Heads - Power Amps - Please explain.

[1meanplexi]

Hey Crew.

This is question that I have had for a long time. What is the purpose runnuning the head, then running into a power amp to feed the cabs. I know that there is the line out to a power amp then to a cab/monitor. But why have a power amp driving your cabs when running the speakers out from your head is suffice ? Thanks and I look forward to your answers.

 

[Tone Monster]

Wet/dry setups, the desire to run different type power sections, and I'm sure other reasons.

 

[reverymike]

Slaving. You can max your tube amp volume-wise to get that killer compressed power tube overdrive, and then feed that signal to a power amp to control the volume of your speakers. So, you can get a maxed out amp tone, but not the volume associated with it.

And, of course, the W/D, W/D/W applications, etc.

 

[Anonymous]

Slaving. You can max your tube amp volume-wise to get that killer compressed power tube overdrive, and then feed that signal to a power amp to control the volume of your speakers. So, you can get a maxed out amp tone, but not the volume associated with it.

And, of course, the W/D, W/D/W applications, etc.

where does the original amp head signal go (as in your speaker outputs)?

im not sure i follow your explanation here.

 

[maddnotez]

Slaving. You can max your tube amp volume-wise to get that killer compressed power tube overdrive, and then feed that signal to a power amp to control the volume of your speakers. So, you can get a maxed out amp tone, but not the volume associated with it.

And, of course, the W/D, W/D/W applications, etc.

This is pretty interesting. Would you need the same power amp as the head to keep the tone the same?

Also note to anyone who tries "slaving" Be careful. I tried this once, the incorrect way and blew one of the amps

Was trying to use the pre amp of this old crate Stealth I had and a Power amp from the 6505+

Yea, I did not know much about amps back then.

 

[mr11]

I'm curious about this too . So I can run the slave out on my cranked mark iv to the input on my vht 2/50/2 to control volume? Im sure both amps would need a load?

 

[Tone Monster]

I'm curious about this too . So I can run the slave out on my cranked mark iv to the input on my vht 2/50/2 to control volume? Im sure both amps would need a load?

Yes and yes

 

[paulyc]

No, only the Mesa needs a load, the VHT is running into the speakers...that's it's load.

 

[jsp]

For those keeping score, that's master->load, line->slave->cab.

 

[1meanplexi]

Here is one example.

 

[mr11]

Here is one example.

Pretty cool. So #4 is a dummy load (like a radial headload or palmer?)

The key:
1. MXR e.q. set up as midboost (* only occasionally used depending on the guitar)
2. Marshall plexi Super Lead, unmodified, although simple modifications such as a cascaded input stage or added gain through capacitor/resistor exchanges may have been made.
3. Ohmite VARIAC set to approximately 90 Volts A/C
4. Dummy Load
5. MXR Flanger
6. MXR Phase 90 (** This was sometimes put in front of the amp instead of after the dummy load)
7. Echoplex EP3
8. (***Equalization sometimes added prior to power amp)
9. H & H power amp
10. Various Marshall cabinets (sometimes two, sometimes four) used with various Celestion and JBL speakers

 

[1meanplexi]

Here is one example.

Pretty cool. So #4 is a dummy load (like a radial headload or palmer?)

The key:
1. MXR e.q. set up as midboost (* only occasionally used depending on the guitar)
2. Marshall plexi Super Lead, unmodified, although simple modifications such as a cascaded input stage or added gain through capacitor/resistor exchanges may have been made.
3. Ohmite VARIAC set to approximately 90 Volts A/C
4. Dummy Load
5. MXR Flanger
6. MXR Phase 90 (** This was sometimes put in front of the amp instead of after the dummy load)
7. Echoplex EP3
8. (***Equalization sometimes added prior to power amp)
9. H & H power amp
10. Various Marshall cabinets (sometimes two, sometimes four) used with various Celestion and JBL speakers

Exactly!

 

[Tone Monster]

No, only the Mesa needs a load, the VHT is running into the speakers...that's it's load.

Semantics. Yes they both need a load, whether dummy or cab...

 

[maddnotez]

No, only the Mesa needs a load, the VHT is running into the speakers...that's it's load.

Semantics. Yes they both need a load, whether dummy or cab...

And there lies the answer of how I blew my amp

Thankfully it was the Crate and not the Peavey. That's one of those hard learned lessons that I will never repeat again.

 

[Anonymous]

yeah, both amps need a load. not sure where this dirty info is coming from but speaker outs need to go to either a speaker or dummy load of some sort.

 

[nzsteve]

Whats the best box to use for load and line out, whats the difference of using a palmer PDI-03 v PGA-04 (and which is better of those 2) or a Torpedo. Is there one that is very good and lower cost than the Torpedo?

Whats the difference of reamping and say using a Rivera Rock Crusher Recording?

 

[Anonymous]

have you looked into the new boogie cab interface. seems pretty useful.

 

[mr11]

Would it be better to run: Head -> Speaker out -> Load -> Poweramp -> Speaker out -> Cab

or

Head -> slave out -> power amp -> Speaker out -> cab
↓
Speaker Out
↓
Load

In scenario A using something like the cabclone would color the sound quite a bit since you can't disengage the cab sim (I think?) whereas a pure load box wouldn't.

 

[Tone Monster]

Would it be better to run: Head -> Speaker out -> Load -> Poweramp -> Speaker out -> Cab

or

Head -> slave out -> power amp -> Speaker out -> cab
↓
Speaker Out
↓
Load

In scenario A using something like the cabclone would color the sound quite a bit since you can't disengage the cab sim (I think?) whereas a pure load box wouldn't.

There probably isn't a "correct" answer to this. Just different.