Conference napalm::guitar

    
    There is also a Perfect Connection bass preamp, Music Emporium has
    it in their latest catalog.

    So, how much ???
    
    jc

    Lowest price quote I heard on the M1000 100WT_head_from_hell was
    $779. at Mr. C's music in Marlboro.
    
    Buck

    Snot bad !!  Whats the scoop with these things ?
    
    What kind of knobs does it have ?
    
    jc

    
    The M1000 has somewhat of the following controls (don't quote me!):
    
    Gain 1  Gain 2  Sys Lvl   Bass  Mid shift    Mid   Treb   Mstr 1  
    
    + 20            main pain       5 position
    -               gain            knob with 5
                                    dif eq curves
        
    Mast 2         Pres  	

    When pulled
    acts as a
    power soak/
    attenuator for the amp.
    
    
    The knobs are active and they go from + - 20 from 0.  The Bass and
    Treb knobs pull for eq boosts and/or diff. freq/bandwith (something
    weird like that).  The head has two channels (ie masters 1 and 2),
    but they don't work like a regular two channel monster...its a weird
    beast all around, you really have to get used to it!
    

    Kinda sounds like the set-up of a laney.
    
    
    
    
    
                   DAVE

    re: -1
    
    Yeah, sorta, only the M1000 sounds light-years better than a Laney! I
    mean, when you boost the bass on a Metaltronix, it boosts the bass
    without drawing away from the other freq., something which doesn't
    happen on a Laney. 

    I trust we can switch remotely from clean to nasty (and all points
    in between ?)
    
    Sounds nasty !  I want ...
    
    ... Two !
    
    jc

    re: -1
    
    NO!  I mean, like I said it's not your average two channel amp like a
    Fender twin or something...there is no clean/dirty channel thing
    happening here.  Its sort of like a boogie in the sense that, if you
    set the amp up for the ultimate singing lead tone, your switched
    "clean" sound will not be clean, moreso fuzzy, with less distortion,
    but certainly NOT clean!  It has two master volume controls...on the
    preamp version, its for stereo separation (ie left channel master
    volume and right channel master vol.), but I am not sure how the two
    master volumes are working on the M1000 head.  I guess you could
    always call Metaltronix in LA and rap with them about it...those
    LA tech cats are pretty hip on that sort of stuff.
    
    I guess I should get more technical info on the thing.  As Paul
    Gilbert said when he opened the box on his amp(s):  "The thing has
    5 volume controls, and it took me a while to figure out what did
    what and how to get the best possible sound happening". 

    This is FYI for all those misc Metaltronix notes lurking about...this
    is where the official Metaltronic/Perfect Connection discussion is at. 

    
    

M1000 - 100 watt tube head, 10 stage preamp (5 12AX7 tubes), active
        effects loop, list is $1,149
GP1000 - 6 stage tube preamp, stereo out, footswitchable, 1 rack
         space, list is $575.  BP1000 is a bass version that lists for
         $599.
SP1000 - 100 watt stereo solid state power amp, 1 rack space, 14.5
         lbs., list is $599.

Mike

      A solid state power amp doesn't need an output transformer for
    matching the output section to the speaker impedance. Tubes require
    one and this adds a lot to the weight of a tube amp. Also the main
    AC transformer in a tube amp must be larger than solid state because
    the power consumption from tubes is considerably higher and you
    need more taps off the transformer for things like filaments, etc.

    
    A transformer like you described in .14 is called a toroidal
    transformer. Much smaller, lighter, less EMI radiation, *much* more
    expensive. 

    Glad to hear the input transformer is a real one and not like the
    Carver mickey-mouse version.
    
    Mike

    I can't believe Metaltronix is really getting that much for a head.  I
    expect that they are being heavily discounted.  Anyone know what
    they're really going for?
    
    Looks like the SP1000s are getting discounted quite heavily...
    
    Greg

    The M1000 best price in the Boston area was #786.00.
    
    Not much more than a Marshall top, or a Laney for that matter.

    	Gee do they give you any 5 amp fuses for the 2 amp they installed
    in the factory?  :^) 

    re: .18
    
    Definately a heavy discount as I expected.  That seems like a fairly
    realistic price.
    
    Greg

    re: .19
    
    Negative.  I should charge them labor since I had to repair it myself
    too.  Sheeesh, $.35 ea for them fuses too !!!  Sheeesh !
    
    jc 

      I finally loaded the Metaltronix SP1000 into my Killerack. I really
    like the sound and convenience of this unit. I have to push the
    volume control on the amp quite a ways to get the sound I want,
    luckily there seems to be a lot of headroom in the upper half of
    the volume control. In other words it doesn't mush out like some
    amps do after the 12 o'clock position. Oh yeah, I agree that the
    led display is neat. 
      Esentially the are three audio components and two control components
    to my rack. Audio: Kitty Hawk Quattro pre-amp > ART SGE > SP1000.
    Control: Kitty Hawk KHPC1 foot controller and Kitty Hawk MIDI patch
    bayette. It sounds INCREDIBLE! 
      My only negative comment is that I feel my Kitty Hawk M1 100 watt
    head is louder than the Metaltronix. Not by a lot but I notice it.
    I think a lot of tube amps put out more than their rating anyway.

re: -1

That's the second person (out of the three owners I know of!) that feel their 
Metaltonix does not output as much as they want or expected (Coop - you said 
you have to keep yours all they up, didn't ya?). 

It seems to me that at 100wpc, it should be loud enough for most applications. 
What's the deal here then? Is it putting out less than 100wpc? Has anyone done 
any testing on them to see what the actual output is?

Just wondering why everyone is running these things so hot....

Alan S.

      You are right JC-
    The unit sounds best opened up and making subtle volume changes
    using the SGE's output slider. When I let this monster go full
    guns there is no hint of annoying transistor clip- it's just
    a darn good saturated sound. That's why I bought it! The SP1000
    probably does put out 100 watts, but I think most tube amps
    put out more than they're rated.
      As far as some of the lead settings go I've come to a few conclusions
    after quite a bit of experimenting. When running the rack at regular
    volume and using any of the two lead modes in the pre-amp, it is
    pretty much useless to add in distortion or much compression on
    the SGE. The pre-amps doing a good job of that already. At lower
    volumes that advice changes. The only effects I really add to the
    leads are delay/chorus/flange and usually (but not always) very
    subtle at that.

