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Posted by: Chris S. Mar 18 2016, 12:39 AM

Hello,

So I am looking for a poweramp and speaker cabinet combo to use with my Avid 11 Rack.

My speaker cab of choice so far is the Mesa 4x12 slanted - and I am wondering if you guys have any suggestions for a power amp?

I have no knowledge of poweramps, so I don't know what I should be looking for and if they contribute to the tone in anyway?

Thanks

Posted by: klasaine Mar 18 2016, 03:04 PM

Mesa ... http://www.mesaboogie.com/amplifiers/electric/all-tube-stereo-power-amps/index.html
Marshall ... https://marshallamps.com/products/amplifiers/rack-power-amps/

ADA, if you can find one ... https://reverb.com/item/300193-ada-microtube-200-power-amp
Quilter - not strictly a power amp as it does have some EQ ... http://www.quilterlabs.com/index.php/products/toneblock-amplifiers/tone-block-200

These are the ones most guys use when they're using power amps. They most definitely impart a 'tone' as well as a dynamic punch.

*ISP also makes a (considerably cheaper) power amp for guitar ... http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/StealthAmp?adpos=1o1&creative=55281441601&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=Cj0KEQjwzq63BRCrtIuGjImRoIIBEiQAGLHdYUWHvvz7249XF-amFrG-fj_WjuazY_mFH60pSLNsZAoaAmkC8P8HAQ

The Marshall and Boogie sound great! (I used to own a Mesa 20/20 EL-84 rack power amp).
The ADA is pretty good and very light.
I've played through Quilter 'amps' and they sound pretty good are very light and powerful.
Never played through an ISP amp.

Posted by: Chris S. Mar 18 2016, 03:38 PM

Thank so much Ken!

What differences would I notice between say the Mesa and the ISP - the Mesa has great reviews but it's also quite up there in price, I would almost just consider getting a Mesa head for that price.

But I'm not sure what I would be compromising with a lower price poweramp such as the ISP.

Posted by: Rammikin Mar 18 2016, 03:45 PM

Using a conventional power amp/cabinet which colors the tone significantly will interfere with the power amp/cabinet emulation in the Eleven. That's why most people generally use an FRFR power amp/cabinet with an Eleven, or any modeler for that matter. That's a flat response cabinet that doesn't impart much color to the tone. Examples of an FRFR include Atomic CLR, Friedman ASM-12, or QSC K12.

This is assuming you really need a power amp/cabinet. These days when playing live, many people just plug their modeler direct into the PA.

Posted by: Chris S. Mar 18 2016, 03:58 PM

I know you can bypass the cabinet simulation on the 11 Rack - so only the preamp modelling will be sent to the output - I won't be doing anything live, just looking for an extra option for recording.

Since I will be investing in a tube head as well as the cab, I figured I would look into a power amp so I could use my 11 Rack with the cab and mic it for more options.

Posted by: Rammikin Mar 18 2016, 04:26 PM

Ahh, I see. One thing to consider: if you're getting a head, and if the head has an effects loop, then a power amp would be redundant, right?

Posted by: Chris S. Mar 18 2016, 04:29 PM

Oh I didn't even think of that! So I can just run my 11 Rack through the FX loop of the head, which would bypass the head's preamp but still use the power amp, correct?

Posted by: AK Rich Mar 18 2016, 04:48 PM

I used to own a 50/50 version of that Marshall power amp that was made in the 90's. Awesome power amp! not to mention it looked great in my rack.

Posted by: Rammikin Mar 18 2016, 04:57 PM

That's right. You probably won't need a separate power amp.

Posted by: klasaine Mar 18 2016, 05:12 PM

Yes sir.

As I've said, I never played an ISP 'amp' (I dig their decimator noise reduction pedal though).
I have used modelers (Line 6) and before that rack pre-amps (ADA) through non-tube power amps (QSC, Crown) and even the power section of a guitar amp (Fender Hot-Rod DeVille, 60 watts, 4-10" spkrs).
I personally prefer a dedicated guitar power amp - like the Marshall or Mesa. They have a more dynamic 'feel' to them. Do they actually sound better? IDK? With today's modelers and profilers I'm sure you can 'sound' exactly the same - tube or solid state. I'm old - for me amps are all about 'feel'. The response I literally feel coming back to me.
I did try an earlier iteration of the Atomic designed specifically for a POD. It was cool. I liked the 'all-in-one' aspect of it - power amp, spkr cab, port for the POD but it lacked the punch/response dig from tubes.

I'm curious about the Freidman ... http://friedmanamplification.com/products/stage-monitors/asm-12/
He builds really great amps so I'd bet his design is excellent ... and not too pricey.

Posted by: PosterBoy Mar 18 2016, 05:32 PM

Look at Matrix power amps, they were designed to be used with modelers and keep the weight of your rig down.

http://uk.matrixamplification.com/

Posted by: Todd Simpson Mar 23 2016, 08:43 PM

If you get a AMp/Mesa head you won't need a separate power amp correct If you just get a power amp, you don't need the head. So ti's either or. Sounds like you are going to get a MESA head which is always a grand idea as they are awesome. You can run your 11 rack in the fx loop of the head and turn OFF the cabinet and preamp emulation so that you just get fx from the 11 rack if you like.

Or you can run in to the 11 rack and out to the clean channel on the messa and use it like a tube power amp it will warm up the sound of the 11 which is always a good thing

I"m using a old VELOCITY 300 power amp with my 11 rack. It has two knobs (that sort of act like bass and treble) that help it sound better at low volume so you don't have to crank it up. But I rarely use it for recording as I mostly record direct from the guitar or using the 11 rack fx on one track in the daw and recording the dry output on another track. That way I can go back and and plugins or what not and reamp the signal One of the handy things about the 11 rack is that it will let you record two separate tracks at the same time, one with fx one without.