Question:
Hi guys. I have a Fender Pro Reverb, and I've recently been wondering how to get the best out of my amp. It has, of course, sparkingly wonderous clean sound, and decent drive. For those of you who don't know it, it's a 50w all-tube combo. (I do indeed believe that tubes are the only way to do anything right.) The thing is that I really don't know best how to deal with my amp. Thus, I have prepared a few questions for you, the wise and all-knowing Amp Forum public.
To start off, It's 50w. That's right in the middle where usefulness is concerned. It has a 1/4 switch, so I'm not sure I'll ever need an attenuator (Though one might still be useful.) But what if I want to kick it up a notch? I really love the sound of my amp, but at some point I might need more than 50w of power. There are jacks on the back of the amp that say "Power Amp In" and "Power Amp Out," and I think those might be the key to my questions:
1. What exactly does "Power Amp" mean here?
2. How do I go about connecting a "Power Amp?"
3. What sorts of "Power Amps" do you recommend?
4. The words "Power Amp" sound a lot to me like "Blow your speakers;" how do I avoid this?
5. Because we're talking about a Fender here, it doesn't exactly crunch. What should I do it I want really hot distortion? I'm willing to use something in the effects loop as a boost, but what? Any suggestions? I currently have at my disposal a Boss Super Overdrive, but I'm not sure that's what I'm looking for.
Answer:
Originally Posted by plaid_child 1. What exactly does "Power Amp" mean here?
2. How do I go about connecting a "Power Amp?"
3. What sorts of "Power Amps" do you recommend?
4. The words "Power Amp" sound a lot to me like "Blow your speakers;" how do I avoid this?
5. Because we're talking about a Fender here, it doesn't exactly crunch. What should I do it I want really hot distortion? I'm willing to use something in the effects loop as a boost, but what? Any suggestions? I currently have at my disposal a Boss Super Overdrive, but I'm not sure that's what I'm looking for.
1. This is a patch that goes directly into your power amps input. The pre/power loop is like an effects loop. It gives you a way to connect things after the preamp and before the power amp.
2. DON'T PATCH IT INTO THE POWER AMP IN!!! If you want to add additional power to your existing amp, this is how I would do it. Preamp out feeding a tube power amp into additional cabinet(s). Another option is slaving a second combo off your current amp. That would be effects send into second combos power amp in.
3. Peavey made several nice tube power amps. The Classic 60 (mono, 60w, 6L6s), the Classic 50/50 (stereo, 50w side, EL84s), and the Classic 60/60 (stereo, 60w side, 6L6s). Then there are tube power amps from Marshall, VHT, Mesa, etc. Depends on how much you want to spend.
4. See #2.
5. Depends on what kind of sound you're looking for. I'm really happy with my Tube Screamer/Blues Driver combo in front of my Deluxe, but it won't get you into super metal land.
More later.
Answer:
For now, just know that I find it kinda scary that you might need more than 50 tube watts at any time, but I'll try to tackle your questions a bit later in the day...
Nate
Answer:
Originally Posted by plaid_child
1. What exactly does "Power Amp" mean here?
Here's the tech answer:
The 'power amp' section of your amp is what turns the signal into what is needed by the speakers. It is where the power tubes are operating (the bigger tubes). They take the signal from the preamp section and raise its level to a very high voltage and send it on to the output transformer (which in turn converts the signal for speaker use). The 'Power Amp In' on your Pro Reverb is there so you can use the amp as a power amp only. If you had an external preamp, you can run its output into the 'power amp in'. This will bypass the preamp of the Pro Reverb and use just the power section. The 'Pre Amp Out' on your amp is just the opposite. It will send the signal from your preamp out for other uses. Its slightly different from an effects loop. As stated by Lwatford, this can be used to drive other stand alone power amps, or even run to the 'Power Amp In' of another Pro Reverb (or any amp).