Re: Does it really put out 100 watts?

You may be seeing a classic ``trick'' of specsmanship here.

The 100 watt rating is with a particular amount of distortion.

First, the distortion figures could be different from one amp to
another (whee, I get 1000 wpc out of this paperback sized amp, too bad
all I hear is noise!).

Second, the distortion curve is different for different amps. 
Different amps may provide the same amount of distortion at a given
power, but one amp might sound disgusting when producing 10% more than
its rated power, while the other still sounds fine.

Usually tube amps have a more audibly pleasing ``degradation'', so you
can crank past the rated power with no worries.  Transistor amps are
designed so that you can't get into this regime.

Just another way of say ``tube amps put out more than their ratings''.

I know you guys are defending the Metaltronix, but what you are saying is 
actually turning me away from it! Two major points I don't like:

a.) I don't like the fact that it adds color to the sound. IMO, that is what a 
    pre-amp/effects is for. A power amp should *only* provide power, and it 
    should sound the same coming out as it did going in (only louder!).

b.) I also don't like it that you have to run it all the way up before getting 
    a 'good' sound out of it. IMO, that is ridiculous! I should be able to run 
    a power amp at whatever volume I want, and it should sound the same at all
    levels.

I know you guys love'em, but it looks like its not the right answer for me.....

Alan S.

    RE: Alan       "...Thats what a pre-amp is for"...
    
    Negative.  Think about it dude, what does every Marshall owner do
    to change the sound of their amps ?  Do they change the preamp tubes
    or the power tubes ?  Generally, they change the power tubes from
    like 6550's to EL34's...  The preamp and effects do change the sound, 
    butif you drive the signal with a transister radio, it'll sound
    like do-do.
    
    And... I don't *have* to run the SP1000 wide open, it just sounds
    even better that way...  ;^)
    
    jc

      I played the through the SP1000 at band practice last night, WOW.
    I got some great sounds that really turned my head. As far as coloring
    the sound I don't think the Metaltronix really does that, it's more
    a matter of the way it clips. I tried my rack through a Carvin FET400
    and even though it's a great power amp for PA it doesn't do as good
    a job on the guitar. Then again this is all based on the sound your
    after! If you want a clean sound (or overdrive/dist done thru effects)
    and you don't clip the power amp then most PA power amps will do.
      I am used to tube amps and every supposed Solid State amp that
    made claims to sound just like a tube amp never really delivered.
    The combination of the KH pre-amp and SP1000 is by far the most
    realistic emulation of a all-tube head that I've heard! Add to that
    the lighter weight and convenience of rack packaging- I'm still
    sold on it. 
    
     						Perry Mason
    					(Metaltronix Defense Counsel)

>                 <<< Note 1329.27 by HAZEL::STARR "LGTFOOH" >>>
>a.) I don't like the fact that it adds color to the sound. IMO, that is what a 
>    pre-amp/effects is for. A power amp should *only* provide power, and it 
>    should sound the same coming out as it did going in (only louder!).
>
>b.) I also don't like it that you have to run it all the way up before getting 
>    a 'good' sound out of it. IMO, that is ridiculous! I should be able to run 
>    a power amp at whatever volume I want, and it should sound the same at all
>    levels.

    Alan, I agree with you on both counts.  This may be due to being an
    audiophile prior to becoming a guitarphile.  I can't see why the same 
    principles in hifi/consumer audio don't apply in pro audio.
    
    Mike

>                 <<< Note 1329.27 by HAZEL::STARR "LGTFOOH" >>>
>a.) I don't like the fact that it adds color to the sound. IMO, that is what a 
>    pre-amp/effects is for. A power amp should *only* provide power, and it 
>    should sound the same coming out as it did going in (only louder!).
    
    Ummm... I also disagree.  As John (I think) mentioned, it depends on
    what you're looking for.  If you like the sound you get from running
    effects into an ultra-clean amp, then your description fits fine.  You
    have to remember that the power amp section of most amps does color the
    sound somewhat.  A Marshall preamp into a solid state power amp
    wouldn't sound like a Marshall head (or a Marshall with the volume at 1
    won't sound like a Marshal with the volume at 10...closer to home?)
    
    I currently don't have a power amp, just run my MP-1 and SGE at
    instrument level into one or more combo amps.  I can definately hear a
    difference in the sound I get from my Crate solid state amp and my
    Hiwatt tube amp.  I set both amps up for a clean basic sound and get
    all the distortion from the rack stuff.  I like the sound through the
    Hiwatt better...
    
>b.) I also don't like it that you have to run it all the way up before getting 
>    a 'good' sound out of it. IMO, that is ridiculous! I should be able to run 
>    a power amp at whatever volume I want, and it should sound the same at all
>    levels.
    
    Woah there Nellie!  I think you're reading stuff into what they said,
    neither of them said they *had* to run the SP1000 at full volume to get
    a good sound out of it or to get the volume they needed.  They said
    that they did it that way and it colored the sound in a way they liked. 
    Personally I can see a lot of advantage to setting your power amp up
    louder then you need, then you can control your volume through your
    preamp and effects without having to mess with it further on the power
    amp.  This is pretty standard practice with PAs, you control the volume
    through the mixing board.
    
    Greg

RE: 1329.29

>>    The combination of the KH pre-amp and SP1000 is by far the most
>>    realistic emulation of a all-tube head that I've heard!

	So why don't we all just go back to all-tube heads :^) ;^)

	joe (sorry, couldn't resist)

      re -.1  Where's my gun?
    
      Seriously though, some manufacturers have been giving that some
    thought. Case in point: the new Fender Super 60 amp that comes in
    combo, head, and rack mount. Dean Markley has been making rack mount
    amps(heads) for some time. A head (rack or standalone) will almost always
    be less deneros than a set of seperates (just like in audio land).
    Also tube will almost always be more bucks than solid state. Anyone see
    the price (and weight) of the new Marshall rack mount power amp?
    
