lefrash Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 A small cheap Class D power amp? Purely hypothetical, I could easily use my pedal board as a preamp and just plug directly into a power amp. I know there are tonnes of class D bass amps, but i really dont need any EQ or anything else, just power! A quick google search suggests there aint, but something small purely to power the signal would fit nicely into the front of my pedal board case, and that would be one solution! any suggestions? Fraser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 Small left to right? There are bunches of rack sized ones. Really, ones with a preamp built in will be cheaper due to economies of scale, bypassing that isn't generally massive issue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefrash Posted March 22, 2013 Author Share Posted March 22, 2013 You're right. Theres tonnes of ones with preamps. But with so many FX out there that are stand alone pre's or multi FX that are amp sims, I'm amazed there isnt something out there thats the size of a thesaurus doing nothing but powering! Less components, cheaper for bassists? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 look in the affiliates forum - there was a company offering cheap class D power amps there before christmas. They were lightweight but full rack width. The other maybe easier option is just buy a powered monitor and use that as an amp/wedge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 There's the SWR amplite. Can't think of any others that aren't rack sized though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbandit599 Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 [url="http://www.ehx.com/products/44-magnum"]http://www.ehx.com/products/44-magnum[/url] I saw this whilst surfing aound a while back, would this do the trick? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 [quote name='redbandit599' timestamp='1363982437' post='2020632'] [url="http://www.ehx.com/products/44-magnum"]http://www.ehx.com/products/44-magnum[/url] I saw this whilst surfing aound a while back, would this do the trick? [/quote] Hmm! Curious... Is that a speaker out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbandit599 Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 Yes, I think so. Could be a useful 'get out of jail' gadget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 There's a 100w rms amp kit at Maplins: http://www.maplin.co.uk/200w-power-amplifier-46467 It requires a few extra bits, like a heat sink, transformer and an enclosure, but it still works out quite cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefrash Posted March 22, 2013 Author Share Posted March 22, 2013 [quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1363984066' post='2020658'] There's a 100w rms amp kit at Maplins: [url="http://www.maplin.co.uk/200w-power-amplifier-46467"]http://www.maplin.co...amplifier-46467[/url] It requires a few extra bits, like a heat sink, transformer and an enclosure, but it still works out quite cheap. [/quote] Interesting! I have no skills when it comes to electronics.... but surely that plus heat sink and transformer would fit into a nice week box. Even two, make it dual output! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skej21 Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 What do you mean by cheap? I've tried one of these and for pure power, they're pretty good. £350 AND most importantly, the amp itself is removable from the speaker and can be used seperately. http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/RedSub-BT5110-500W-Bass-Amp/C61 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 [quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1363984066' post='2020658'] There's a 100w rms amp kit at Maplins: [url="http://www.maplin.co.uk/200w-power-amplifier-46467"]http://www.maplin.co...amplifier-46467[/url] It requires a few extra bits, like a heat sink, transformer and an enclosure, but it still works out quite cheap. [/quote] I like their answers to question: [quote] [b] What are the supply requirements?[/b] Maplin says: 230Vac mains Via step down transformer (35 volt) [/quote] So it needs 35v, but that 35v needs to be stepped down from 230, apparently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefrash Posted March 22, 2013 Author Share Posted March 22, 2013 [quote name='skej21' timestamp='1363991064' post='2020794'] What do you mean by cheap? I've tried one of these and for pure power, they're pretty good. £350 AND most importantly, the amp itself is removable from the speaker and can be used seperately. [url="http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/RedSub-BT5110-500W-Bass-Amp/C61"]http://www.gear4musi...0W-Bass-Amp/C61[/url] [/quote] I fully understand There are plenty of sub £300 class D bass amps. What I mean, is there such a thing as just a pure class D power amp. Not a rack amp, not a bass amp.... just a power amp in a small casing. What it really needs is one 1/4" input > 300w > 1 volume knob > speaker out. Or just double that for a stereo amp. I could by a class D bass amp, but I'm then running two preamps.... one in my pedal, one on the amp. Why not just have a unit that doesnt have a preamp. I'm just throwin an idea out there. I've seen on audio forums people do such things for car and home stereos etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 (edited) There is also this sort of thing, I got one of these to run my desktop speakers: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390166545300"]http://cgi.ebay.co.u...em=390166545300[/url] Its 75w/side, but prob can get bigger for more money. Edited March 22, 2013 by Mr. Foxen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefrash Posted March 23, 2013 Author Share Posted March 23, 2013 [quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1363996190' post='2020881'] There is also this sort of thing, I got one of these to run my desktop speakers: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390166545300"]http://cgi.ebay.co.u...em=390166545300[/url] Its 75w/side, but prob can get bigger for more money. [/quote] that is along the lines as I'm talking about! Just with a jack for an input, and a speakon as an outpout. The magnum 44 pedal is almost perfect too, but just a bit small (power wise). The casing could be x2 or x3 the size and still fit nicely into a gig bag. Am i barking up the wrong tree with this idea? Surely I'm not the first person to think its abit daft having a preamp on the floor, then one again on the amp itself. I suppose the price of small class D bass amps are cheap enough for this maybe not to be an issue but for me, its more to do with simpler the better... less things to go wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Somebody made one on here a while back using a class D module. Like everyone else I just use the effects return on my amp when I need to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefrash Posted March 23, 2013 Author Share Posted March 23, 2013 Interesting. I'l try have a look back for that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bassman7755 Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 In your position I would use a shuttle 6 and go into the fx return. Ridiculously light with stacks of low end grunt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest bassman7755 Posted March 23, 2013 Share Posted March 23, 2013 Just spotted this http://basschat.co.uk/topic/203274-fs-genz-shuttle-90-inc-genz-bag/ in for sale section. Seriously dont arse around with some generic amp, get this thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Just had a thought. I did some reconditioning of a stereo power amp I have and it is made up of 3 parts, the transformer and two separate boards for the amps, basically two mono, 250w rms at 4 ohms, amps, each with a volume knob. It's a 2 unit rack amp, but it is quite shallow. It would be dead easy to take out the innards and put just the transformer and one of the amp boards into a much smaller case. The only thing is, if you we're to buy something with the intention of doing this, you'd have to know whether the amps are on two boards or one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefrash Posted March 24, 2013 Author Share Posted March 24, 2013 Thats a very interesting thought actually. Never thought about that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingBollock Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 [quote name='lefrash' timestamp='1364117861' post='2021974'] Thats a very interesting thought actually. Never thought about that! [/quote] When money's tight, you have to get inventive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefrash Posted March 24, 2013 Author Share Posted March 24, 2013 Aboslutely! haha. In all honesty, considering you can buy a small but powerful Class D bass amp for under £200 (in fact theres ashdown little giants on here 2nd hand for under £150) I'm probably not gonna get much cheaper by building something myself. But, you're idea of gutting out a rack power amp would probably be the best plan! If one comes my way, and its super cheap, I might give it a go (in the hope the 2 amps are seperate boards, as you say). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted March 24, 2013 Share Posted March 24, 2013 Stuff is spread out in the class d/SMPS amps for a reason mind, they can interact funny, which is why even though both technologies have been about for ages, they weren't mixed in an amp for a fair while, they tended to couple badly, moving the parts close together might give lots of funny noise issues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.