AXE-FX Tube Poweramp vs Solid State

[Gainiac]

You guys wouldn't know good tone if you sat on it. I know tone and you don't get it with your damn Axe-Fx and a solid-state amp. Just ask my mother, she heard me rocking out some Jimi in the basement and commented on how the Axe-Fx could never sound that good. Oh, and the next time you have a gig I'm going to show up and kick your ass.

Carl

 

[Gainiac]

Very cool result, Ralph! I'm very interested in the MarkV head so I'm possibly selling my rack rig. The thing is that I got bought my 2:90 new for a very good price and because it's such a killer poweramp I dunno if I can sell it!

-Jaakko

Jaakko!!

I love the 2:90, Its just so freaking heavy!! Im not getting rif of it, I'll just put it to use elsware!!!

I'll back that up an add the ONLY reason I'm NOT using the 2:90 I have is cause it's time for a serious re-tube and a few other small things that needed attention, by the time I had a local tech review it (even if I p/u inexpensive tubes myself an slap em in) it's still going to be such an expense that it made sense to simply lose 40 or so lbs. in the process and get something (hopefully) more reliable when getting slammed around for set up/tear downs... The difference in tone was transparent enough that it simply made sense for me....

 

[Drkorey]

I'm glad you guys came to the same conclusion I did. I switched over about a year and a half ago and haven't looked back. I'm running a Carvin DCM 600 and it's doing me just fine. There are times when I wish I'd gone for more watts but at most of the gigs I do I still have plenty of headroom. Now you guys have got me wondering about the new light weight Carvins though.

Sup!!! The DCM600 is fine. i don't think that you need to go up if the DCM is working for you. That's the Poweramp we used and it worked great. I only went with the new one because the price was right and it was a few lbs lighter!!

What are you guys doing to make the 600 work? I used that before I got my vht 2:90:2 and the 2:90 destroyed it in volume. I'd have to dime the 600 and I still got drowned out by my band. I never messed with the Axe internal volume levels much though, I could give that a shot.

 

[Gainfreak]

I'm glad you guys came to the same conclusion I did. I switched over about a year and a half ago and haven't looked back. I'm running a Carvin DCM 600 and it's doing me just fine. There are times when I wish I'd gone for more watts but at most of the gigs I do I still have plenty of headroom. Now you guys have got me wondering about the new light weight Carvins though.

Sup!!! The DCM600 is fine. i don't think that you need to go up if the DCM is working for you. That's the Poweramp we used and it worked great. I only went with the new one because the price was right and it was a few lbs lighter!!

What are you guys doing to make the 600 work? I used that before I got my vht 2:90:2 and the 2:90 destroyed it in volume. I'd have to dime the 600 and I still got drowned out by my band. I never messed with the Axe internal volume levels much though, I could give that a shot.

Thats actually what happened to me for some reason on both when I compared my rig with someone elses. I had to almost dime my volumes on the axe-fx with the 2:90 and with the carvin. When I looked at my volume levels in the axe-fx they were set to minus 7 or something like that and I set them to 0db and it came alive. Im not sure if Im supposed to do that but it sounds killer now and it made a world of difference.

 

[fek]

Carvin has the DCM1540L for $399.99 right now FWIW. $50 instant rebate.

 

[Gainfreak]

Carvin has the DCM1540L for $399.99 right now FWIW. $50 instant rebate.

I bought one of those but they are backorder. You just reminded me to call them to see how long its gonna take!!!

 

[Digital Jams]

Well then I guess Ralph won't be very interested in the Meathead so more time for us hack slugs while Ralph discusses push/pull solid state.

 

[Gainfreak]

Well then I guess Ralph won't be very interested in the Meathead so more time for us hack slugs while Ralph discusses push/pull solid state.

Dude, Im not sure i can even lift the meathead up, so the 16lb solid state rig will have to do for now

 

[fek]

Carvin has the DCM1540L for $399.99 right now FWIW. $50 instant rebate.

I bought one of those but they are backorder. You just reminded me to call them to see how long its gonna take!!!

Interesting marketing move. The unit is selling so well that we should give an instant rebate!