                                               	John R.

    Wow, miss two days of work and I miss a great conversation!
    ;^)
    
    Umm, I agree that when I tried Jeff's Metaltronix, that the sound I
    liked the best was both channel's wide open, however, when I used it
    in the studio for my leads, I only ran it 1/2 way and it still
    maintained its tone (oh yeah, its was still LOUD!).
    
    Whatever...
    
    Moi, court jester

    Yeah, and I never had any volume trouble when I used Buck's MP1
    to preamp with.  Like I said earlier, the SGE has some presets that
    don't produce enough signal.  I bet that KH preamp sounds AWESOME!
    
    
    Metaltronix does have one serious drawback:
    
    You can't bridge it.   ;^(

    ...Not that you'll need to...  ;^)
    
    jc

    
    Re: tube rack mounts
    
    Mesa has offered a rack mount kit for years that lets you pop the
    chassis from any Boogie combo or head and stuff it into a rack.
    
    

    Re: going back to tube
    
    Why not a MOSFET amp?  If I remember correctly from my school days,
    aren't tubes FETs?  Wouldn't a MOSFET amp like the Carvin bring you the
    best of both worlds?
    
    Mike

    MOSFET = Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect TRANSISTOR
             ^     ^     ^             ^     ^      ^
    Seems like MOSFET is just a fancy name for a good ole fashioned
    transistor.  I don't think it has anything in common with a tube,
    'cept they both work on electricity.   ;^)
    
    Am I wrong ?
    
    jc

    
    The similarity between FET & Tube (Valve as we say in here in the UK)
    is really only the input impedance in both cases is very high.
    
    This led to a lot of the old simple valve biasing circuit analysis
    being revived to handle FET's & colleges always made the comparison
    when teaching FET theory.
    
    	As devices under AC conditions the transfer function (although
    voltage derived as opposed to current as in the original Bi-polar)
    is transistor like as opposed to valve like.  Also the very high
    frequency response makes them more "scratchy" than valves.
    
    I did all this a LOOOOOONG time ago but I'll dig out my college notes
    if anyone is interested.
    
    Cheers
    		Pete.

I think another similarity of FET's to tubes is that both are voltage controlled
rather than current controlled devices, as opposed to bipolar transistors.....


dbii

  When transistors distort they produce odd harmonics, which are very unpleasing
to the ear.  Tubes, or Valves, produce even harmonics, when they distort, which
are pleasing to the ear.  Thats why tubes create a "warmer" sound.

							Tom Boilard

    I always find this stuff fascinating...But I'll just read, keep
    my yapper shut, and stick to SYSGEN's...  ;^)
    
    ;^)

    Re .-2 & .-3
    
    Right Dave...as I said FETs are voltage driven as opposed to Bi-Polar
    devices which are current driven (i.e. the transfer function is voltage
    derived in FETs).  This is due to the very high input impedance....in a 
    FET the gate is conductive metal oxide layer sadwiched to a insulative
    layer in turn layered onto a silicon channel so there is no DC current
    path hence Hi impedance.  In a valve the drive grid is a mesh sitting
    in free space also providing no DC path hence also Hi impedance.
    These devices use varying AC charge to regulate a flow of electrons.
    In a FET the gate (depedning on doping which way round) either draws
    free electrons or electron holes toward it reducing or "pinching"
    the available charge carrying region...like squeezing a hose pipe.
    A valve "boils" electrons off a tungston heater at a constant rate
    & accelerates them across a vacuum in which the grid sits.  The charge
    on the grid impedes this flow to a greater or lesser degree.  The
    number of electron past a given point per given time is a measure of
    current.  There are many more electrons in the silicon channel of a FET
    than in the electron "mist" in a valve.  Thus one gets more current
    capability through a FET.  In a valve high voltages are requires to
    accelerate the electrons although only low currents are involved thus
    output transformers are often used to convert to more usable
    voltage/current levels.
    
    	The reason that a valve stage tends toward odd harmonics is that
    there are many mechanical parts involved & this leads to microphony
    i.e. the heater & grid are bits of metal sitting in a bottle to all
    intents.  Things naturally tend to resonate (mechanically) producing
    more odd than even harmonics...any mechanical resonance in the valve
    body or in the transformer laminations will influence the electrical
    signal in a similar way.  Little mechanical resonance will be present
    in a FET.
    
    	Hope you enjoy all this long winded stuff.  Lots of people have
    asked questions around this & I thought I'd do a brain dump.
    
    If you want more than this I DEFINITLY need my college notes.

    re .43
    
    Pete -- why is it so hard for solid state amp designers to reproduce
    that odd harmonic characteristic of valves? There are so many
    variations on a solid-state distortion theme, and only extremely
    expensive designs get even close to valve sound.
    
    Richard.

>  When transistors distort they produce odd harmonics, which are very unpleasing
>to the ear.  Tubes, or Valves, produce even harmonics, when they distort, which
>are pleasing to the ear.  Thats why tubes create a "warmer" sound.
    
    Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. If this were true, we'd have had a VERY
    hard time with radio before the invention of the transistor. One of the
    ways that audio amplifiers were (and maybe still are) tested was by
    passing a 1kHz square wave, which is made up of an infinite number of
    BOTH EVEN AND ODD order harmonics of 1kHz, through the amplifier and
    testing the accuracy of the reproduction from the amp.
    
    Distortion produced by overdriving an amplifier generally takes the
    form of clipping -- the normally rounded tops of sine waves become
    flattened, like the top of a square wave. Yes, the flat tops of square
    waves are the result of the even-order harmonic content. But if
    transistor amps only produce odd-order harmonics, that would imply that
    no transistor amp could ever clip a signal.
    
    Whatever difference in sound there is between tube and solid-state amps
    is NOT a result of any difference in harmonic content. It must result
    from other differences in operating characteristics between the two
    devices, added to design differences between different manufacturers'
    circuits. Consider also that most tube power amps drive speakers via
    transformer, and that the transformer can change the characterisitcs of
    the signal as readily as an amplifier.
    
