Integrated head or standalone power amp for a pre-amp.

[glocke]

I have a Demeter VTPB201s here (some day hope to own an F1x or F2B), and am mulling over a couple of options of powering it.


Basically thinking of either a Demeter Minnie800D or a Mesa D800+.


The advantage of the D800+ is two fold, it will work for those times I don't want to bring the Demeter out, and will also work as a backup amp for me in some situations.


Does using the Mesa D800+ in this manner make any sense?

[jacko]

not to me but I'm a dyed in the wool mesa aficionado and can't see any reason not to make use of the D800's superb tone shaping.

I have a Markbass LM800 as backup to my mesa titan but I'd much rather have the d800 in it's place

Graeme

[lbpesq]

The Mesa contains both a pre and a power amp.  I'm not sure how you could hook up your Demeter preamp to it unless the fx loop in the Mesa is between the pre and power sections, allowing you to completely bypass the Mesa's preamp section.  If you want to use your Demeter preamp, you might want to stick to power amps with which to pair it.

Bill, tgo

[glocke]

The Mesa contains both a pre and a power amp.  I'm not sure how you could hook up your Demeter preamp to it unless the fx loop in the Mesa is between the pre and power sections, allowing you to completely bypass the Mesa's preamp section.  If you want to use your Demeter preamp, you might want to stick to power amps with which to pair it.

Bill, tgo

I was thinking bass into the Demeter than the 1/4" output on the back of the demeter into the front of the Mesa.

[StephenR]

If you want to use the Mesa as a power amp you need a D800+ which will allow you to bypass the tone controls on the Mesa and only use the power section by plugging the output from a preamp into the effects return. I kludged this once with a D800 (no loop) by running the output of my Eden Navigator into the aux in of the D800. The aux in on the D800 is designed to have a cd player or digital music source connected, not an instrument preamp. It worked okay the one time I did it but not really the proper application for the aux in and I am sure the amount of gain available suffered. When I saw the D800+ the effects loop alone looked like a worthy "upgrade" to the original model, the HPF is nice, too.

Plugging the output of a preamp into the input of a D800+ seems self-defeating/redundant and care would have to be taken not to overload the preamp in the Mesa. I would go with a separate power amp for the Demeter myself. Or just use a D800+ by itself.

[cozmik_cowboy]

I was thinking bass into the Demeter than the 1/4" output on the back of the demeter into the front of the Mesa.
[/quote]

Plugging the output of the Demeter into the input of the Mesa?  That, my friend, is a fine way to let the magic smoke out of the Mesa.

Peter (who would rather you not ask him how he knows this....)

[mario_farufyno]

 

[edwin]

I was thinking bass into the Demeter than the 1/4" output on the back of the demeter into the front of the Mesa.

I could see overloading it but letting out the magic smoke? I don't think the Demeter puts out enough oomph to do that. An Alembic Series bass cranked up puts out almost as much level. Or maybe there was something out of whack.

OTOH, I would stick with the Mesa by itself. I think it sounds better than the Demeter.

I have used the power sections of heads every now and then, and it's fine. Usually when dealing with a backline rig but I still want my tone.

Plugging the output of the Demeter into the input of the Mesa?  That, my friend, is a fine way to let the magic smoke out of the Mesa.

Peter (who would rather you not ask him how he knows this....)
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