 

[Drkorey]

[

What are you guys doing to make the 600 work? I used that before I got my vht 2:90:2 and the 2:90 destroyed it in volume. I'd have to dime the 600 and I still got drowned out by my band. I never messed with the Axe internal volume levels much though, I could give that a shot.[/quote]


Thats actually what happened to me for some reason on both when I compared my rig with someone elses. I had to almost dime my volumes on the axe-fx with the 2:90 and with the carvin. When I looked at my volume levels in the axe-fx they were set to minus 7 or something like that and I set them to 0db and it came alive. Im not sure if Im supposed to do that but it sounds killer now and it made a world of difference.[/quote]

I pulled my DCM 600 out and tried it today - do you remember what screen you went to 0 db on? Was it a "master" page somewhere. I think that is all that I am missing.

 

[degenaro]

[

What are you guys doing to make the 600 work? I used that before I got my vht 2:90:2 and the 2:90 destroyed it in volume. I'd have to dime the 600 and I still got drowned out by my band. I never messed with the Axe internal volume levels much though, I could give that a shot.

Thats actually what happened to me for some reason on both when I compared my rig with someone elses. I had to almost dime my volumes on the axe-fx with the 2:90 and with the carvin. When I looked at my volume levels in the axe-fx they were set to minus 7 or something like that and I set them to 0db and it came alive. Im not sure if Im supposed to do that but it sounds killer now and it made a world of difference.[/quote]

I pulled my DCM 600 out and tried it today - do you remember what screen you went to 0 db on? Was it a "master" page somewhere. I think that is all that I am missing.[/quote]
Global... out1 eq

 

[Drkorey]

thanks Ed D.

 

[shred-o-holic]

So how's the SS experiment going now? I wanna know how that Carvin SS 1500 watt amp sounds if you have it yet. I physically picked up one of those 13 pound QSC PLX 1804's the other day......then I picked up the other power amps in the store. I wanted to take the PLX 1804 home right then and there....

 

[Drkorey]

Ed - just to clarify do you mean the gain slider on the global out1 eq? All I see is that and the freq. sliders from 63->8k

thanks

 

[Mark Day]

Ed - just to clarify do you mean the gain slider on the global out1 eq? All I see is that and the freq. sliders from 63->8k

thanks

Sounds like you are on a Graphic EQ (GEQ).
Go to Global on the front panel of the AxeFx and hit the page button until you get to the Global EQ page, that's where you will find the Gain slider..the Graphic EQ (GEQ) within a patch does not have the Gain slider.

Mark

 

[dfrattaroli]

thanks Ed D.

+1

 

[dfrattaroli]

Ed - just to clarify do you mean the gain slider on the global out1 eq? All I see is that and the freq. sliders from 63->8k

thanks

Sounds like you are on a Graphic EQ (GEQ).
Go to Global on the front panel of the AxeFx and hit the page button until you get to the Global EQ page, that's where you will find the Gain slider..the Graphic EQ (GEQ) within a patch does not have the Gain slider.

Mark

I'm sitting at work at 8:13am and now I can't wait till 4pm so I can go home and check this.

 

[Gainfreak]

So how's the SS experiment going now? I wanna know how that Carvin SS 1500 watt amp sounds if you have it yet. I physically picked up one of those 13 pound QSC PLX 1804's the other day......then I picked up the other power amps in the store. I wanted to take the PLX 1804 home right then and there....

I got to practice early and I pulled out the 2:90 and put the Carvin in before anyone got there. only me and the bass player knew that I yanked the other poweramp. The carvin sounded a bit thinner at first, so I tweaked my settings a bit by adding in some sag in the power amp section of the AXE and I tweaked a bit of the eq and not only did it cut like glass, no one knew that I swapped out poweramps.
needless to say Im very happy with it and the SS lightened up my rig by about 30 LBS, so Im stoked.
I have a gig comming up where I have to use a backline and the great thing is that Im only using there cabinet. Im bringing my axe-rig and the setup time is literally me plugging the Poweramp into the speaker cab and setting up the midi board......Done

 

[cliffc8488]

Went SS about six months ago. My back and my wallet are grateful.

 

[Gainfreak]

Went SS about six months ago. My back and my wallet are grateful.

I agree 100%
Not only did it lighten up the rig it cost me damn near $180 to re-tube my 2:90. With that said Even though the tubes last a while as murphy's law would have it, tubes usually go at the worst time or when your flat broke and can't afford a re-tube