Looking to buy a new head...what should I get?

jpowel12

hey, I have a GNX3 and a Crate GT412 cabinet (just bought the GT412 for $200 shipped!)...now I'm looking to buy a budget head for the amp ASAP.

GT412 cabinet:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Crate-GT412-4X12-Full-Size-Guitar-Cabinet?sku=603017

I'm hoping to get a head that will have a good clean channel (for bypassing the GNX3 with my acoustic.) and still be able to do the GNX3's effects justice when I crank up the distortion and volume.

Any suggestions...here's what I'm currently looking at...BTW my budget is $200-300 (I wish I could spend more, but I'm a college student)

Fender FM100H (supposed to have a great clean channel)
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-FM-100H-Guitar-Amp-Head?sku=483716

Crate budget heads:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Crate-GLX1200H-120W-Head?sku=487710
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Crate-GT1200H-Guitar-Amp-Head?sku=487797

I'm also considering a 150W Crate Powerblock, but I've heard mixed reviews.



Let me know what you guys are using and suggestions...I play just about everything except metal and coutry.

Thanks!

shredd

\jpowel12\ wrote:

Any suggestions...here's what I'm currently looking at...BTW my budget is $200-300 (I wish I could spend more, but I'm a college student)

My suggestion? Get whatever the chix dig. 8)

As for other input: nice cab, lotsa power handling. That's your cue. Get something with headroom.
You need to remember that with a GNX up front modeling amps for you, you have no need whatsoever for an amp with a killer sound or incredible preamp...just nice clean power.
Of the ones you listed, the PowerBlock is a great idea 'cuz you can bridge it to 150W and it's nice n small.
Now, if I were me, I'd find something in a small rack-mount PA/studio power amp, and run it bridged right into your cab. For example:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Nady-XA300-Stereo-Power-Amplifier?sku=482059
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/American-Audio-VLP300-Power-Amplifier?sku=803183
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-A500-500W-ReferenceClass-Studio-Power-Amplifier?sku=480780
Low-cost, rack mountable (for protection and rigging with other gear), and a perfect match for the GNX. Running a GNX into an amp head is like washing your dishes before you put them in the dishwasher. :roll:

partch

The Power Block is a great Amp that is discontinued. I use one every week & love mine!! Just works well with the GNX4!! 8) I bet it would sound awsome driving a 4*12!! I drive a 1*12 Monitor Speaker with Emminence mod 12 speaker installed. I want to upgrade to a 2*12 partial open back cab soon I hope. So if you can find a Power Block get it I doubt you will be disapointed with it!! 8)

thehootman

I use a Crate 4x12 and a crate powerblock. Pretty good sound, and reliable. The sound depends on whether you got the 4x12 with Celestions or not.

jpowel12

\thehootman\ wrote:

I use a Crate 4x12 and a crate powerblock. Pretty good sound, and reliable. The sound depends on whether you got the 4x12 with Celestions or not.

yeah mine comes with the Celestion Seventy 80's...I wouldn't have gotten it if it didn't.

\shredd\ wrote:

Now, if I were me, I'd find something in a small rack-mount PA/studio power amp, and run it bridged right into your cab. For example:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Nady-XA300-Stereo-Power-Amplifier?sku=482059
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/American-Audio-VLP300-Power-Amplifier?sku=803183
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-A500-500W-ReferenceClass-Studio-Power-Amplifier?sku=480780
Low-cost, rack mountable (for protection and rigging with other gear), and a perfect match for the GNX. Running a GNX into an amp head is like washing your dishes before you put them in the dishwasher. :roll:

yeah, I've actually been considering that as well...any suggestions as to brands and models for a power amp? I can always read reviews but I'd like to hear a first-hand opinion if possible.


*Still considering the power block, but I'm leaning towards a power amp right now*

thehootman

The powerblock is great because it is light AND powerful. You can sling it around your shoulder in its little bag and off you go.

The trouble with poweramps is that they are very large and very heavy, and often have annoying cut out switches that can kick in if the signal is about to be clipped. This may be great for PA's, but is really annoying if you need the amp's entire power. The powerblock will just clip, which is better than a cut-out. Also, poweramps often have huge power capacity (which cancels out the above) and therefore you pay more than you need, it weighs more and most importanty has the potential to blow your speakers.

It all boils down to if you are a professional musician or just a hobbyist. If the former, go with the poweramp.

shredd

Power Block'd be good...all solid state, no noise, small.

I've owned a coupla Nady amps; they've got a lot of fan noise, but you'll only notice it in the studio or in practice...onstage, it's drowned out. They sound really good, and are a good deal in terms of bux v. wattage. They're also comparatively light.

I've never had an American Audio, but I almost bought one 'cuz it's one space. I can't speak to it's sound or noise levels.

I've owned several pieces of Behringer eqpt, and they're all good...

I just play through whatever steams chix's beans... :twisted:

philflood

I like the Power block, but I've been using this lately, and i love it:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/VSJuniorHD/

Epiphone Valve Jr. Head, real tube sound, from a real tube head.

BettyBoo

I'll go with the crowd and recomend the Powerblock. Its light, compact, loud and reliable......plus you can use them as a wheel chock if you get a flat tyre on the way to a gig! :shock: Serious, a mate of mine got a flat on the way to a gig and used his to stop his car rolling while changing his tyre. He used it for his gig and it hasn't missed a beat since!

