Picking the right power amp

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Atsukan

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I am making the change to an Axe-FX III which means I am going to be needing a power amp. My needs are pretty minimal as I'm primarily going to be using the new setup for live gigs. I am just curious as to how people go about picking a good power amp? I would like to balance cost/quality as best a possible and don't want to break the bank since I already did on the Axe-FX.
 
Good value on a non-tube power amp is a Mosvalve Mosfet. Usually for under 300 bucks. If you want new the Matrix stuff is very good. If you can find one, the HH V800 Mosfet is the standard that many pros used for years. They also made lower powered options as well. I have an HH M900 which is identical to the V800, but is the install version with less options than the V800 with 2 in/outs vs 4 each in the V800.
The only tube power amp I've owned is the mighty Strategy 400, which will cost closer to 1K used. But it is an absolute monster.
 
I've stuck with Crown SS amps since the 90's and they have never let me down. I used the Power Base series on stage and in the studio and never had a problem. Every one I own has exceeded the wattage spec and delivered pure sine wave output. PB units are plenty cheap and the newer XLS models are great to buy new but lower wattage. Pure workhorses.
 
I love my MosValve and they can had cheap. I got mine for $80 in perfect working order.

Also, My Quilter 101Mini is a powerhouse, but it's not a rack thing i suppose.

Personally, i steer clear of the flat power amps like the Matrix, even though they are really great power amps. I feel if you're going into a real cab, you should use a power amp made for guitar, though honestly, depending on power amp design, there isn't a whole lot of difference between the flatter stuff and a guitar power amp.

Either way, i have had great success with my above recommendations with my Helix.
 
I'm liking the Powerstage 170 with the AX8. Maybe the rack mount Powerstage 700 would be more convenient with the AXE FX. The Matrix GT1000 is great too.
 
Get a rack shelf and mount the Quilter to it. Seriously, my buddy brought his Crown over with his Axe II and compared it to my Quilter and the Quilter ate it up. Just sounded fuller. Not a fan of the PowerStage. DEFINITELY skip the ISP Stealth.
 
I love the ISP Stealth...

With that said, the Rocktron Velocity was great too... the 300 version (I think) has some presence/thump controls that are nice to tweak according to whatever space you are in...

Best of luck!
 
Racerxrated":js4g1gta said:
Good value on a non-tube power amp is a Mosvalve Mosfet. Usually for under 300 bucks. If you want new the Matrix stuff is very good. If you can find one, the HH V800 Mosfet is the standard that many pros used for years. They also made lower powered options as well. I have an HH M900 which is identical to the V800, but is the install version with less options than the V800 with 2 in/outs vs 4 each in the V800.
The only tube power amp I've owned is the mighty Strategy 400, which will cost closer to 1K used. But it is an absolute monster.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:
 
McLeanAB":1w7yeq0w said:
I love the ISP Stealth...

With that said, the Rocktron Velocity was great too... the 300 version (I think) has some presence/thump controls that are nice to tweak according to whatever space you are in...

Best of luck!
Click to expand...

I used to own an older Rocktron Velocity 100 power amp a long time ago. That power amp would go into thermal shutdown onstage in the middle of the show, leaving me stranded onstage. After it happened one time onstage, I took it out of my rack, and sold it to someone ASAP. I couldn't get rid of it fast enough. I can't say anything about the 300 watt version, but I'm glad it worked out for you.

Guitar George
 
I have an Atomic 50/50 power amp I may be selling. Great amp that works excellent with the Fractal stuff :thumbsup:
 
Anyone have experience running the AxeFX through a Mesa Strategy or Simul-Class 2:90? Did it work well together? Does it sound warmer/fuller than using a solid state power amp, or does the AxeFX get along better with a solid state amp?
 
I’ve run my axe FX ii though a few different poweramps.

My rectos power amp sounds cool, but it just makes everything sound like a Recto. If I want that, I just play the Recto. It was the most colored of every power amp I’ve used. I’ve read this is common with Mesa power amps, they give the ‘Mesa sound’ no matter what.

I also used a Fryette 2/50/2 for a long time, sounds very good, more on the neutral side, but still a tube power amp sound. Some amps sound good with power amp modelling on, and some don’t. It can be easy to get that overly-scooped double-power amp sound which isn’t great. More fiddly to set up and tweak than using a solidstate power amp.

What I use the most is an old Matrix M400 solidstate mosfet power amp which is flat respsonse. Easier to set up than all the rest since that’s really what the axe FX was designed for.

If you want to use the axe FX as preamp-only, then a tube power amp is a good idea, but if you plan to use the full amp models, I would go solidstate. A neutral tube amp can sound just as good but is more work and tweaking to set up, in my opinion.
 
Thinking of finally going Axe FX or Kemper myself, and was gonna check into Matrix and Quilter. I have several tube amps I can run through and might just consider trying that first before spending any $ on a dedicated SS power amp.
 
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