Noob amp slaving questions.

[Mudder]

I've been mostly a combo or head type guy, simple stuff, and I have a few questions about adding a power amp to the mix with a small head and cab.

Scenario:
Blackstar HT-5
3 or 4 pedals
2x12 8 ohm cab

So I'd like to get more volume out of this kit without breaking the bank so I'm thinking SS power amp like a MV962 or Velocity 300. So just a quick tutorial on how this sets up. Do I go from the cab sim out to the power amp input? Or from the effects loop send? If I use the effects loop would I need to put all the pedal in front of the head? Do I just use guitar cable from head to power amp or do I need speaker cables?

 

[Mudder]

No love....

 

[glpg80]

best way to get "the tone" of the entire amplifier is to use a THD hotplate or the likes as a direct line out, that way you are getting the tone of the power amp of the HT-5 as well.

then from there you can go into the cab simulator if you want, or go directly into the power amplifier of your choice

you can insert effects in your effects loop of your amplifier as a pre power amp tone or after the THD although i wouldnt recommend anything right in front of the slaved solid state power amplifier, effects pedals wise, except possibly a noise gate.

edit:

the second setup you could do is ala peavey with a "preamp out"

same thing as a direct line out.

keep the volume on the amplifier extremely low when doing this one because the negative feedback from the OT will boost your signal when you kick up the volume from your amplifier. thats an excellent way to fry a mixing board or a sensitive piece of gear, or even the slave amplifier itself for that matter.

with the preamp out method you are bypassing the tone of your power tubes running through an impedance load on your OT and thus out your speaker jacks, but if thats what you are wanting then it will work. you just better balance your volume level accordingly.

the output will be low voltage so you can run it straight to effects pedals or a cab simulator, and then directly into the SS power amplifier from there which will end your signal chain. with this setup, i would again suggest running effects in the effects loop before the negative feedback circuit. especially if the effects loop is tube buffered which will keep the tone of the effects from sounding too up front and digital sounding.
-matt

 

[Mudder]

Cool. Thanks. It sounds like as long as I'm careful about the HT-5 I can trial and error things. It also sounds like speaker cables is the preferred wire as well.

 

[Digital Jams]

delay based effects need to be in the loop pretty much imo, others can be in front of the amp.

The easiest way would be a lineout device like a hotplate or HK Redbox and the 2nd power amp can feed the wet side of the signal into another cab. YOur sound would be much larger with a w/d rig.

Here is an example from Hal9000,

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

might as well try the cab sim output and see how it sounds. really can't feature it being much deferent than a line out?


i use the Suhr line box instead of a hotplate. or if you're handy, you could build a line box pretty easily.