Powerblocks are fairly bright sounding though so you need to tweak your GNX, but once sorted they're great. Admittedly I use a JSX quad/GNX3k a lot now but I still use my Powerblock and B52 quad quite often. Those B52's are a great quad for the money. Nice neutral sound (perfect for GNX's) so you don't get the colouration of Celestions plus they have big balls - 480watt = headroom! The covering on them is a bit soft though so you have to be gentle with em.

Why would Crate discontinue the Powerblocks?? Beats the hell outta me. You'd think because they're so popular with modellers they would just improve the design instead of throwing them. :? I better get a coupla spares then....

partch

\philflood\ wrote:

I like the Power block, but I've been using this lately, and i love it:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/VSJuniorHD/

Epiphone Valve Jr. Head, real tube sound, from a real tube head.

Hey Phil you like the VJ better than the PB? I used the VJ for a while but ended up going back to the PB. I think there is just something about Solid State & Modelers. I think if I was just using an Amp alone for my tone etc.. It would more & likely be some Tube Head BUT for use with Amp Cabinent Modeling I'm using this Crate until it breaks IF IT Breaks 8) I would deffinetly try to find another one!! I agree BB why & the world would they have stopped making such a cool inexpencive amp like the Power Block :?

guitar3456

I've got a couple powerblocks and they have seen their share of abuse!

Each of my sound guys have one on hand for guitarists that pop a transformer, break a tube etc and do not have a backup. The guitarists that use them freak out all the time over how powerful they are.

Crate should not have discontinued those !

The FM100 heads are fairly flexible as an option.

philflood

Hey Phil you like the VJ better than the PB?

I've been using it with my RP350 through my Emience modeling cab, and I really like the tones I get for the more metal influenced sounds. I'll be using that rig this weekend when I play.

For pure modeling though, there is certainly nothing wrong with the PB. I was just offering another alternative.

When I use the GNX4 with my own band, I go straight into the board. But for fun playing at home, I do like the simplicity of the VJ, only 1 control.

thehootman

\BettyBoo\ wrote:

I'll go with the crowd and recomend the Powerblock. Its light, compact, loud and reliable......plus you can use them as a wheel chock if you get a flat tyre on the way to a gig! :shock: Serious, a mate of mine got a flat on the way to a gig and used his to stop his car rolling while changing his tyre. He used it for his gig and it hasn't missed a beat since!

When in their bag they are also excellent for swinging around and hitting drunks outta the way!

shredd

\thehootman\ wrote:

When in their bag they are also excellent for swinging around and hitting drunks outta the way!

Oz sounds like a tough place. In the USA people just shoot each other and plead low blood sugar. :roll:

BettyBoo

\shredd\ wrote:

Oz sounds like a tough place. In the USA people just shoot each other and plead low blood sugar. :roll:


We have tough gun laws here, therefore we have to improvise.....like swinging Powerblocks around! :roll: Swinging those suckers about kinda really brings out the emotional element of revenge - reminds me of The Waterboy! :twisted:

SlashNBurn99

+1 on the Valve Junior 8)

agelessrocker

Call me old fashioned but Marshall JCM800 can't be beat.

0Dannyboy

\agelessrocker\ wrote:

Call me old fashioned but Marshall JCM800 can't be beat.

:shock: If you can get one for 200 or 300 hundred bucks ( thats his price range) :shock: ....I'm in just PM me and i'll buy now LOL! 8)

I was very happy running my GNX3 through a Behringer b-300 powered monitor(299). but since you have the speaker cabs already...
I tried my Vavle JR head through my RP250 and didnt dig it...but through solid state clean power (like a PB) I think it would be rawkin. and the resales cool with those too as they are useful for alot of applications. JM2cents.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Crate-Powerblock-150-watt-Barely-Used-Power-Block-NR_W0QQitemZ300176273451QQihZ020QQcategoryZ38073QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

jpowel12

hey guys, no recent posts cuz I've been busy with college finals coming up and work...etc

Anyways, I'm wondering how well the power block works for a clean channel?

This is my main concern as I play with a lot of crunch and clean tones as well as acoustic guitar, so I really need a nice, clean tone from my amp. I'm really not too worried about the distortion side of things.

partch

Works fine for me 8) Clean Electric, Acoustic, Whatever The GNX4 is setup to do it is nuetral enough to model whatever you want. I set my patches up for gain Level High EQ & Presence to go out of the GNX4 into the front end of the PB that drive a 112 monitor speaker with Emminence mod 12 speaker installed this setup works for me with any tones I want like I said from acoustic to heavy 8) I generally have all knobs at 12 oclock & that's loud enough for live worship band as my personal monitor. I feed the XLR out to the PA House system which is very new & modern & the GNX4 sounds great thru 8) Anyhow that's how I use it & works great for me!!

dxtopher

First post here. I recently purchased a GNX4 on eBay along with a Crate Power Block 150. I'm running the Crate into an old cab with a single JBL K145 15\" spkr and can't believe how good it sounds. I will be building a stereo cabinet with twin 12\" Celestions and horns over the holidays and will post pics when I've got it finished. Thanks to everyone here who posted their suggestions. It was a big help.