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Tube or SS Power Amp??

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mspeert

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1

Saturday, July 14th 2012, 4:26pm

Tube or SS Power Amp??

Anyone have experience with either an Atomic 50/50 or a Matrix GT1000FX? Also interested in hearing cab and/or speaker recommendations.

Acker

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2

Saturday, July 14th 2012, 4:37pm

Hi!

I'm using an Atomic Monoblock 50W - Tube Amp. It sounds really cool - I use the monitor out and a standard Marshall 1960 4x12 - I feed the FOH through the main outs. I had a Rocktron Velocity 300 (SS) - the Atomic sounds much better!

mspeert

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Saturday, July 14th 2012, 7:03pm

Quoted from "Acker"

Hi!

I'm using an Atomic Monoblock 50W - Tube Amp. It sounds really cool - I use the monitor out and a standard Marshall 1960 4x12 - I feed the FOH through the main outs. I had a Rocktron Velocity 300 (SS) - the Atomic sounds much better!


Hi there!
Thank for the reply.
Is the 50W enough power to get good clean headroom? Do you have any issues balancing eq between FOH and Monitor? I assume you are using this set-up w/Monitor Cabs Off? Do you feel/hear a significant difference between the tubes and the ss amp you were using?

musicman65

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Saturday, July 14th 2012, 7:37pm

The beauty of a tube amp is the natural compression and soft clipping that you get. It makes the amp more forgiving and sound louder.

Solid State amps are more hi-fi but can't be overdriven or they sound harsh. Figure on needing 5 to 10 times the wattage to have the headroom to avoid clipping vs a tube amp. I use a 500w FRFR combo keyboard amp and its about as loud as a 100w tube stack set to max clean volume.

bd

This post has been edited 1 times, last edit by "musicman65" (Jul 15th 2012, 12:17am)

davec69

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Sunday, July 15th 2012, 12:05am

I'm using my ADA Microtube 200. Sounds great, and a great deal if you can find them out there.

The Microtube has 2 12AX7's inside. Not the same as power tube distortion, but it adds a nice warmth. They're getting old now, but I've gone through mine and replaced all of the electrolytic caps, so it's good for another 10 years or so.

Acker

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6

Sunday, July 15th 2012, 9:11am

Hi!

The Atomic is very loud - cleans should be no problem. The sound through a guitar cabinet is of course different of what the audience will hear through the PA. So you have to adjust that sound before and then you can use the monitor out EQ to tweak your stage sound. I like the feel of a 4x12 guitar cab on stage and in my opinion the Tube Amp sounds warmer and richer than the velocity.

benvdd

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Sunday, July 15th 2012, 11:05am

I have a Matrix GT1000FX into a Mesa 4x12 cab, sounds great (as in: better than the poweramp of my dual rectifier I used before that).

apogee123

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Monday, July 16th 2012, 2:55am

Quoted from "benvdd"

I have a Matrix GT1000FX into a Mesa 4x12 cab, sounds great (as in: better than the poweramp of my dual rectifier I used before that).


Using a Matrix power Amp with a standard guitar cab doesn't this defeat the purpose of using a Matrix? I thought the Matrix/Kemper was for use in a Full Range system like a Fractial or is this different?

Guitartone

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Monday, July 16th 2012, 8:05am

Quoted from "apogee123"

Quoted from "benvdd"

I have a Matrix GT1000FX into a Mesa 4x12 cab, sounds great (as in: better than the poweramp of my dual rectifier I used before that).


Using a Matrix power Amp with a standard guitar cab doesn't this defeat the purpose of using a Matrix? I thought the Matrix/Kemper was for use in a Full Range system like a Fractial or is this different?
?(

I can't understand your post, but I'll try. :)

Full Range system (FRFR) and the Matrix/poweramp through a guitar cab are two different systems...two different methods.

FRFR or PA, you use the Kemper Main Outs with Cabinet ON direct to the PA system.
The Matrix/poweramp, you use the Monitor Out with Cabinet OFF direct to a guitar cab.
www.tokaiguitars.co.za
https://soundcloud.com/temper59

benvdd

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Monday, July 16th 2012, 9:11am

Quoted from "apogee123"

Quoted from "benvdd"

I have a Matrix GT1000FX into a Mesa 4x12 cab, sounds great (as in: better than the poweramp of my dual rectifier I used before that).


Using a Matrix power Amp with a standard guitar cab doesn't this defeat the purpose of using a Matrix? I thought the Matrix/Kemper was for use in a Full Range system like a Fractial or is this different?
What Mr Guitartone said :)

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