Members MattACaster Posted December 3, 2012 Members Share Posted December 3, 2012 Haven't been feeling my Carvin TS100 recently. I love the way my Axe-FX sounds through my Triple Recto's power section but 90% of the time I run stereo. Was thinking of trying something new and going the SS route to save on some weight. I know those Matrix amps are pretty popular but not sure I want so spend the $$. Was looking at the Carvin DCM series. Anyone here running a SS power amp with your Axe? What are you using? Do you like it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarbilly74 Posted December 3, 2012 Members Share Posted December 3, 2012 One of my friends was using a Axe-FX with a VHT power amp initially but he switched to a SS power amp (Carvin). It definitely sounded better with SS amp to be honest. The Axe really need squeaky clean power to sound its best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MattACaster Posted December 3, 2012 Author Members Share Posted December 3, 2012 Originally Posted by guitarbilly74 One of my friends was using a Axe-FX with a VHT power amp initially but he switched to a SS power amp (Carvin). It definitely sounded better with SS amp to be honest. The Axe really need squeaky clean power to sound its best. Do you know what he is using? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarbilly74 Posted December 3, 2012 Members Share Posted December 3, 2012 Originally Posted by MattACaster Do you know what he is using? DCM1000 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MattACaster Posted December 3, 2012 Author Members Share Posted December 3, 2012 Originally Posted by guitarbilly74 DCM1000 Awesome!Was eyeing the DCM1540L and the DCM2000L myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DoubleBarrel Posted December 3, 2012 Members Share Posted December 3, 2012 I have an Alesis RA-100 that I used to use to power some of my rack stuff that I'd be willing to part with very,very cheap, or if you had something to trade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MattACaster Posted December 3, 2012 Author Members Share Posted December 3, 2012 Originally Posted by DoubleBarrel I have an Alesis RA-100 that I used to use to power some of my rack stuff that I'd be willing to part with very,very cheap, or if you had something to trade. I appreciate the offer. I actually have the RA150 but it isn't powerful enough to hang with the band. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HottKarl Posted December 3, 2012 Members Share Posted December 3, 2012 What about the SLA-2? Seems like I heard of a few people using those with their Axe. I have a QSC amp that I used. Plenty loud and clean.....worked well enough but I never used the Axe through a tube amp so can't compare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Neilrocks25 Posted December 3, 2012 Members Share Posted December 3, 2012 I did it, it was ok Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DoubleBarrel Posted December 3, 2012 Members Share Posted December 3, 2012 Originally Posted by MattACaster I appreciate the offer. I actually have the RA150 but it isn't powerful enough to hang with the band. I had the same issue.I got a Rocktron Velocity 100 and love it. Although I'd get the 150 or 300 if I was buying now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MattACaster Posted December 3, 2012 Author Members Share Posted December 3, 2012 Originally Posted by HottKarl What about the SLA-2? Seems like I heard of a few people using those with their Axe.I have a QSC amp that I used. Plenty load and clean.....worked well enough but I never used the Axe through a tube amp so can't compare. I was looking that too. A lot of people say it's really dark. I'm not sure if that is a bad thing or not. I was mostly looking at higher-wattage amps (600+) for the clean headroom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MattACaster Posted December 3, 2012 Author Members Share Posted December 3, 2012 Originally Posted by Neilrocks25 I did it, it was ok You preferred tube? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Zozobra Posted December 3, 2012 Members Share Posted December 3, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mizati20 Posted December 3, 2012 Members Share Posted December 3, 2012 Run my Axe-II with a Matrix GT1000FX... aside from my favorite amp on the planet the VH-4... this is the most fun and incredible setup I have ever used... just having EVERYTHING in on simple setup is indispensable to me... can run direct to FoH if I want, run stereo through my Marshall cab, or both actually... I've used an Axe with a tube poweramp before, although it was with an Ultra... however I VASTLY prefer this setup with the SS power amp...Quick pic: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MattACaster Posted December 3, 2012 Author Members Share Posted December 3, 2012 Originally Posted by Mizati20 Run my Axe-II with a Matrix GT1000FX... aside from my favorite amp on the planet the VH-4... this is the most fun and incredible setup I have ever used... just having EVERYTHING in on simple setup is indispensable to me... can run direct to FoH if I want, run stereo through my Marshall cab, or both actually... I've used an Axe with a tube poweramp before, although it was with an Ultra... however I VASTLY prefer this setup with the SS power amp...Quick pic: Awesome!I have an Ultra myself. I'll get a 2 at some point though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Elric Posted December 3, 2012 Members Share Posted December 3, 2012 FWIW, the current hipster power amp among the AxeFx fans is the Matrix Amplification GT series of SS amplifiers. A lot of folks