    --Chuck (ex_tech_and_mediocre_guitarist)

    
    Sure...Fourier tells us this...but when a valve is running it
    resonates, just antenea do on those big ship to shore 10KHz rigs.
    
    It's the microphony of a valve that emphasises the odd harmonics, plus the 
    fact it has a greatly reduced frequency respose rolls the edges of &
    produces a creamy sound.
    
    I did a mega reply for this topic but it got blown away by the net
    dropping but I'll put a full reply in for Richard ASAP.
    
    Cheers
    
    	Pete.

>    It's the microphony of a valve that emphasises the odd harmonics, plus the 
>    fact it has a greatly reduced frequency respose rolls the edges of &
>    produces a creamy sound.
    
    Now this I find much easier to agree with than the flat assertion that
    valves only generate odd harmonics. My electronic theory training is
    NOT at the engineering level, so I did check my assertions with an
    engineer here whose opinion I respect, and who's old enough that he's
    had extensive experience with tube circuits.
    
    --Chuck

    So what is the bottomline?  Is a FET an adequate replacement for a
    tube?  Should their sound output be about the same?
    
    It has been too long since I played with Drains and Gates! :-)
    
    Mike

    
    The answer really is no!
    
    The only similarity between Valves & FET devices is the inherent high
    impedance over the bipolar device (the standard transistor).
    
    The real reason a valve sounds softer than a tranny is due to the
    transfer function i.e mapping of the in signal to the out signal.
    When a valve is driven into saturation (overdriven) it clips less
    readily than a transistor, infact all that really happens is the ratio
    of input to output becomes progressivly less linear.  A FET is not as
    smooth as a valve but not as bad as a bipolar which is a nightmare!
    
    If you look at the graph below & notice the "knee".
    
    
    		TRANSISTOR.(BIPOLAR)
    
    
    mA x100
    O|
    U|
    T|
    P|   ----------------------------  
    U|  /
    T| /
     |/
     +-----------------------------------
    	INPUT (micro amps)
    
    When biasing a bipolar you bias it to run on the flat part of the
    function (which in reality has a positive going slope on it so it
    amplifies).  If you overdrive the  signal past the "knee" the function 
    becomes rapidly nonlinear & the peak becomes very distorted.
    
    In a FET the knee in not quite so pronounced (better), in a valve it is
    a smooth curve (excellent) so the peaks get rolled rather than clipped.
    
    This effect is the primary reason for the valve sound, the other
    microphony effects add a bit more warmth granted but it is pretty
    subjective really.
    
    	Cheers
    		Pete.
    
    

    
    Thanks, Pete. I know nothing about this sort of thing, so I have
    another question.
    
    Granted that this is the case at the 'device level', wy hy is it so 
    hard to design at the 'circuit level' to produce the rolled response
    characteristic of valves? Come to that, why not design microphony into 
    the circuit somehow -- there must be a way of faking it AND avoiding
    the reliability/durability problems of valves. 
    
    Go ahead -- in addition to chips and circuit boards, you're allowed
    to use any bits and pieces you might find in the average car mechanic's
    loft, plus a lemonade bottle.
    
    Richard.

	Microphony to me is a bit subjective as I said before....People 
	older & wiser than me say it makes a difference but I believe the 
	actual electrical characteristics are the major players in all this.

	So to your question.....

	I think you could get pretty close & there are two approaches I 
	would consider.

	One could theoretically use many stages in the amp & ensure that no 
	stage would ever push the devices out of linear operating range.
	This would mean using many differing device types & restricting the 
	gain severely on each stage so to get reasonable output power we 
	need many stages (see the expense coming in?).  Then using a feedback 
	system controled by a user preset (preset would be the rate of onset 
	of non-linearity) the stages could be dynamically re-biased across 
	the waveshape to give a progresive de-linerisation of the amp 
	eventually to gentle clipping of the peak.  This is something that 
	would take a bl**dy good analogue engineer a long time to get right,
	the noise problems of so many altering stages would almost 
	insurmountable even with todays super low noise stuff.  It would 
	also be a very expensive amp in bits alone not to mention a high 
	development cost to recoup.  Best use a valve.

	Using Modern digital processors the sound could be sampled digitally 
	& manipulated in Software to emulate a valve, it's possible a single
	fast alogorithm could be devised to do the job or, a patching of 
	pre-sampled sounds could be a way to go here but with all the 
	problems that brings, like detachment from the instrument, non 
	versatility (ie. new ROM card to go from dirty to clean?).  This 
	is the way processors are going, my little microverb has a chip 
	with a million legs on it & a ROM sitting next to it but the art 
	is in its infancy still.  

		Until a lot more Psycho-acoustic research is done 
	to find out how our audiotory system interperets sounds then the 
	difference will be noticable.  Another angle is how many people
	would believe a little box running off a 9V wall adapter could replace
	a wall of 200 watt Marshalls even if it was an exact replica.

		I don't think the valve will ever die, too many people believe
	it's the only tool for the job.

	Cheers
		Pete.
	

    So it comes down to:
    
    1. Tubes
    2. FETs
    3. Bipolar
    
    Somehow I don't see the order staying this way for long.
    
    Mike

    
    I don't see it that way.  Transistor amp makers are still making money.
    I know players who love their tranny amps & wouldn't touch my Marshall.
    There's room for all technologies to make a living, FET technology is 
    coming on but the Music industry is not into fabricating transistors...
    & unless someone invests in specifically making a FET with valve
    characteristics (which may or may not be possible) we will have  a
    choice of three technologies....I'd rather that than only two.
    
    Cheers
    		Pete.

