After trying to persevere with my Boogie Nomad 45 and TLSE, both into the front end and through the loop, I decided to plump for a Tech 21 Power engine 60 1x12.
Now don't get me wrong the Boogie is a fine amp, and I certainly won't be selling it (well not yet anyway), but I just don't think they totally suit each other for whatever reason.
Anyway, after some research, I decided on the Tech21 Power Engine, and took delivery of it on Friday.
Reviews on Harmony Central are mostly very favourable on this amp, so over the next few days I will be playing with it, and will let you know how it compares.
If any of you guys out there have a PE60 let me know how you find it, good or bad.
Although I have always been a valve fan, the TLSE has made me have a rethink about my sound, and I think we all enjoy the 'quest' for that sound, and as omeone said on this very forum, 'half the fun is in the trying new things out'
Someone has (had) one they
Sun, 2007/11/25 - 8:49am — mself61Someone has (had) one they really said it was good, can't remember whom though !
www.selfdistruction.com
Jofro plays thru a PE60 and
Sun, 2007/11/25 - 9:28am — hotramanJofro plays thru a PE60 and is quite happy with it.
Amps like that ( and the Atomic Reactor) are a great match for the Tonelab SE and other modelers.
Also, pedals work well, too.
Thanks for the replies guys,
Sun, 2007/11/25 - 10:31am — fingersThanks for the replies guys, been having a play this afternoon, and first impressions are very good.
The beauty about this amp is that it does not impart its own tone on the TLSE patch, so what you put into it is what you get out.
Be nice if they put an effects loop on the amp to suit my Studio Quad, but I have put that in via a boss line pedal, so it's not a major problem.
Other advantage is it has XLR balanced in and out, so there's no need to mike up, and those amongst you who go straight to a pa can use it as a monitor.
All in all a great bit of kit for the money (do I sound like a salesman for Tech 21 ! )
Had one but sold it because
Sun, 2007/11/25 - 12:52pm — tbyrdHad one but sold it because I thought it sounded too boxy. I now have a JBL EON that I use to tweak my sounds for goin to direct to PA at Church, and a Fender HRD that I use in our party band.
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=442828
Thanks for the comments
Sun, 2007/11/25 - 1:02pm — fingersThanks for the comments tbird, I realise it won't suit everyone, and I must admit this is the first foray into the modelling world for me, so I am trying to keep an open mind.
Appreciate your feedback,and if it doesn't work out with this particular amp, I will check out the gear you are using.
Been using the PE60 and TLSE
Sun, 2007/11/25 - 4:33pm — jofroBeen using the PE60 and TLSE for over a year now and like it a lot. For clarity, portability, and price, I'm very pleased. As you say, I use it as a stage monitor with XLR direct out to house PA with great results. Now I'm using in-ear monitors so only have the Tech21 at a low volume if needed for local monitoring.
This past weekend, I ran my TLSE (line out setting) into the PE60 and mic'd it to the PA with an SM57 with excellent results. Plenty of gusto for local stage monitoring in a live outdoor venue.
I also use the TLSE with my Pignose G60VR all-tube amp. There are some subtle differences with the 6L6 tube amp that give the tone more of a "living/breathing" sound. This amp stays home for practices and recording, while the PE60 gets the road use. Price performance of the Tech21 I think is very good.
Would be fun to compare to the slightly more expensive, but tube-driven Atomic with the PE60. (Steve, we should A/B these some time!)
John
Great idea, John. Lets post
Sun, 2007/11/25 - 6:49pm — hotramanGreat idea, John.
Lets post the MP3's here for folks to listen to.
Send me a PM, ok?
Steve
"For clarity, portability,
Sun, 2007/11/25 - 8:19pm — Kieren"For clarity, portability, and price, I'm very pleased." John - I concur. Its a good amp, does the job and is not too expense - so nothing to conmplain about. I'd be interested in hearing the A/B test with the Atomic - they look like good amps (but of course are more $$$$!).
Hi John, interesting to hear
Mon, 2007/11/26 - 10:25am — fingersHi John, interesting to hear you mic'd up the PE 60, I am probably going to be using this on a live gig tomorrow night, and think the sound engineer would prefer me to go straight into the stage box from the amp.
Do you prefer the mic'd sound, and do you find a big difference between the two ?
I was inclined to go XLR out
Mon, 2007/11/26 - 6:50pm — jofroI was inclined to go XLR out to the board on the recent outdoor live gig, but they preferred the mic. I can't say for certain how big of a difference it made. For what it's worth, we were told that it was the best we've sounded
I know, lots of variables in that one, but in any event, the mic approach was certainly not detrimental. For indoor live sessions in a controlled environment with a consistent PA/EQ etc, I do prefer to go direct to the board via the PE60 XLR out.
Let us know how it goes in your live gig...
John
Hi Guys did the gig the
Sun, 2007/12/02 - 12:06pm — fingersHi Guys did the gig the other night using the power cube with the TLSE for the first time (the boogie was backstage just in case!)
Happy to report that this amp is the business, went straight to the desk from the balanced out on the PE 60 and the sound guys said it sounded fine.
Have some minor tweaking to do to some patches, as I wrote them to use with the boogie, but on the whole, an excellent experience.
Big plus is being able to use the amp in front of me monitor style and not having to mic up means no bleed from other instruments/amps on stage.
Happy to also report that the PE60 is plenty loud enough for this situation, so no problems there either.
Looking forward to my next gig with the band.
Hi Andy, thanks for the
Sun, 2007/12/02 - 2:19pm — jofroHi Andy, thanks for the update...was wondering how it went. Sounds like you are happy with the PE60. Ditto here!
It's a pretty practical rig that delivers the goods.
Cheers,
John
Thanks for the excellent
Sun, 2007/12/02 - 7:08pm — firebrandThanks for the excellent thread. I am a (currently former) Atomic owner, and was curious. I do realize that tubes (for me) in the power section give that beautiful "oomph" for my ears. Especially 6L6s. I have never been an EL power tube fan. I will have to look around for one of those Pignose amps. I've also toyed with the idea of finding an Electar Tube 30. They are cheap, and I found lots of great modding info online for them. (They have a 12 inch speaker and typically go for $135).
Speaking of nice solid-state
Wed, 2007/12/19 - 3:45pm — firebrandSpeaking of nice solid-state amps to use with the ToneLab, you need to find yourself one or two Danelectro Nifty Fifty amps. Wow. I cannot believe how "tube like" this amp really makes my ToneLab sound. I have not been this happy with my sound since owning a Vetta. Actually, I am happier than I was with the Vetta's sound!
Merry Xmas all, did another
Tue, 2007/12/25 - 11:22am — fingersMerry Xmas all, did another gig with the TLSE and Tech 21 the other night, this time at higher volume levels.
Happy to report that the Tech 21 handled this fine, but it really came alive with the tonelab this time.
Maybe the speaker was working harder, but it sounded fantastic to my ears, controlled feedback when I needed it, and crystal clean sounds.
I have to say, that I now know what you are talking about with the TL, it really is the business.
Link below is to the band website, check it out.
Merry Xmas
www.breathefloyd.co.uk