Originally Posted by plaid_child 3. What sorts of "Power Amps" do you recommend? LWatford has listed some very good power amps. There are a variety out there (I also have one as part of the Dickson Amplification lineup, I love it). If setup properly you can get a killer sound out of the right combination of effects and amp with stereo power amp.
Originally Posted by plaid_child 5. ........ I want really hot distortion? I'm willing to use something in the effects loop as a boost, but what? Any suggestions? Boosting in the effects loop won't get what you are after. The effects loop is after the preamp (the preamp is where your high gain distortion and tone shaping takes place). Running the overdrive pedal into the front of your amp (guitar out -- to pedal in -- pedal out -- to amp input) is how you boost the overdrive of the amp. Describe the distortion sound you are after, I will be glad to help you find the right pedals. Another option is to click the link at the bottom of this post.

I hope this all helps, let us know if you have any other questions.
God Bless,
Berry
Answer:
Excellent answers guys.
Answer:
you actually can boost the overdrive of your amp by placing something in the effects loop. the difference is going to be where in the signal you're boosting. it's considered best to boost before you hit the EQ which is why players keep the guitar--->drive pedal--->amp config, but it's not an absolute must. the difference is that when you have it in the effects loop your signal is going to go like this guitar--->pre-amp (signal boost)--->pedal (another signal boost)--->power amp, so you'll only be driving the power amp section and not the pre-amp section.
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so what I got out of that is this: the power amp bidness is not a loop, and I should put the pedal between my geetar and my amp?
All the other big words confused me.
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oh yeah one more thing... so what about my other pedals? I put them in the loop, but keep the distortion before the amp?
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the basic rule of thumb is that gain effects, eqs and wahs go between the guitar and amp, and time, frequency, and amplitude modulations go in the loop.
also, check those jacks again, they should be labeled pre-amp out and power amp in. if that is the case, that is your effects loop.
Answer:
Originally Posted by thesteve the basic rule of thumb is that gain effects, eqs and wahs go between the guitar and amp, and time, frequency, and amplitude modulations go in the loop.
also, check those jacks again, they should be labeled pre-amp out and power amp in. if that is the case, that is your effects loop.
No there's "Effects loop out," Effects loop in," "Pre-amp out" and "Power Amp in," I think... or something. It's that kind of thing. There are two loops.
So is the second one a loop or not and what do I do with it again?
Answer:
you should read this...it's the manual for your amp
http://www.mrgearhead.net/faq/pdf/gu...ube_Reverb.pdf
it will explain everything, and if you still dont' understand then we can actually answer your questions.
or i'll just answer them right now.
pre-amp out is for recording
power amp in is for slaving for amplifier (hooking a different pre-amp to your amp's power section)
Answer:
Originally Posted by thesteve you should read this...it's the manual for your amp
http://www.mrgearhead.net/faq/pdf/gu...ube_Reverb.pdf
it will explain everything, and if you still dont' understand then we can actually answer your questions.
or i'll just answer them right now.
pre-amp out is for recording
power amp in is for slaving for amplifier (hooking a different pre-amp to your amp's power section)
not only. The pre-amp out and power amp in is usually used as an effects loop.
Answer:
Originally Posted by dnl88 not only. The pre-amp out and power amp in is usually used as an effects loop.
what i said is quoted verbatim from the manual. there is an effects loop and a pre-amp out/power amp in loop.
Answer:
Originally Posted by thesteve what i said is quoted verbatim from the manual. there is an effects loop and a pre-amp out/power amp in loop. wierd
Answer:
Originally Posted by dnl88 wierd
the thing with the pro reverb is that you can turn the effects loop on and off. i suppose in theory the pre-amp out/power-amp in loop can be used as an effects loop, but you will not be able to use the features of the amp to their fullest (the actually effects loop can be turned on and off, and has a volume control.)
basically plaid_child, you need to print out that manual and read it cover to cover until you fully understand it (except for the parts in foreign languages).
and learn how to harness that 1/4 power switch. 12.5 watts of tube power sounds like an amazing thing to me.