Power amp Vs Effects Return

Demeyes

I'm just wondering if there will be much of a difference in using the effects return of my Laney head to using a dedicated power amp when using a pre-amp? I have a perfectly good valve power amp section that I can access through my head and power amps seem to be really expensive for what they do, so I'm trying to see if there is really a need to get a power amp if I get a pre.

felim

Demeyes wrote: »

I'm just wondering if there will be much of a difference in using the effects return of my Laney head to using a dedicated power amp when using a pre-amp? I have a perfectly good valve power amp section that I can access through my head and power amps seem to be really expensive for what they do, so I'm trying to see if there is really a need to get a power amp if I get a pre.

I know it can be done that way but there may be differences in the design of a stand alone power amp and the power amp section of a head with regards to matching it with the preamp section. Possibly a stand alone power amp is designed not to colour the input as much? I'm guessing here....

Voodu Child

It'll work fine. Ive often done it with preamps (into head returns) as a backup, or when I didn't have a poweramp at the time, or even just for the craic to get some different sounds.

You may not have a presence control on the laney (this is the very-high freqs on the poweramp side of things). Some heads do, some don't (they are just pre-tuned to suit their own preamp). Whereas a dedicated poweramp almost always will. There are some other differences too - I had a Rectifier preamp once, and it would not sound 'like a Recto' with anything other than the proper Mesa power amp (this is because it could be coupled via relay switching to change negative feedback as the preamp channels and modes were changed). But for the most part, that's just the way its going to be, different power amps will suit different preamps anyway so there's no real 'right way' anyway, just try it and see.

Its not the most convenient solution, but if you've already got the Laney head and just want to mess around with some different pre-amps, go for it.

Demeyes

I've ran pre-amps into the return before, I'm fairly sure my presence control still works. This could be my new practice/gig rig, depending on the results. I'll be able to get my hands on a SS rack poweramp from my band mate when he gets his head repaired, depending on which sounds best I might end up using that instead.
It's pretty mad how expensive some of the valve poweramps cost - I can't see myself getting one for a while anyway. I've never had the chance to use one but they can't be all that much better than SS/valve head options.

voodoo_child wrote: »

It'll work fine. Ive often done it with preamps (into head returns) as a backup, or when I didn't have a poweramp at the time, or even just for the craic to get some different sounds.

You may not have a presence control on the laney (this is the very-high freqs on the poweramp side of things). Some heads do, some don't (they are just pre-tuned to suit their own preamp). Whereas a dedicated poweramp almost always will. There are some other differences too - I had a Rectifier preamp once, and it would not sound 'like a Recto' with anything other than the proper Mesa power amp (this is because it could be coupled via relay switching to change negative feedback as the preamp channels and modes were changed). But for the most part, that's just the way its going to be, different power amps will suit different preamps anyway so there's no real 'right way' anyway, just try it and see.

Its not the most convenient solution, but if you've already got the Laney head and just want to mess around with some different pre-amps, go for it.

Voodu Child

Demeyes wrote: »

I've ran pre-amps into the return before, I'm fairly sure my presence control still works. This could be my new practice/gig rig, depending on the results. I'll be able to get my hands on a SS rack poweramp from my band mate when he gets his head repaired, depending on which sounds best I might end up using that instead.
It's pretty mad how expensive some of the valve poweramps cost - I can't see myself getting one for a while anyway. I've never had the chance to use one but they can't be all that much better than SS/valve head options.

I don't mean it won't work, I meant some heads don't bother coming with one, which can be a problem if you're trying to tweak the sound to suit a totally differently-voiced preamp. If you've got one you're sorted.

Valve poweramps are expensive, but mostly because they're stereo; its like two poweramps in one, with two OTs etc. That's a big part of the price right there. And also, rack gear is not exactly a saturated market, so there's not as much competition.

Demeyes

voodoo_child wrote: »

I don't mean it won't work, I meant some heads don't bother coming with one, which can be a problem if you're trying to tweak the sound to suit a totally differently-voiced preamp. If you've got one you're sorted.

Valve poweramps are expensive, but mostly because they're stereo; its like two poweramps in one, with two OTs etc. That's a big part of the price right there. And also, rack gear is not exactly a saturated market, so there's not as much competition.

Yeah, I get what your saying. It's a bit of a pity there aren't a few affordable mono valve power amps. I'm not too pushed about running anything in stereo.
I can see myself keeping an eye on the used market for some more rack equipment, loads of stuff available at a nice price because not too many people are into it.

SirLemonhead

My Laney has a little switch on the back for setting how the send/return loops work so you'd need to set that to the correct position too.

It does suck that you cant just get a mono poweramp

Ended up getting a peavey 50/50 classic years back that was cheap enough.

what model Laney is it?

BuddhaJoe

Demeyes wrote: »

I can see myself keeping an eye on the used market for some more rack equipment, loads of stuff available at a nice price because not too many people are into it.

Totally. I picked up a near mint Rocktron Pro Gap (amazing preamp) for 50 quid recently since no one else bidded on it on Ebay!

Demeyes

SirLemonhead wrote: »

My Laney has a little switch on the back for setting how the send/return loops work so you'd need to set that to the correct position too.

It does suck that you cant just get a mono poweramp

Ended up getting a peavey 50/50 classic years back that was cheap enough.

what model Laney is it?

It's a GH50L. I've seen the switch you're talking about, changes how the return level knob operates I think. I'm able to run a preamp into it, I've done it before.
I've heard the Peavey Classic poweramps are good bang for buck, thats what I'd say I will get if I do end up getting a poweramp in the future.