Can this work or will it blow up??

pinto79 · #1 04-13-2004, 11:11 PM

Ok...

I'm getting tired of the lack of response to picking dynamics and pickup types offered by my Line6 AX2. What I would really like to do, due to the fact that I live in a 1 bedroom apartment and i like to play at night and have to use headphones, is this:

Tube head (either a Marshall JCM 800, Peavey 5150II or Carvin Legacy) into a power soak (Marshall PowerBrake) then into a cabinet emulating DI box to my mixer to headphones.

Does anyone know if this can be done without burning out the head?

My other option would be something like a Marshall JMP-1 Tube pre-amp, but I like the idea of a head better.

Any info would be great!

Thanks!

Two hands31 · #2 04-13-2004, 11:16 PM

You could build (or buy) a soundproof box and put a combo amp or speaker cabinet (leave the head outside) inside it, mic it into the mixer, and run your headphones from the mixer.

It'd sound amazing, but it'd cost more

Artist · #3 04-13-2004, 11:17 PM

You could look into either the Koch Load box,
which is an attenuator (but better than the marshall), with DI, cab modelling (only straight mic/angled + 4 *12 or 1*12 speakers). It has XLR and Jack out.

Or the Palmer speaker simulator.
This would work in the same way as the Koch, but is larger, costs more, but better sound.

I think the palmer has a headphone out on it, The headphone out on the Koch isn't very good.

pinto79 · #4 04-13-2004, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Artist

You could look into either the Koch Load box,
which is an attenuator (but better than the marshall), with DI, cab modelling (only straight mic/angled + 4 *12 or 1*12 speakers). It has XLR and Jack out.

Or the Palmer speaker simulator.
This would work in the same way as the Koch, but is larger, costs more, but better sound.

I think the palmer has a headphone out on it, The headphone out on the Koch isn't very good.

The Koch Load box interests me... any idea of a web site? I did a search and came up with everything but...

hamand · #5 04-14-2004, 10:01 AM

Repeat: "google is your friend." I typed in the words koch and load and came up with these:

http://www.custom-sounds.com/lb120.htm

http://www.koch-amps.com/products_lb.htm

If you have the cash money dollars, I would seriously investigate this:

http://www.londonpower.com/amps.htm

Joe Satriani used a head into a palmer into a mixer for all of Engines of Creation, so it can certainly be done.

Let us know how you get on! And thanks for making me laugh; nowhere but Jemsite is the phrase "Can this work or will it blow up??" accepted without a blink.

EDIT: wanted to add that *personally* I've seen comments that the Palmer is much better than the Marshall or the THD attenuators. I'm sure Satriani is pretty discerning (and rich enough) to make a reasonbly informed decision. Also, the headphone out on the Koch unit is apparently pretty poor.

failsafe306 · #6 04-14-2004, 01:33 PM

I don't know but I really like the topic title

pinto79 · #7 04-15-2004, 01:48 AM

Well, I guess I'll have to try some things... I work at a music store so I'll borrow some gear

Jeff · #8 04-15-2004, 02:02 AM

Good idea...never risk blowing up your own gear.

30yroldpig · #9 04-15-2004, 08:16 AM

Hi,

I don't know how much about the AX2, but could it be that you have either a noise gate or compressor in the parameter you like to play with? Drastic settings on those FX can be annoying indeed.

Could it be that you havn't tried setting those. I tried the POD pro and was able to release the compresion and gating and got much better sounds. But like I said, I don't know the AX2.

Cheers

pinto79 · #10 04-15-2004, 10:20 PM

In the five plus years that I've owned the AX2 I've been around the block with it a few times. I can get some pretty decent tones, but I'm finding that I really miss being able to do whatever I want... ie run chorus AND Phaser at the same time... (The AX2 only alows one modulation effect at a time, and doesn't sound very good with outboard gear)
Also, in order to get any of the amp models so saturate enough to be usefull, I have to run an internal distortion box (ie a modeled one) and crank up the EQ settings. I honestly think I have used as much of this amp as I can...

I used to be able to plug my guitar into a good distortion box, a good chorus and a wah and into my JCM800 and sound amazing. Now I find that good tone is the exception, not the rule and I rally would like to plug my RG750 in and have it sound like a 750, not like a rabid weasel on sterroids.

(sorry for the sob story...)

I may try my theary tonight...

I'll keep you all posted...

pagliai · #11 04-16-2004, 02:13 AM

give a try here and hear the demos about sansamp psa1 in the section called sound
www.tech21nyc.com/
You can put it into the speaker simulator (palmer or motherload are the very best)
Motherload is very good for me and you can give a try here
www.motherload.co.uk/functions.html
best of luck
Alessandro

Drew · #12 04-16-2004, 10:03 AM

That motherload looks awesome.

-D

pagliai · #13 04-16-2004, 10:48 AM

yeah it plays very good ,better then new palmer,for me not well like palmer pdi 3 that is very difficult to find but it's got that particular guitar tone.Now i think motherload is the best speaker simulator on the market.Price is expensive but ,much money much sound.
Alessandro

pinto79 · #14 04-17-2004, 03:04 AM

OK... I tried it... Ibanez GiO (it was in tune...) to Marshall TSL60 head to Marshall PowerBrake to H&K Red Box to small box-mixer to Peavey Impulse 100 speaker. Ran it for about 30 minutes.... Nothing go hot... nothing smelled funny... Tone was about as good as one could expect from a TSL60 (Not impressive to me...) it was reasonably close to plugging into a 4x12 except for the smallness of the Impulse (10" w/ horn) made it seem compact. Headphones would probably work better after tweaking the EQ on the board...

I may go this route, provided I can find a head I like...

Thanks to all those who had ideas! Cheers!