R.E. 45

  I disagree.  When solid state devices distort they simply sheer off the
top and the bottom of the wave form. 
  Tubes, on the other hand, do not clip the signal.  They produce what is
called soft distortion.  Meaning the top and bottom of the waveforms are not
square they are rounded. If you do a little more research you will find that
tubes do produce even harmonics.  Put a sine wave through a tube amp sometime. 
  Why do you think old tube mics are one of the most sought after items in a
recording studio.  It's not because they produce odd harmonics, which are not
very musical by the way.    It is because they produce even harmonics which tend
to fatten the sound.  This is also why tube limiters, tube preamps, and 
tube E.Q.s are also very popular.  Do some more research and you will find out 
that this is correct.  
  Also, putting a square wave through a tube amp will not allow you to measure
harmonic distortion.  A square wave is the sum of an ifinite number of sine 
waves.  How can you measure harmonics when already every frequency is present.
Your information is incorrect.

					Tom Boilard

  

      I agree w/-.1 that tubes lean more towards even harmonics than
    odd, I read that a long time ago and I don't think it's changed.
    Back to Metaltronix (remember the topic?) - I don't have any info
    on the internals of the amp (SP1000) other than what's already been
    said about transistor current feedback being used to create a tube-type
    sound. It for sure doesn't sound like a standard transistor amp
    especially when it's being pushed hard.
      Couple the SP1000 up to a good tube preamp and you won't miss
    out on the sound.  

    
    	I know that valve output use a sort of speach coil damping to
    prevent ringing in the output transformer or something like that....I
    really can't remember too well how it worked but I guess it could be 
    used in a transistor amp by some subtle feed back technique.
    
    	Cheers
    		Pete. 

    I was checking out the sp1000 last night and I noticed that you
    could run 4 cabs off of it,(2 a side) well what I was wondering is how much
    power is derived and split into each cab.


                                         \mArK/

      According to the specs I received with the SP1000, the unit puts
    out 100 watts into 8 ohms, 125 into 4 ohms, and it might even list
    something for 2 ohms but I don't think I'd risk it. There is no
    bridging built into the unit, supposedly it is a dual-mono design
    as opposed to true stereo. 
      This piece of gear has been working out really well for me. It's
    compact, light, and sounds great integrated into the rack. Besides,
    when I get bored I can always make the yellow LED's light up! I've
    only been running it into either a single 12 cab or one 4X12, but
    always at 8 ohms. I haven't had the need to fire up the whole stack
    ( at 4 ohms ) with the rack. I have done it with the 100 watt
    Kitty Hawk M1 head. Talk about moving some air!

    I was in Mr. C's recently (Marlboro, MA) and saw that they are selling
    the M-1000 head for a mere $650.00.  Whada deal for an amazing sounding
    amplifier! 

      re: -.1 
      Yeah, $650 for the M1000 is good. A store here was selling one
    w/ a 4X12 for $1350. I checked it out and found it to be a good
    amp if you play Loud (a great amp if you play LOUDER). I had a similar
    impression of the KMD XV all-tube head, it got real wimpy when the
    volume wasn't pushin. A lot of people are convinced that there is
    no substitute for a crankin amp to get a good sound, but I think
    you need the flexiblility to be able to get some decent sound at
    a reasonable volume. 
      If you have a rack system with a decent preamp, you will have
    a lot more flexibility with the volume/quality of sound differential.
    If you are looking at a head that gives you great sound at lower
    volumes- consider the smaller tube amps (Marshall Artist 30 watters
    sound great!).
       Half power switches on 100 watt heads work differently on different 
    models. One way cuts out two of the four output tubes. Another changes
    the operating charateristics of the tube from Pentode (Five elements)
    to Triode (three). Essentially this is changing the bias on the
    grids inside the power tube. Last, and my favorite because I got
    one, is a switch to go from push-pull (class AB) to class A operation.
    Class A uses all tubes for the full sound wave, where push-pull uses
    two tubes for the positive half of the wave and two for the negative
    half (in a 100 watt amp). Class A only puts out about 30 watts from
    all four tubes but it sounds really warm and you can CRANK it! 

    You JR...
    
    How involved is that AB -> A mod??  I will say that the M1000 head has
    a great sound, and it sounds better as you get it louder, but this head
    is L O U D!!!  The M1000 is easiler louder than a Marshall 100WT top!
    I guess good ole Lee Jackson isn't kidding when he says they're "Built
    to blast".  I think the M1000 sould shine with such an mod (the AB to
    A).  It has a built-in attenuator, but I don't like the sound in that
    mode...too compressed.  Also, for those wondering, pulling to tubes and
    converting it to 50WTs doesn't help much on the M1000...its still way
    too loud! 

    Just for kicks I set up my two Peavy 4x12's (4ohms) and both of my 
    Micro-stack speakers (16ohms?) on my SP1000...  Talk about peeling
    paint !  next I'll try my crossover...Agagagagagaga.
    
    Metaltronix Roolz !
    
    ;^)

     re .61 : I have a full set of Kitty Hawk prints (thanx Steve G.)
    that includes the M1's class switching. It doesn't look that complex
    on paper as I thought, I know they are changing a supply voltage
    to the power tubes to accomplish this. I think there are a lot of
    variables in the amp would have to be considered to do a mod of
    this type. It probably looks easy on paper because the switching
    is part of the initial design. Supposedly there are similarities
    with Mesa's simul-class operation.
     re .62 : I put my rack (w/ the metaltronix SP1000) into my stack
    cabinets last night. 125 WATTS (not mellow enuff for lower case)
    into eight 12' cele's. Yeeeooow! I noticed a lot of For Sale signs
    up in my neighborhood this morning. AGAGAGAGAG (sic?). SICK! 

    Just for anyones information, I played with a M1000 half stack last
    week and was QUITE impressed!  This is one of the best sounding amps
    I've ever played through.  I highly recommend anyone looking for a high
    end amp, especially one with a lot of gain, to try one of these out.
    
    The only thing that bothers me remotely about it is the graphics.  As
    my friend so aptly put it "it's butt-ugly!".  
    
    Greg

    Looks like Perfect Connection has just released a new beast.
    
    Saw it in Wurly's this past weekend...it's a new head called the 
    'Blues 59'.  You can spot one a mile away...it has a big blue
    brushed-brass faceplate (like the big gold one on the Metaltronix
    head!).  Not sure how this amp sounds...didn't have the time to try
    it out, but it looked somewhat similar in design to the M-1000 head.
    
