Power Amp

[jorgemg1984]

I don't care if you have a personal checklist to compare the video to regarding things the OP never mentioned, like "archtop" or "clean sound", but if you think that up to the 0:43 mark it's not a clean sound in that video, your comments on the broad topic of electric guitar cannot be taken seriously anymore.

"Clean sound" is an assumption on a jazz forum. If the point of the OP is not to get a power amp or amp for the Kingsley for a jazz clean sound, he's on the wrong forum. But, you're right, on a 8 minute video, the first 40 seconds are clean. But not a jazz sound at all, I would never get the Seymour Duncan to pair with the Kinsley based on that video for a jazz sound. For rock or blues sounds perhaps, but it's not something I know about. If you consider that clip relevant for a jazz sound, then everything you post cannot be considered serious at all.

[jorgemg1984]

This is actually a good clip made by Simon

Using a 335, the first half of the clip is 100% clean, and he compares several versions of the Maiden.

Sounds good, and now I'm curious if the Seymour Duncan is instrument level or line level.

[lapideusvir]

I don't want to confuse you anymore, but the Luna might not be a good choice for the simple fact that I believe is more "Fender" based, so not flat frequency... Pedals like the Kingsley are meant to be used in front of "flat frequency" devices. Anyway, people on Raezers Edge should be able to inform you on this.

If I were you, besides checking some of the bass heads are already refered here, I would check the Henriksen Bud head. It's flat and has input gain and volume controls and a nice Accutroncis digital reverb (if they use the same chip they do in the amps). It should take the Kingsley very well, all you need the is a cab.

You dont confuse me, I find your advice very helpful! And yes, I would like to have a flat frequency. Is the Bud in the same area as the Mambo?
Will check out the Bud Head! Thanks!

[jorgemg1984]

You dont confuse me, I find your advice very helpful! And yes, I would like to have a flat frequency. Is the Bud in the same area as the Mambo?
Will check out the Bud Head! Thanks!

Good, didn't want to confuse you!

Oh, I always asume people are are in the US, but if you're in Europe I would defintely go with Mambo, I love all Jon's stuff. I had one of his heads, and it worked great with pedals in front - but so did the Henriksen head I had (pre Bud, and modded to have a good reverb, the reverb on those first Henriksens was not good).

Another option that works well with Mambo is a PA cab. His Pa cabs are small, light and accept intrument level. You add something like a Torpedo CAB M after the Kingsley for reverb and impulse responses, and you're good to go.

[sgosnell]

I don't think the RE Luna sounds much like a Fender. Quilter has that niche covered. While I haven't heard a Luna in person, the videos I've seen, especially Mark Kleinhaut's, sound nothing like a Fender. If I were in the market for another jazz amp, it would be at the top of my list.

[Hammertone]

Sramt?

Sramtypants!

[Hammertone]

This is a good, cheap option:
I've seen these advertised but have no personal experience with it.

[jorgemg1984]

I don't think the RE Luna sounds much like a Fender. Quilter has that niche covered. While I haven't heard a Luna in person, the videos I've seen, especially Mark Kleinhaut's, sound nothing like a Fender. If I were in the market for another jazz amp, it would be at the top of my list.

If it's indeed "flat frequency" than it's an excellent option - never tried one, but they sound great in all clips I heard. I know the Centauri is more Fender based, and I've assumed the Luna is too, and it might as well not be.

[Gitterbug]

This is a good, cheap option:

I had the Cal. 22 version a long time ago. So noisy it wasn't usable. The culprit may have been the 240V power unit. Anecdotal information suggests that different voltage versions of a given amp may sound different. Less love for the BAM200 in the US than in Europe, for example? T-E Elf in Europe weighing almost 200g more than stated???

[jorgemg1984]

This is a good, cheap option:

I had one, distorts way before you have any decent volume. And it has a very large laptop style external power supply, ends up being no more practical than any regular amp head.

[lapideusvir]

I don't think the RE Luna sounds much like a Fender. Quilter has that niche covered. While I haven't heard a Luna in person, the videos I've seen, especially Mark Kleinhaut's, sound nothing like a Fender. If I were in the market for another jazz amp, it would be at the top of my list.

Thanks. Since the "tube-feeling" comes from the preamp, I now consider Henriksen Bud Head, Mambo Head or RE Luna Head.

[omphalopsychos]

Thanks. Since the "tube-feeling" comes from the preamp, I now consider Henriksen Bud Head, Mambo Head or RE Luna Head.

While I think the Henriksen Bud (the last generation specifically) is a fantastic amp, I definitely wouldn’t say that it feels like a tube amp.

I have been using some external effects to get it to sound more tubelike. I think I have nailed it with this rig and I’ll share some more info on it later. With these pedals I think the henriksen sounds every bit as good as the 64 Princeton with a jbl d110f behind it.

[st.bede]

It does have a rudimentary preamp section with tone controls but functions very well as a back end for preamp pedals, and is small enough to sit on top of a Toob. I keep one as a backup (to a Milkman 100 head, which has a tube in the preamp section).

In my case, it sounded awful without a preamp. I used a few different preamps but the JHS Clover worked really well.

[st.bede]

A bunch of pedals that state preamp are not preamps at all, thus will not functions as a preamp.

Price is not a way to determine if a pedal is really a preamp. For example the Chase Bliss Automatone Preamp mkII is not a true preamp, although it cost something like 700$. It will sound weak and lack depth if not used with a true preamp.

