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227 Views 10 Replies Latest reply: Jun 11, 2012 7:05 AM by gioiagregg RSS
gioiagregg Just Startin'
gioiagregg
15 posts since
Sep 28, 2008
Currently Being Moderated

May 21, 2012 4:32 AM

What Power Amp are you using with your X3Pro??

Just wanting to get informaiton and opinions on the power amps you are using with your X3Pro's.  I have been using mine with a Mesa 20/20 for over a year now and I am never really satisfied with my sound live.  I can get a decent sound through my 4X12 Marshall cab (unreliable though) by nothing decent through my 2x12 for smaller rooms.

 

What are you using to power the X3Pro and through what cab(s)?

 

Do you like it?

 

Thanks for any input before I decide on a different poer amp.

  • bigtrex76 Just Startin'
    bigtrex76
    10 posts since
    Jun 24, 2006
    Currently Being Moderated
    May 21, 2012 6:40 AM (in response to gioiagregg)
    Re: What Power Amp are you using with your X3Pro??

    well i'll give my two cents for ya, whatever it may be worth.

    I don't use my x3 pro live.  however at one point i tried the pod with a marshall valvestate pwr amp (80/80 i think. i borrowed it from a store, results to me GREAT!!

     

    now then it sounded great to me after i tried running the pod through my main rig (i thought a million tones etc would be interesting).  Now i tried it through

    my actual rig which is 2 X JCM 800 heads and a JC-120.  My rig is large and it sounds amazing but a POD through old marshall heads sound incredibly

    terrible, i worked on it for about 3 days and it was terrible. 

     

    Tried it through my JC120 and it was so so.

    • gioiagregg Just Startin'
      gioiagregg
      15 posts since
      Sep 28, 2008
      Currently Being Moderated
      May 21, 2012 7:00 AM (in response to bigtrex76)
      Re: What Power Amp are you using with your X3Pro??

      Thanks for your thoughts, I appreciate it. 

       

      My problem with the 20/20 is that it compresses the sh*t out of everything when it's up past 4 or 5, so it while it has enough power for most rooms, it's barely enough and I also think that the el84's color the X3 patches so much, that I am spending half of my time trying to adjust the patches to anticipate the power amp coloration - which to me defeats a lot of the benefit.

       

      I may give the valvestate a try and see how that goes........I can always re-sell it or return it to a store if I don't like it I guess.  Thanks again!!

      • bigtrex76 Just Startin'
        bigtrex76
        10 posts since
        Jun 24, 2006
        Currently Being Moderated
        May 23, 2012 11:33 AM (in response to gioiagregg)
        Re: What Power Amp are you using with your X3Pro??

        hey man post back if you get something accomplished.  i say this cause my rig is failry big for a local band (sounds great but it's large).  I personally only used the valve state for 2 days.  i'm a tube guy but you may want solid state.  If i'm not mistaken the marshall power amps are not being made now (i could be wrong) so ebay or a store which sells used gear.  my buddy owns a cool used shop in town so he let me borrow the pwr amp that i tried out.

        good luck on the find.

        • gioiagregg Just Startin'
          gioiagregg
          15 posts since
          Sep 28, 2008
          Currently Being Moderated
          May 24, 2012 8:41 AM (in response to bigtrex76)
          Re: What Power Amp are you using with your X3Pro??

          thanks and I hear you on the tubes, it is real hard to give that up and I think I was holding out on changing out the Mesa 20/20 because of that.  So, I went ahead and ordered the Rocktron Velocity from MF because of some of the reviews I read (and that I can return it if I hate it ). 

           

          I am going to get it in today and I will let you know how it does with the X3Pro.......

          • bigtrex76 Just Startin'
            bigtrex76
            10 posts since
            Jun 24, 2006
            Currently Being Moderated
            May 27, 2012 1:47 PM (in response to gioiagregg)
            Re: What Power Amp are you using with your X3Pro??

            very cool, if i remember that is a fairly inexpensive unit compared to "marshall"

            • gioiagregg Just Startin'
              gioiagregg
              15 posts since
              Sep 28, 2008
              Currently Being Moderated
              May 31, 2012 5:00 AM (in response to bigtrex76)
              Re: What Power Amp are you using with your X3Pro??

              The rocktron was just over $300 - which is pretty reasonable considering.  So far, I have got it setup and my frist impression is that my x3pro patches are much "clearer" than with the 20/20, but it has only been at living room volume - so I won't really know how it is going to work until I can crank it up properly (got a gig Saturday night so I will know soon enough). 

              • bigtrex76 Just Startin'
                bigtrex76
                10 posts since
                Jun 24, 2006
                Currently Being Moderated
                May 31, 2012 11:39 AM (in response to gioiagregg)
                Re: What Power Amp are you using with your X3Pro??

                awesome, hope you have a good gig and let me know how it works.  what type of cab(s) are you using? and are you using Dual Mode?

                 

                I have another thread on here (POD X3 + GCP/GCX + timefactor=?)  not sure on your midi knowledge but i'm stuck on some midi switching, i have a big *** rig trying to incorporate the POD with it but none the less i may use the POD solo.

                 

                thanks

                • gioiagregg Just Startin'
                  gioiagregg
                  15 posts since
                  Sep 28, 2008
                  Currently Being Moderated
                  Jun 11, 2012 7:04 AM (in response to bigtrex76)
                  Re: What Power Amp are you using with your X3Pro??

                  So - finally I've had a few gigs to try the Rocktron out at proper volume.  The results are very good in my opinion.  It is very representative of my patches at gig volumes, which is good (mostly)........LOL, I had to readjust them all a bit because I was compensating for the Mesa power amp's over-midrange.  It is decently loud and clean.  A bit noisy at high power levels, but nothing too noticeable.  I have decided the Rocktron gets to stay and I will be selling the Mesa 20/20 to someone who can use it to it's potential.

                   

                  I have 2 cabs that I use live:  Marshall 4x12 with 2-V30's and 2-G12/75's and a older GK 2x12 with a V30 and a G12/75

                   

                  Of course the 4x12 is beefier than the 2x12 - but both sound nice with the new setup.

                   

                  I have one of my main patches with dual tones, the others single.........

  • Delrevo Just Startin'
    Delrevo
    6 posts since
    Jul 21, 2008
    Currently Being Moderated
    Jun 1, 2012 12:04 PM (in response to gioiagregg)
    Re: What Power Amp are you using with your X3Pro??

    I have noticed when using tube amps, I turn the modeling off on my X3 live and just use stomp box effects and let the amp shape the tone like it should. More recently, I am running my X3 Live directly into a power amp; my main power amp is actually a QSC-800 power amp running in bridged mode to a 4x12 cabinet loaded with Sunn 80W speakers. The built in models really come through. I dont run the amp at full power, usually about half way and control the volume from the master output on the pedalboard.

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