    FYI...
    Buck

         Can anyone tell me how the prices are running right now
    compared to a few mo. ago?  I have a friend that is willing to
    sell me his M-1000 for $600.00 but if I can find a new one some
    where I would rather go with the new one.  I live in NH and would
    drive just about anywhere in Ma to find one if I had to.  
         I have a GK now but need to get a litte (more like alot) 
    power through my system and from what I have read here I think the
    M-1000 will solve all my troubles.  GK's come through 50wpc
    
                        Thanks for any info
                        Dave
    
    

    Well, Mr. C's in Marlboro said at one time they were blkowing them
    out (of the store) at $650.00...EU is asking like $785.00 or so
    for a head.  I'd buy the M1000 for $600. in a second!  I love the
    sound of that head, even if it does blow up a lot.
    
    

    Also note, Mr C's doesn't keep any in stock!  They are still an
    authorized dealer (one of two in MA...the other is Wurlitzer's),
    but have shuned away from pushing the line due to reliability problems.

         That is the first thing I've read on relaibility problems!
    Could you please elaborate on these problems?  Are they serious
    or just a blown fuse now and then?
    
                              Dave
    

    -1
    
    Well, to quote BoOm "the words M1000 and Reliability are seldom
    used in the same sentence!"
    
    ;^)
    
    Well, Perfect Connection earned a bad rep in many parts of the country
    cuz they were poorly shipping their M1000 heads and the heads were
    arriving in stores either broken, not working, or blowing up 1 week
    after someone bought them!  Not sure if they've fixed it, but most
    people (like Dave Luiz) think they're junk.  I like the sound of it
    myself, but check it out.  Most people have replaced the tubes with
    Groove Tubes, BTW.

	Go to route 114 from yer house and hang a left. Head out to where
	114 hangs a left toward the county jail and take a right. There's
	a music store in the plaza across from the supermarket - about 1/2
	mile down on the right. They had nothing but metaltronix.

	The name of the store began w/ 'A', they're in the Manchester phone
	book.

	Why not clean up the butcher?

	ccb

         I think the store your takling about (antagonize music) went
    out of business.  Its funny you mention that because this head was
    originaly purchased at that store and the owner of AM was in a band
    with the kid who is now selling it.  So he got a really good deal.
         Its also funny that you mention the Peavey charlie, I did sell
    that last weekend but have yet to figure out how to delete my many
    ads.
    
                                Dave
    ps this head was bought new about 4-5 mo ago so maybe it will have
       no problems but I will take a very carefull look at it before
       I make a purchase.
    
                                Thanks for all the help
    

I have an SP1000 power amp.  It's killer, but my relationship with 
Metaltronix/Perfect Connection got off to a rocky start.  Mine is
loud (125 wpc into 4 ohms!) and articulate with a nice overdriven power 
section sound... It gets along GREAT with my MP1 preamp.

First I blew both sides (it's stereo) power output fuses.  I take it apart and
replace the fuses with what was in there...250v5A slo-blow...  Another hour of 
playing and pooof !  This time I call up Perfect Connection and they tell me to 
replace the fuses with 10A slo-blows...I do so (except with 15A :) and 
everything is Okay...

They told me they ran out of the proper fuses during manufacture...they shipped 
the defective units anyway...  Sounds like Materials, Customer Service and
Production control ought to get their sh*t wired tight...But I get the 
impression that Metaltronix stuff is built in someones basement...But the
sound is GREAT !

jc

FWIW....

Also, if your on stage, and lose a main output fuse... that is a SERIOUS
reliability problem in my book.  Luckily for me, the burn in period
required for my SP1000 spanned over two practices, not gigs...

I probably would've sent it back and bought a Carver if I'd blown the fuse at
a gig...

jc (Who tries to always have a backup amp, but never wants to use one...;)

    Hey kiddies...
    
    Well, I'm just back from an amp shopping trip, and one of the models
    test driven by moi was the new Blues '59 head by Lee Jackson.
    
    Hmmm, where to start on this baby?!?  
    
    First off, it is very similar (if not exact...can't really remember on
    the M1000) control-wise to the M1000 head.  The first noticable
    difference was that the Blues 59 is a 50wt head, whereas the M1000 is
    only available in 100 watts!  
    
    The sound of the '59 is decidely more 'warmer'...less high end sizzle
    than the M1000...I guess this amp (the '59) is geared towards the 
    people wanting a warm tone with lots of sustain.
    
    The amp is built like a tank...it has an active effects loop, featuring
    send AND return level controls...dual speaker jacks, impedance
    switching, your basic tube amp stuff.  Looked like 5 12ax7 preamp tubes
    hiding in back!
    
    The sound?  Very much like my KH Testarossa!  Tons of gain if you want
    it, and a very flat kind of EQ curve.  Even though the tone controls go
    to 20, they are subtle in effect, and offer a warm tone.  I'm not sure
    I liked this amp better than the M1000...I couldn't really get it loud
    enough to tell (it seemed whimpy, and on a respirator!)...but it did 
    seem to sound better at higher volume levels (I creeped them up once).
    This 50wts will rip your head off, don't be fooled!!!
    
    So, I don't think I'll purchase the Blues 59...I have the Testarossa 
    already...Hmmm, looks like 1 more shot at that M1000.
    
    B.

    KH SMITTYHAWK.
    Nice review, but how can you compare the sound with a KH, thay are
    just preamps. What are you powering the KH off?

    
      Something interesting on 'tronix land dudes-
    
      A friend of mine has been (anxiously) awaiting a SP-1000 and finally
    decided to call Metaltronix directly. He got a recording (Lee Jackson?)
    that went : "We're sorry, due to circumstances beyond our control....."
    You get the idea. I'm not sure if they are gone for good or what.
    Come to think of it, When was the last time you saw a Metatronix ad
    run in a major mag. They were running regular for quite a while, but
    lately? I don't think so! 
      Oh sh*t! Hey Coop, let's get our hands on some SP-1000 schematics
    soon before they are hard to find. Damn I just got through this crap
    with clearing up the KH status/schematics. Here we go again.
    