claim these are the ultimate Axe power amps (i.e. "I sold my VHT power amp" kind of statements). I've never played one. I am way too happy with my old, oh what the heck, let's call it "vintage", ADA Microtube 200 to bother but those are getting rare and I'm guessing it would be hard to fix if it broke (no schematic, etc). Technically the ADA is a hybrid amp because it has a couple of preamp tubes in the signal path but I think of it as an SS amp. The Carvin DCM's are popular choices because they are Class AB amps, IIRC, which some people think has a more natural feel. I would probably look at those or the new Rocktron Velocity 300 which has gotten some rave reviews. So if my MT200 ever breaks my order of evaluation will be: Matrix, Rocktron, Carvin. Failing that, an old MOSValve. In general, the Axe (mine is a gen1, Ultra model) has enough control and the power amp sims are good enough that it does indeed get great tone with SS power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Wookieslayer Posted December 3, 2012 Members Share Posted December 3, 2012 I've got an ART SLA-2. Gonna try and demo it asap by end of next week. Probably going to sell it though because i have too many maps and no real rack preamp for it; sounds good and loud. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members magh8 Posted December 3, 2012 Members Share Posted December 3, 2012 I have been thinking about grabbing an snax myself. my mkiv has me thinking. love the lead channel on the amp just as much as my mkv. the V has a better clean and crunch but the snax would give me a lot more freedom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Shask Posted December 4, 2012 Members Share Posted December 4, 2012 Sometimes I use my SLA-2 and other times I use the power section of my Triple Recto for my Axe-FX Standard. I only play at home volumes though I think the ART can sound pretty good and the Axe has so many adjustments you can compensate for any bass/treble differences. The biggest difference I notice is that thump and "jumping out of the speaker" quality is higher with the Recto, but both sound good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JerEvil Posted December 4, 2012 Members Share Posted December 4, 2012 The SLA-2 was THE go-to power amp for quite some time. Just like anything, as soon as a new month rolls around, the flavor changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Wookieslayer Posted December 4, 2012 Members Share Posted December 4, 2012 Originally Posted by Shask Sometimes I use my SLA-2 and other times I use the power section of my Triple Recto for my Axe-FX Standard. I only play at home volumes though I think the ART can sound pretty good and the Axe has so many adjustments you can compensate for any bass/treble differences. The biggest difference I notice is that thump and "jumping out of the speaker" quality is higher with the Recto, but both sound good. Well it is gadamn triple fucking recto of course it will thump hard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Shask Posted December 4, 2012 Members Share Posted December 4, 2012 Originally Posted by Wookieslayer Well it is gadamn triple fucking recto of course it will thump hard! Well, I keep that amp because it is the most huge sounding amp there is I cant let it go even though I have an Axe-FX and HD500.I am just talking in terms of the power amp section.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Johnny Two Tone Posted December 4, 2012 Members Share Posted December 4, 2012 Originally Posted by guitarbilly74 One of my friends was using a Axe-FX with a VHT power amp initially but he switched to a SS power amp (Carvin). It definitely sounded better with SS amp to be honest. The Axe really need squeaky clean power to sound its best. This, totally. WIth my Axe-FX I like to run it into my tube combo amp and then turn off the cab simulations. Basically, everything sounds great from the Axe-FX without much tweaking as long as you disable the cab simulations (that's where a lot of tweaking is needed). The thing is - and the reason I'm mentioning this - is that my particular amp was specifically engineered to by ultra-clean for the purpose of adding pedals in front of it (it has no drive no matter than volume).So, I'd say, ya, go ahead and use a nice SS amp, but make sure it's got crystal clear cleans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Neilrocks25 Posted December 4, 2012 Members Share Posted December 4, 2012 Originally Posted by MattACaster You preferred tube? yes I did, but I will also say power amps do sound different and mine was cheap. also speakers play a big part. So maybe may set up was off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeadNight Warrior Posted December 4, 2012 Members Share Posted December 4, 2012 I run my Ultra with a Matrix GT800FX. Used to power an Atomic wedge, now it powers a 2x12 (although for gigs we run the violin into my Ultra's input 2 and use the other side of the Matrix to run that into the Atomic). Haven't had any problems with it, sounds great, weighs fuck all, stays nice 'n' cool, takes up only 1U in the rack. Was considering running maybe a V30 in a little wedge out front to hear myself better without having to rely on shitty monitoring, but that was before we started using that 2nd side of the poweramp. So now I'm considering adding another one to the rack. Suppose I could get the new 3 channel one (not sure if it's actually out yet), but I figure just adding another power amp, then hey, I've got a spare channel for whatever else we decide to run. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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