Helix block for tube power amp?

[kerryhall1]

I have been using the 7 cable method for awhile now, but now I want to try reducing the amount of gear I have to carry.

 

Instead of using two amp heads, I would like to try using Helix preamps and a solid state rack power amp.

 

Since I run two stereo fx chains, one before the preamp and one after the preamp (ie fx loop), my plan is to use a preamp block and a poweramp block instead of an amp block and run the fx loop chain between them.

 

However, is there a poweramp block? If not, I suppose I could use something like a generic clean amp. What would you recommend for that?

[rd2rk]

Try whatever you think you might like, it won't explode.

When using a SS power amp most people use a full amp block, NOT a pre-amp block.

The main reason to use a pre-amp block is if you're pairing it with a TUBE power amp, which adds its own flavor.

A SS power amp is just flat (though not necessarily FRFR), so to get the sound of a full amp you use a full amp block.

 

IOW - a JCM800 is the combination of its ECC83 preamp and EL34 power amp.

A JCM800 pre-amp MODEL (models ECC83) into a SS power amp is not going to sound anything like a JCM800.

Thus, use the full amp model.

[benriddell]

Although I'm only a home player, I run my Helix Rack stereo into a Palmer Macht 402 rack power amp and 2x Zilla 1x12 cabs with Celestion F12-X200 speakers.

I've always used the full amp block into a cab (or IR) block. Unless you've got some whacky or distortion effect in your post pre-amp section of your chain you should be able to put your FX loop block after the cab block and run stuff just fine.

I would love there to be an option to mismatch pre-amps and power amps, but that's not a discussion for this forum. One for the Ideascale

[Rodan27]

On 4/12/2024 at 7:53 PM, rd2rk said:

Try whatever you think you might like, it won't explode.

When using a SS power amp most people use a full amp block, NOT a pre-amp block.

The main reason to use a pre-amp block is if you're pairing it with a TUBE power amp, which adds its own flavor.

A SS power amp is just flat (though not necessarily FRFR), so to get the sound of a full amp you use a full amp block.

 

IOW - a JCM800 is the combination of its ECC83 preamp and EL34 power amp.

A JCM800 pre-amp MODEL (models ECC83) into a SS power amp is not going to sound anything like a JCM800.

Thus, use the full amp model.

I´m using the Helix with the tube amp by the return just to use the power section. If I use the full amp there is some brightness in the sound, but if I use the preamp is more "dry" the problem with the preamp is than have low volume, do you know how to correct this??

How is the right way to use the preamp???

[rd2rk]

The devil is often in the details. Give me the details.

"I'm using the Helix (ABC) amp into an (XYZ) amp return. Helix output is set to (???)."

The preamp will always be less loud than the full amp (which models the poweramp and interaction between the pre and poweramp as well as the Speaker Impedance Curve).

Attach a sample preset so I can see exactly what you're doing.