    					-----/boom/-----

What distributor handled them?  They gonna dump the one's left over?

;^)

    O double damm...I haven't got the jangs for a sp yet!
    
    dbii

    
    Anyone seen any of these "collectors items" out there still.
    Betcha the Blues '59 has got to be one of the rarest amps ever
    made. It really is too bad, because the SP-1000 still outshines
    a lot of other guitar power amps. I guess Lee Jackson got a little
    over his head with his expanding product line and all the M1000's
    that died in early shipping. It's hard to overcome a bad experience
    like that with all the equipment out there. Bad news travels fast!
      The local guy that bought one of my KH Testarossas finally bought
    a MosValve power amp. He loves it! He has nothing but good things
    to say about the power amp, and he's thanked me repeatedly for selling
    him the TR. He's telling me I have to check out his Stevie Ray Vaughn
    tone imitation with his rig. 
      Haven't heard any great deals on Metaltronix "fire sales". Guess
    that only happens once in a blue moon.
    
    						---/boom/---

re: MosValve

I know this isn't the proper note to do it in, but if you could post 
any inforamtion you can get on this, John (or anyone else), I'd really 
appreciate it.  I want to get another power amp and was considering 
the MosValve based on their advertizements.  It's price is good 
and Tube Works is based locally, in Denver (and they seem fairly
stable, so I don't think they'll be in business for a while).

None of the dealers here in the Springs seem to carry them, so I may
have to take a trip up to Denver to try one out (when and if I ever
get my MP-1 back).

Greg

My local said he heard that metaltronix is "reorganizing" and will be back

dbii

    Musician's Friend has the MosValve Stereo Power Amp for $459.88
    
    Mike

    
    
    
    	Greg, I've dealt with tube works directly and have been pleased
    with their service..

    
    RE:.81
    
     What's wrong with your MP-1 dude?
    
    								R.C.
    

    > What's wrong with your MP-1 dude?
    
    It had intermittant problems receiving MIDI input.  I think it's back
    in the store ready for me to pick up now, but I've been pretty sick and
    haven't gotten down there to get it.  Only $41 for whatever they did,
    not bad considering the new tubes, SW update, and all.
    
    Greg

      Hmmmmm - maybe Metatronix was built to blast but not to last.
    
      Seriously , haven't heard squat - though they were getting their
    sh*t back together.
    
    							-BooM-

Last I heard from my local dealer was they had shut down to avoid some sort of
hostile take over, but that was all done and they'd be shipping again shortly.

dbii

    Found in the WantAds this week:
    
    50wt Marshall head prof. & personally modified by Lee Jackson...$625.
    
    100wt Metaltronix M1000...brand new...$675.

gee does that mean that a SP-1000 is a good deal at $385?

dbii

    I'd buy an SP-1000 at $385 in a heartbeat!
    
    Youse know where dare is one like dat???

    $385 is a killer deal.  I paid over $500 for mine....
    
    jc

    I saw an ad in the local Co. Springs paper a couple of weeks ago for an
    M1000 half stack and a Hamer custom something-or-other as a package
    deal for $1500.  I didn't think it was too bad of a deal, but I didn't
    really want the Hamer (if it was a Steve Stevens model, maybe). 
    Anyway, I never looked into it (like I got that kinda money laying
    around anyway...)
    
    gh

      I paid over $500 for my SP-1000 as well. I think it was $599.
    
      I'd jump on $385 as well, if I didn't already have amps coming
    out my ears.
    
    							-BooM-

    Well I jumped today...or rather will jump (those jangs are in my
    pocket). I'll be rackin' the sp-1000 with my testerossa and a
    midiverbII for a while and then who knows???
    
    dbii rack puke

    -1
    
    ROCKIN!
    
    I wanna rack my Quattro with a MV_II and an SP-1000...simple, and 
    rockin!!
    
    PS - WHY are there so MANY Lee Jackson M1000 and Modified Marshall
    heads for sale in the Want Ads these days???

    Re: .96
    
    Because everybody's broke....aintcha heard about the recession, Buck?
    
    						Brian

    So everyone is going from heads to racks to heads again and now back to
    racks? ;-)
    
    Mike

    At this point (speaking for them moment only, of course), I'm using
    both!  Head with rack mounted preamp and efx.
    
    Haha!
    
    Greg

    Fickle is synonymous with guitarist.  Full circle eh boize ?
    
    Alright DBII !!  You'll LOVE it !
    
    Anyone know if Lee Jackson (alias- Metaltronix/Perfect Connection ?)
    is back on the phone (in business?) ?

    >Anyone know if Lee Jackson (alias- Metaltronix/Perfect Connection ?)
    >is back on the phone (in business?) ?
    
    See 1421.* for the latest Mtrnx/P.C. phone number and address I got
    from them.  This was in their new location!

    Yeah I'm racked again...the rivera came down and the sp-1000, the
    quattro, the testerossa, the bayette II and the quadraverb went up!
    
    And Originally I was just gonna "evaluate" the sp-1000 with the
    testerossa...hah!
    
    I did find that the quad was set internally for a low output level,
    just a few program tweeks and I had balls again...the rivera must have
    a pretty hot effect loop.
    
    dbii

    Saw an M1000 head in very good condition for $525. at Daddy's in
    the Manchester store over the weekend!  Gee, I wonder how many times
    THAT thing blew up tyo get a price tag of $525!  ;^)
    
    B., who would actually like to buy one of these muthas!

       The only time I saw one in a local music store I asked the salesman
    how much it was going for. He replied "It's not for sale, it's in
    for repair!" More fuel to the fire!!!!
       I wonder if the rarer Blues '59 model ever sold much or was prone to
    breakdown as well.
    
    							-bOOm-

    -1
    
    I donno...I played on a Blues `59 for a good hour, and kept saying to
    myself "what is it I don't like about this amp?"  Maybe I just don't
    know how to set it up right?!

    Hey Jay T.
    
