software

I have a Boss GT-8 which I plan on using as my pre-amp (yes I'll even use the modelled distortions) to run to a power amp which will go to 2 Marshall MG412 slant cabs (they're cheapo 4x12 cabs).. I'm looking for a power amp with enough juice to suit fair size venues (I don't play in anything bigger than a gymnasium size room).. the problem is that I'm afraid my tone will be too lifeless if I go with say a Crate Power Block.. is getting a tube power amp a good solution or is it a waste of money... the highest I'd go in price is say $800 for a Mesa Boogie Recto 2:100 tube power amp.. any suggestions?

If you're going to rely on the amp models for your distortion, go with something with lots of headroom....such as the Mesa 2:100.

But, since you're not playing that loud, you could probably get away with a Mesa 50/50. The 20/20 probably wouldn't have the headroom you're after, and the EL84s it runs off would colour your tone more than the 6L6s the bigger power amps use.

For live use I had great luck with a GT-6 and a 10 year old Carvin X-100B (tube). I ran 2x12 mono. I think your plan with tube stereo would yield very good results. (Also used some stop boxes including two TS-9's) I just used the clean channel set at about 2 with the tones set at neutral. When using a modeler as the foundation of your tone I've found that clean headroom is the way to go as you don't really want the amp to color the sound too much. That said, the slight tube coloration IS a good thing. I also had good results using my 73 Pro Reverb but it did color the sound a bit more than the Carvin. Sometimes for the better (dirt) and sometimes for the worse (crystal clean). The Carvin just worked better all around.

Carvin makes a stereo tube power amp at 50/50. Would be more than enough power unless you want to stun small animals at 100 yards.

I tried using various solid state amps with this set-up just to experiment for cases of emergency. I was never satisfied with the tone but it would have been usable.

I'd suggest though that you get your hands on a regular PA power amp of at least 100 watts a side and give it a go before investing in the tube amp. You just might find the tone to your liking and can save quite a bit of dough. But if it don't cut it, I'd say you'd be happy with a good tube unit.

The only thing that a tube power amp might lack over a good clean tube guitar head(s) would be the lack of tone controls and maybe reverb. It was nice having the tone and reverb controls to tweek the global sound of the rig from room to room without having to tweek patches, which we all know is a pain in the heat of battle. But you might consider adding an external EQ if you go with a power amp to make global adjustments for different rooms.

thanks for all the info sly.. btw the GT-8 has global tone controls.. I'm going to be using the gt-8 for EVERYTHING.. I'm still deciding between trying a PA power amp (hell I need one for my singer anyways), a crate Power Block, or an expensive mesa tube power amp (the 50/50 is simply 50 watts per each of the 2 channels right?)... would the mesa breathe THAT much life into my rig (500 dollars worth of life would be adequate)?

btw what is headroom?.. I'm thinking it has something to do with being able to play clean tones at loud volumes without distortion.. which might lead me to the mesa 100 instead of the 50/50 so that I can play clean LOUD without it getting muddy (and with 8 12s my cabs should be able to handle it.. or would the mesa stereo 100 be too powerful for my 120 watt marshall cabs?)

I think 50 a side should be plenty especially when using 8 12's. Unless you are going to be playing REALLY loud. If you can find out the efficiency of the speakers in your cabs that can help you decide how much power you will need. Most modern guitar 12's are in the range of 100 dB for 1 watt @ 1 meter. Get 8 of those going at one time and you are moving some serious air without the need for a lot of power. If they are on the low side of the efficeincy scale...like 95dB then you might need 100 watts a side. Every 3dB change in efficiency makes a tremendous difference in volume potential. So while wattage is important, the final determining factor of how loud your rig will go depends of how efficeintly you speakers convert those watts into actual sound pressure.

I've seen 12's rated at 103dB and 8 of them driven by a 100 watt amp run wide open would just be scary loud! I mean quot;hey dude the hair on my arms is moving!quot; loud.

Just try before you buy and let YOUR ears be the judge.

EDIT: as for 100 watts being too much for your cabs I say you'd be fine but you could get some speaker break up if you run the amp(s) full out. I don't think you'd blow the speakers up but you would be working them pretty close to the edge.


Originally Posted by rainsong86btw what is headroom?.. I'm thinking it has something to do with being able to play clean tones at loud volumes without distortion..

Correct.