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Is just using a power amp for guitar a silly idea?

Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 7:32 pm
by TheOndrakGuy
I've been thinking about this for a while. My ideal amp would be tube, as much clean volume as I can get and just have volume, high, mid and low knobs.
Then I figured a power amp is about as simple as it gets, and as for toneshaping, I could whack a graphic EQ before it.

Could this work or am I being an imbecile for even entertaining such a ridiculous idea?

Re: Is just using a power amp for guitar a silly idea?

Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 8:15 pm
by grindonomicon
I used to use a 1500 watt QSC power amp for a guitar amp. Didn't need to mic'd in clubs anymore. Worked great, sounded good for distorted downtuned grind-sludge. I used a cheap BBE preamp with it, ran it with stereo chorus like an Ampeg VH-140C, but with different distortions and EQing in the two channels.

Been looking at building a battery powered amp with a car stereo amp lately too, which would work much the same... Pedals and EQ for preamping and toanz, clean SS power amp.

Re: Is just using a power amp for guitar a silly idea?

Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 9:04 pm
by GardenoftheDead
If what you're asking is,"Can I just plug my guitar into a power amp," then I'm pretty sure the answer is no. The purpose of a pre-amp is to bring your guitar signal to a point that the power amp can actually do something with it.

Re: Is just using a power amp for guitar a silly idea?

Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 9:35 pm
by Jero
GardenoftheDead wrote:If what you're asking is,"Can I just plug my guitar into a power amp," then I'm pretty sure the answer is no. The purpose of a pre-amp is to bring your guitar signal to a point that the power amp can actually do something with it.

yea pretty much that

Re: Is just using a power amp for guitar a silly idea?

Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 10:01 pm
by theavondon
But, simple pre- set to headroom, plus millions of watts would work like what you want.

Re: Is just using a power amp for guitar a silly idea?

Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 10:46 pm
by smallsnd/bigsnd
fender twin?
i can't see needing more volume

Re: Is just using a power amp for guitar a silly idea?

Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 10:50 pm
by new05002
all you would need is a pedal or 2 and boom thats probably enough to drive most power amps, bring you signal up to a few volts and most things would be plenty loud

Re: Is just using a power amp for guitar a silly idea?

Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 2:30 am
by julius_deane
smallsnd/bigsnd wrote:fender twin?
i can't see needing more volume

Is this some kind of ILF meme? :snax:

Re: Is just using a power amp for guitar a silly idea?

Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 2:36 am
by theavondon
I dunno, I can see many times where a twin reverb isn't enough.