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February Birthdays
Crate PowerBlock vs random amp...
Joined: Mar 30, 2011 Posts: 388 Copenhagen 
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Posted on Feb 11 2012 01:00 PM
Hi all! My 'sound' up to now when rehearsing and gigging is defined by my strat and my pedals. I haven't got a decent amp yet so I plug into whatever amp I find there. How would the PowerBlock compare to a random transistor Marshall or a Hot Rod Deluxe? I'm considering getting one as my main amp. Is it bassman-like or blackface-like? Does it sound like a ss rectifier amp or does it sag? Mids scooped or normal? —https://zakandthekrakens.bandcamp.com/ |
Joined: Apr 03, 2010 Posts: 3201 Jacksonville, AL 
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Posted on Feb 11 2012 01:12 PM
These are great little amps. I have been planning on picking one up as a touring backup for some time now. However, comparing them to and Fender Tube amp is futile. They are just not the same. They do have a great clean tone though. Mostly, though, your sound will still be defined by what pedals you are using. —THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary. www.thekbk.com |
Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3546 mojave desert, california
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Posted on Feb 12 2012 12:01 PM
Power Blocks are clean transistor sound: sort of like a Roland keyboard amp, or an PA system. Takes the input signal and amplifies it with very little coloring of the tone. There is a bit of drive to a Power Block if you push the input volume. The tone section does boost or cut highs, mids and bass...the bass frequencies seem most pronounced. Last edited: Feb 13, 2012 09:33:24 |
Joined: Feb 12, 2011 Posts: 54 Right Behind You
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Posted on Feb 12 2012 05:20 PM
A powerblock is my main gigging amp right now ( until my silvertone is out of the shop ) and I love it. Noah is dead on. The clean is good and you will have to use pedals. However i discovered that of you crank the gain all the way you get a very marshally/plexi-like growl. Plus it fits in my gear bag! —Psycho surfabilly! |
Joined: May 01, 2011 Posts: 578 San Diego
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Posted on Feb 12 2012 05:54 PM
i have a friend with one, its really great thing to keep in your trunk just in case your tube amp craps out —http://dinosaurghost.bandcamp.com/ |
Joined: Apr 21, 2007 Posts: 49 NYC 
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Posted on Feb 12 2012 10:58 PM
I usually use a Silvertone 1485 but I've been using a Powerblock with an old 15" Pyledriver lately for convience purposes. It's good for live situations and I don't mind using a solid state amp for live gigs but deff not recording, too shrill and hard sounding for me unless I'm running several amps and blending. Go ahead, get the Crate. I crank the level all the way, use the gain as my main, high at about 3:00, mid around 12:00 and low around 9:00, sounds good with my 15, don't know about a 12. —http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Octomen/268386424192 http://www.myspace.com/theoctomen](http://www.myspace.com/theoctomen) |
Joined: Sep 04, 2009 Posts: 1800 Temecula, CA
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Posted on Feb 12 2012 11:36 PM
A lot of us like the Powerblock. Mostly for a backup. I used mine on a gig and liked it. More discussion here: |
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Joined: Mar 30, 2011 Posts: 388 Copenhagen
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Posted on Feb 13 2012 12:56 AM
Thanks for the info guys! I've read the other threads that discuss the Powerblock, I just wanted some more details. When you say I'm going to need pedals you're talking about drive/distortion, right? —https://zakandthekrakens.bandcamp.com/ |
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Joined: Apr 03, 2010 Posts: 3201 Jacksonville, AL
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Posted on Feb 13 2012 08:00 AM
Reverb...You can get some drive from the head, but you will probably want an overdrive pedal and/or distortion pedal. —THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary. www.thekbk.com |
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Joined: Mar 30, 2011 Posts: 388 Copenhagen
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Posted on Feb 20 2012 07:41 AM
I bought a Powerblock yesterday! I listened to it through a 1x12 and a 2x12 cab and I A/B-ed it with a JTM45 (made with old stock materials) Impressions I tried my Hardwire RV-7 reverb and a couple of overdrive pedals with it and I think the sterility remains. I'll have a better versed opinion after I've played it for some time. Questions I found the Powerblock not loud. With level maxed, I needed the gain at 7/10 to get a loud enough sound for a miced gig through the 2x12. The 1x12 was even less loud. Is there any case my PB is broken? What's with the multiple outputs? I know I shouldn't plug an amp into speakers with less impendance that the amp's designed for. I also know that amps shouldn't work without a load. PB has an 150W @ 8Ω MIN mono outpout and two (left-right) 75W @ 4Ω MIN outputs. If I have a 4Ω cab can I use only one mono output? Will it feed power to both L/R resulting in failure of the other mono output? I know how I should match amp/cab imepdances but what about matching wattage? How is it fed and distributed to multiple speakers and what are the tolerances/acceptable deviations? Has anyone tried the xlr line-out to a console? What do you think of the built-in speaker simulation, quality-wise? —https://zakandthekrakens.bandcamp.com/ Last edited: Feb 20, 2012 07:43:40 |
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Joined: Apr 03, 2010 Posts: 3201 Jacksonville, AL
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Posted on Feb 20 2012 08:08 AM
If the amp ends up sounding too sterile for you, I suggest picking up the Boss FDR-1 or FBM-1 pedals. That should do a decent job of giving you a fender amp tone, while using the power block as you power amp. —THE KBK ... This is the last known signal. We offer Sanctuary. www.thekbk.com |
Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19305 Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Feb 20 2012 11:48 AM
Instrument cable vs. Speaker cable from Fender.com. — Site dude - S3 Agent #202 "It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea Last edited: Feb 20, 2012 11:50:14 |
Joined: Feb 07, 2012 Posts: 43 Manitowoc, WI |
Posted on Feb 20 2012 12:34 PM
One thing to remember with the Power Block is it's only 75 watts per channel. To get the 150w you need 2 cabs. That may be the volume issue you're having. —How many guitars are enough? Just one more... |
Joined: Dec 12, 2006 Posts: 2684 Ventura, CA
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Posted on Feb 20 2012 02:10 PM
Mono is 150 watts, stereo is 75 watts per channel. 2 cabs is not necessary to get 150 watts. |
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Joined: Feb 07, 2012 Posts: 43 Manitowoc, WI |
Posted on Feb 20 2012 03:34 PM
Ah, my bad. It's been a few years since I used one. I was in a band with 2 other guitarist that used them. Almost bought one, but never got around to it. They are killer amps for anyone that uses a lot of effects or a processor. It's a good backup too. —How many guitars are enough? Just one more... |
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