would work out because loosing the Boogie Poweramp has made my already portable rig even easier to lug around!! There were definite differences between the two but with some tweaking to the axe-Fx's parameters I was able to dial in some killer tones and the feel and tone was most definitely their. One of the major things that I noticed is that I had to goose the levels on the Axe-FX because I had them set to low. Once I did that It made both setups sound much better.
The boog will be used in another rig !!

I know there were some people who were curious as to what the verdict was!!

Im am still in awe of what this thing can do and even at BLISTERING volumse, the tone was there and it is still inspiring to play. Kage can back me up when I say BLISTERING volumes because he was outside smoking a butt and he heard me blazing through his rig outside

G-skills!

i'm ss power amp man as well at the moment after some testing using my eggie head as power and a ss amp for the other side of my stereo rig, and then settled on my current config---eggie->thd hotplate set to load->gforce->ss stereo power->speakers.

more consistent levels and volume control.
i did have the poweblock which is so small and light but it died...cheap piece o.....

aloha!

Aloha Bruddah!! Im finding that a 4 space axe rig is suiting me just fine these days!! Im way to fat and old to be lugging stuff to gigs lol

YOU OWN!!

 

[Gainfreak]

I had a similar experience with a Sansamp GT2 - of course didn't sound as good as your axe-fx, but the GT2 through a 400 watt solid state power amp sounded just as good if not better than through a tube power amp, except TONS more headroom!

Darren!

I gotta tell you bro, That tech21 stuff is great and I can totally see that 400 watt sans rig working!!

 

[J.B.]

Wow, this is a little hard for me to believe, but at the same time, makes me very happy. If all three of you agree, then I guess it's settled, I have to get one.


Ralph, as I've told you before, you rock!

 

[mentoneman]

Aloha Bruddah!! Im finding that a 4 space axe rig is suiting me just fine these days!! Im way to fat and old to be lugging stuff to gigs lol

YOU OWN!!

tell you what...IF i had a axe i'd love to check out the 60 watt tech 21 power engines...two of those gtr voiced powered cabs with celestions, all the EQ controls and recording direct outs.....sounds pretty ideal....anyone try these?

 

[thenine]

After comparing Kages Carvin Poweramp to my Boogie 2:90 using the same speaker cab and guitar my final conclusion and Harry's final conclusion is that we are replacing our boogie 2:90's with the new carvin 16lbs 1500 watt solid state Poweramp. quote]

model number? DCM3000L? What model does Kage have? I know he has a Carvin SS in his rack.

 

[anomaly]

1500 watt poweramp! That's more like a PA.

 

[dfrattaroli]

I run my Axe Standard into a Carvin DCM150 and use my VHT 2502 for the Egnater M4. The Carvin sounds great. Although compared to the 1500 watter, it'd be like comparing a tiny Asian-type penis to a huge throbbing, veiny, Italian-style love-gun. (no offense to Asians. It just sounds funny. And I'm sure that in the next 30 minutes, I'll meet an Asian dude with a huge knob just to prove me wrong.)

 

[ejecta]

Aloha Bruddah!! Im finding that a 4 space axe rig is suiting me just fine these days!! Im way to fat and old to be lugging stuff to gigs lol

YOU OWN!!

tell you what...IF i had a axe i'd love to check out the 60 watt tech 21 power engines...two of those gtr voiced powered cabs with celestions, all the EQ controls and recording direct outs.....sounds pretty ideal....anyone try these?

I use two Power Engines but not like you plan to. I use them with a Suhr ISO in a wet dry rig and I think they work great. My set up right now is a VHT Deliverance into a Bogner OS 2x12 and an M13 using the 4 cable method with the post preamp effects going stereo out to the Power Engines. I have a couple of G12H Celestions that I thought of putting in the Power Engines just to see if I liked them better than the Lead 80's on the PE's but that would be just for messing around because I think they sound good as they are. I've used them with several heads and they have worked great with all of them.

I found a great deal for these on line and got both for about half off.

 

[fek]

Aloha Bruddah!! Im finding that a 4 space axe rig is suiting me just fine these days!! Im way to fat and old to be lugging stuff to gigs lol

YOU OWN!!

tell you what...IF i had a axe i'd love to check out the 60 watt tech 21 power engines...two of those gtr voiced powered cabs with celestions, all the EQ controls and recording direct outs.....sounds pretty ideal....anyone try these?

I tried a Power Engine with a Tonelab LE so not exactly the same but I didn't like it all that much. I think I just prefer closed back cabs. I am also not a great tweaker so take it FWIW.

 

[Gainfreak]

Wow, this is a little hard for me to believe, but at the same time, makes me very happy. If all three of you agree, then I guess it's settled, I have to get one.


Ralph, as I've told you before, you rock!

JB!!! YOU ROCK brother!!!

The thing that I noticed between the SS and Tube is that you have to play around with the sag control and other controls in the Axe. Once you do that you wont mind the swat at all IMHO. The Bottom line is that to loose around 40lbs in my rack is huge and the AXE-FX is more then capable of creating the right feel IMHO!

 

[Gainfreak]

Aloha Bruddah!! Im finding that a 4 space axe rig is suiting me just fine these days!! Im way to fat and old to be lugging stuff to gigs lol

YOU OWN!!

tell you what...IF i had a axe i'd love to check out the 60 watt tech 21 power engines...two of those gtr voiced powered cabs with celestions, all the EQ controls and recording direct outs.....sounds pretty ideal....anyone try these?

Its funny that you should say that Pat because I was going to go that Route. My bass player plays in another band and his guitarist uses 2 of the power engines and I was going to ask him to try them. I didn't go that route because of $$$. The new Carvins are pretty cheap and buying 2 power engines is not in the cards at this time! Im still thinking about asking him to try it out though!

 

[Gainfreak]

After comparing Kages Carvin Poweramp to my Boogie 2:90 using the same speaker cab and guitar my final conclusion and Harry's final conclusion is that we are replacing our boogie 2:90's with the new carvin 16lbs 1500 watt solid state Poweramp. quote]

model number? DCM3000L? What model does Kage have? I know he has a Carvin SS in his rack.

I think Kage has the DCM600 600 watter. I was going to get the DCM1000 but after hitting the Carvin site they now came out with the new DCM series that are only 16 lbs. I bought the DCM1540L but they are on back order.

 

[duesentrieb]

Hmm - I'm more than sceptical, but of course I do trust your ears, Ralph.
Is there anything special about those Carvins? If not, I will give it a try with our PA power amp.

 

[Gainfreak]

1500 watt poweramp! That's more like a PA.

It has been my experiance that it takes more SS wattage to generate the same power a Tube puts out. I tried lower wattage SS and they lacked something.Im almost positive that it takes 10x's the Power. It wasn't until I got into the higher wattage that I heard and felt what I liked!

 

[Gainfreak]

I run my Axe Standard into a Carvin DCM150 and use my VHT 2502 for the Egnater M4. The Carvin sounds great. Although compared to the 1500 watter, it'd be like comparing a tiny Asian-type penis to a huge throbbing, veiny, Italian-style love-gun. (no offense to Asians. It just sounds funny. And I'm sure that in the next 30 minutes, I'll meet an Asian dude with a huge knob just to prove me wrong.)

Once again...... you made me