Slaving and Effects Loops?

[motrock]

Dave, I have a question about slaving amps. I am wanting to slave my Variplex in to a 100watt Marshall style amp. I was told to slave my amp using a Suhr ISO Line box. I have a friend that slaves his stuff in to a Ceriatone 2555 Jubilee clone. The effects loop on the 2555 is inserted before the EQ and Phase Inverter. So you get the use of the EQ when slaving in to the Effects Loop Return. This guy is slaving 18watt amps in to his 2555 loop and the 18watter sound HUGE. I am thinking I can slave my Variplex in to a 100watter and not only control the volume, but make it sound HUGE just like my friend does with his 18watter and his 50 watt Soldano clone.

It was also suggested to me that I use one of these for a speaker load in my VariPlex:
https://amptechtools.powweb.com/truload.htm

So, what can you; or anyone else, tell me about the do's and don'ts of Slaving in to and Effects loop?
What kind of effects loop is better for slaving and getting a great tone in the process? Is my friend on to something really cool with the effects loop Pre Phase Inverter and EQ?
Do you suggest anything else other then the Suhr ISO Line Box? http://www.suhrguitars.com/tonetools.aspx#LineOut
Do you agree that slaving will make things sound more full? More headroom?

I basically want my headroom back, and still be able to control the volume. I have had a lot of people suggest slaving to me!

Any help on slaving would be appreciated!

 

[chumbucket]

Why don't you get a Hotplate and save yourself some dough? I'm sure the Suhr ISO is a nice unit but you can incorporate a load and line in the Hotplate (not the best sounding load though) for about $200-250 used.
You might also want to try using effects or an eq in between the amps and/or using a dedicated power amp to power another cab.

 

[motrock]

I already have a hotplate. I was told they are unsafe to use as a load with your amp. You need a real load.. which is basically a speaker. Thats why I want the 200watt TruLoad. Its basically a speaker without the cone.

My issue is getting a 100watt amp with the correct effects loop. I do not know enough about effects loops to know what kind of amp to get. Thats my main concern! I am only planning on using one cab btw. Not enough money for more cabs!

 

[chumbucket]

The Hotplate is a straight up resistive load when used at full attenuation. It may not sound as good as a reactive load (depends on the amp in my experience) but it shouldn't harm your amp.
Most effects loop returns are post-eq and pre-power section. Your buddies amp with the ability to use the EQ while feeding the effects return is an oddball I'd say. Most don't do that but it doesn't matter much anyway.

 

[motrock]

The Hotplate is a straight up resistive load when used at full attenuation. It may not sound as good as a reactive load (depends on the amp in my experience) but it shouldn't harm your amp.
Most effects loop returns are post-eq and pre-power section. Your buddies amp with the ability to use the EQ while feeding the effects return is an oddball I'd say. Most don't do that but it doesn't matter much anyway.

Yeah, his amp must be an oddball. He loves it. He said he has further ability to shape the tone with the 100watters EQ. And he's slaving an 18watter in to his 100watter. It sounds HUGE! If it doesn't matter much I guess I could explore other options.

What kind of an amp would be good for slaving? I looked at a Carvin Legacy, but then again they are cheaper amps. Maybe an Egnater?

 

[chumbucket]

The Hotplate is a straight up resistive load when used at full attenuation. It may not sound as good as a reactive load (depends on the amp in my experience) but it shouldn't harm your amp.
Most effects loop returns are post-eq and pre-power section. Your buddies amp with the ability to use the EQ while feeding the effects return is an oddball I'd say. Most don't do that but it doesn't matter much anyway.

Yeah, his amp must be an oddball. He loves it. He said he has further ability to shape the tone with the 100watters EQ. And he's slaving an 18watter in to his 100watter. It sounds HUGE! If it doesn't matter much I guess I could explore other options.

What kind of an amp would be good for slaving? I looked at a Carvin Legacy, but then again they are cheaper amps. Maybe an Egnater?

I don't necessarily think that going through a tone stack is a good idea. It might work well in your buddies case but it may not in yours. I'd rather have the raw signal processed by a good parametric EQ than the EQ of a guitar amp, if it even needs to be EQ'ed at all! Try it raw from amp to amp. Did you ever plug your Variplex into his rig?
You can also get a tube power amp from Carvin or VHT or Mesa, that would serve your purpose very well without all the other unnecessary features of a guitar amp (unless you want/need another amp too?). You can also get a decent solid state power amp for $150 or so.

 

[motrock]

The Hotplate is a straight up resistive load when used at full attenuation. It may not sound as good as a reactive load (depends on the amp in my experience) but it shouldn't harm your amp.
Most effects loop returns are post-eq and pre-power section. Your buddies amp with the ability to use the EQ while feeding the effects return is an oddball I'd say. Most don't do that but it doesn't matter much anyway.

Yeah, his amp must be an oddball. He loves it. He said he has further ability to shape the tone with the 100watters EQ. And he's slaving an 18watter in to his 100watter. It sounds HUGE! If it doesn't matter much I guess I could explore other options.

What kind of an amp would be good for slaving? I looked at a Carvin Legacy, but then again they are cheaper amps. Maybe an Egnater?

I don't necessarily think that going through a tone stack is a good idea. It might work well in your buddies case but it may not in yours. I'd rather have the raw signal processed by a good parametric EQ than the EQ of a guitar amp, if it even needs to be EQ'ed at all! Try it raw from amp to amp. Did you ever plug your Variplex into his rig?
You can also get a tube power amp from Carvin or VHT or Mesa, that would serve your purpose very well without all the other unnecessary features of a guitar amp (unless you want/need another amp too?). You can also get a decent solid state power amp for $150 or so.

I would plug my Variplex in to his rig... but he lives in Oklahoma and I am in Illinois. With no time to take off of work! Kinda sucks because this guy has everything! So, would you think that a used Carvin Legacy or something like that would work? I want to get an amp with a power section similar to a Marshall. I don't want solid state amps or power amps.