There is a The Pedal Show episode all about preamps.

I personally can not get my guitars to sound good without some sort of preamp.

[jorgemg1984]

While I think the Henriksen Bud (the last generation specifically) is a fantastic amp, I definitely wouldn’t say that it feels like a tube amp.

I have been using some external effects to get it to sound more tubelike. I think I have nailed it with this rig and I’ll share some more info on it later. With these pedals I think the henriksen sounds every bit as good as the 64 Princeton with a jbl d110f behind it.

I love the Barb EQ, one of my favorite pedals. Could you elaborate on the rest of your rig?

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Price is not a way to determine if a pedal is really a preamp

Only the rated output voltage will tell you that.

[pcjazz]

In my case, it sounded awful without a preamp. I used a few different preamps but the JHS Clover worked really well.

I agree, it definitely needs a preamp to give it character. I have used it with a Jr Barnyard/El Pescadoro for single coil and Brute EQ for humbucker pickups. The first one I had was defective and replaced under warranty; the current one is fine although it hasn’t seen much use since I got the Milkman.

[bluejaybill]

I love the Barb EQ, one of my favorite pedals. Could you elaborate on the rest of your rig?

I see that he has an Empress Compressor, the new version. I have that pedal too and love it. Totally transparent, mix control, keeps things under control.

I originally got it for an archtop with an overly loud B string/ weak G string. It helped with that a lot, and it's nice to have a bit of overall evening. I usually mix 50% to retain dynamics, a mix control is essential to me on a compressor. Although it never bothers me when using a rack compressor like an 1176.

I would like to take a look ash the new EQ in that form factor as well.

[jorgemg1984]

I see that he has an Empress Compressor, the new version. I have that pedal too and love it. Totally transparent, mix control, keeps things under control.

I originally got it for an archtop with an overly loud B string/ weak G string. It helped with that a lot, and it's nice to have a bit of overall evening. I usually mix 50% to retain dynamics, a mix control is essential to me on a compressor. Although it never bothers me when using a rack compressor like an 1176.

I would like to take a look ash the new EQ in that form factor as well.

Thanks!

Yeah, I can see also an Empress buffer, the only mistery is the grey pedal.

I've heard great things about the Empress compressor, but I have a hard time using compressors without a threshold knob...

[InsufferableRhythm]

I just threw an ICEpower 200AS1 module into this: ST662B 6" Metal & Aluminium Electronic Project Enclosure Box Case DIY | eBay. Only needed a few more inexpensive parts from Digi-Key.

Good option if you're comfortable with DIY. Works great with a UA Dream '65 in front.

[omphalopsychos]

For the questions on my pedalboard, I didn't want to hijack this thread so I created a new one here: Small pedal board to warm up a solid state (Henriksen) amplifier

[Hammertone]

This is a good, cheap option(EH Magnum 44).
I've seen these advertised but have no personal experience with it.

I had the Cal. 22 version a long time ago. So noisy it wasn't usable. The culprit may have been the 240V power unit. Anecdotal information suggests that different voltage versions of a given amp may sound different. Less love for the BAM200 in the US than in Europe, for example? T-E Elf in Europe weighing almost 200g more than stated???

I had one, distorts way before you have any decent volume. And it has a very large laptop style external power supply, ends up being no more practical than any regular amp head.

OK, so it's a bad, cheap option.

[Hammertone]

... Stewart ... is still in business and quite well respected by the studios, venues etc who use their equipment. Their 50W unit is identical in size and appearance to my 100W, and it'll pump 100W into 8 Ohms when bridged. So it's more than enough for a Twin-class DIY. And driven by a tube or tube-y preamp, they sound fantastic through good speakers (at least to me). ...

One small thing - the PA-50B is quite a bit shallower than the PA-100B, making it easier to fit in smaller cabs (dimensions below). I'll post pix of the PA-100B installed - I happen to have an open-back cab that will fit it nicely:

PA-50B
Height 1.7 in |4.4cm
Width 8.5 in |21.6 cm
Depth 6.2 in |15.7 cm
Weight 3.5 lbs |1.6 kg

PA-100B
Height 1.7 in |4.4cm
Width 8.5 in |21.6 cm
Depth 10.2 in |25.9 cm
Weight 5.5 lbs |2.5kg

[Zhahn]

I heard good things about Orange Pedal Baby. 100w old school ss power amp with a passable sized toroidal transformer.
The power section is supposed to be the same as their Orange Crush 100(?) model.

It has some basic eq function; would be great if it’s James type. Can’t find much info on input impedance and etc,.
At around 3kg-ish, it’s not the lightest option, but might be a decent option for folks who prefer the older, transformer-based class AB power amp.

FWIW, I think Orange’s general voicing with fat low-mids sounds great for jazz when played clean.
Love my Rocker 30’s tone stack bypassed clean channel for jazz.

[Brooks]

I went thru a few SS amps w/ my modeling rigs (Mosvalve, Crate Powerblock, EHX .44, Quilter 101, Loudster, etc), the one I liked best is the aforementioned TC Bam200 bass amp. I really like having old fashioned bass-mid-treble controls without having to go thru editing screens. Lots of folks prefer its tone, there's a few threads on thegearpage.net about them. It actually sounds decent straight in w/o a preamp (Crate Powerblock, too), esp if you have a delay or reverb pedal. Plus its small enough to put in your gigbag as a backup. Sold my modelers, but kept the Bam200.