    I'm really itchin to buy an M1000 head these days.  Just how BAD are
    these things anyways?!?  I've heard horror stories, but I think I 
    remember you saying you worked on a few...well, what's the scam?!?

    Well, M1000s are starting to show up USED in shops in DROVES of late!!!
    They must really be blowing up...maybe we can use em in the gulf?
    ;^)
    
    TRhe going price for a used M1000 is now $400.  Not bad..
    
    My quest is not for an M1000, but for a Blues `59 head...not
    so metalish, or as Butt-Fugly as the M1000.  Also, really RARE...
    I'll have trouble finding one I know!
    
    I was talking about Metaltronix/P.C. with this dude who was going to
    NAMM in LA (today), and he said that Lee Jackson has gone back to 
    custom-order work, and that M./P.C. is NO MORE.  What I heard...more 
    later...
    
    Buck

    What about SP1000s?  I'd go rack if I could find one ;-)
    
    Mike

    
    	Hey Buck, what kind of amp is a "Blues '59 head"?  'Fraid I've
    	never heard of it.

    I'd go with a MosValve rather then an SP1000, personally.  TubeWorks is
    a more stable company, and I've heard their service is excellent.  I've
    heard a lot of complaints about the reliability of Metaltronics 
    equipment and the company is now out of business.  I don't know what
    they used for componants in the P.C. SP1000s, but if there's anything
    custom in there, you're in trouble if it breaks.
    
    Besides that, the MosValve costs less and has more features (automatic
    bridging to mono and presence control).
    
    Greg

    The Mosvalve rooolz !   8^)
    
    Scary (who'll be getting his this weekend ... hopefully !)

    RE: Pat
    
    The Blues '59 head is a custom Metaltronix amp  by Lee Jackson
    (the dude who sets up "everyones" rigs.  I guess he did Van Halens
    early rigs, and a BUNCH of other famous peoples (perhaps Buck can
    supply some more names).  He has been "for years" *the* premier amp
    dude; especially known for souping up Marshalls.  Right Buck ?
    
    RE: Mike/Greg
    
    Yeah Mike, I'd have to agree with Greg here.  Since Metaltronix/Perfect
    Connect is kinda kaput, I'd say go with a MOSvalve.  Although I have a
    Metaltronix SP1000 and am extremely pleased with it, I've also A/B'd it
    with a MOSvalve.  Not that the MOSvalve is *that* much better (I can't
    really see the difference that the two power amps make), but it does
    have some nifty new bells and whistles that the SP1000 doesn't have.
    Like the automatic bridging and presence controls, neither of which the
    SP1000 has.  On the other hand, if you had a rack-based set
    up the SP1000 is *THE KING* of light shows, and is certainly just as
    loud (if not louder) than the MOSvalve...But then, anything 100+watts
    is gonna be loud enough for ANY place.  In my humble opinion, a power
    amp is a power amp.  Your tone comes from your preamp and maybe (just
    maybe) be coloured a bit by your poweramp.
    
    jc (Who loves his SP1000, but it's ONLY a power amp ...)
                                              

    Oh and for those of you who have heard MIDI Rack Puke Rap, I'll quote
    <insert pinned VU meters here> "Metaltronix Ruullllzzzzzz"
    
    ;)

    Another consideration:  the SP1000 is only 1 rack space.
    
    Mike

    Yes, and 14lbs - 125wpc (into a 4 ohm load).
    
    Pound for pound, a VERY potent package.  Anyone who has seen me live
    can attest that it is VERY (read:painfully) loud at 1/4 volume.
    
    jc (Metaltronix Marketing Management ;)

    Personally, I'm not concerned with the number of rack slots it takes
    up, but how heavy it is.  I don't remember, but I remember thinking
    that the MosValve is fairly light.  
    
    Unfortunately people borrowed *all* my mail order catalogs here and I
    can't check the shipping weight...  ;^(
    
    Greg

    MOSvalve is 26 lbs. according to my catalogs.
    
    Mike

    >MOSvalve is 26 lbs. according to my catalogs.
    
    WHAT A BEAST !  That thing weighs almost as much as a TWIN !
    
    ;')

    Still relatively lightweight, compared to a tube amp.  I'd guess my M3
    head probably weights about 35-40 lbs.  Also consider that what's
    listed in the catalog is the shipping weight, which includes packing
    material and stuff.  
    
    It also lists 55 lbs as the shipping weight of a Marshall 4x10 speaker
    cabinet, but when Buck shipped the two I bought from him they were only
    about 40 lbs, so caveat emptor if ya know what I mean.
    
    Greg

Yeah real light compared to a stereo tube amp

my Rivera 60 W stereo amp wieght 65lbs....

dbii

          No doubt the Blues '59 head has gotta be rare. They were
    announcing this model just as the company was biting the big one.
    I got to see a nice full color promo sheet on the Blues '59.
    Buck's right, it isn't quite as ugly as the M1000.
          I'm not in the market for any amps. The only thing I might
    do is mount one of my spare KH preamps in the old M3 head shell
    and couple it to a Hughes and Kettner Guitar slave (CF-100) power
    amp module. Effectively it will be a new spare amp head with all
    the KH preamp features. I'll either use my Boss ME-5 for effects,
    or go with a Lexicon LXP-5 and sell the Boss unit. Depends on how
    I do with this years taxes.
    
    						-B()()M-

    
      I don't know who wrote that last reply but was he off base!!
    After seeing that there hasn't been a reply in this topic in
    over a year and the company bit the bag, I figured I'd enter a 
    different kind of note (for me anyway).
    
      It seems that only two items have been stable in my rack. I went 
    through three preamps in the rack before the ACCESS, and a couple
    of effects processors, but the mainstays have been the Korg DT-1 Pro
    tuner and my trusty Metaltronix/Perfect Connection power amp. And I
    don't intend to change these anytime soon. I hope I'm not tempting fate 
    by say what a workhorse my SP-1000 has been. If anything should have
    been salvaged from the Metaltronix wreckage, this was it. Hey Lee
    Jackson - sell the design to Ampeg dangitall!!!
    
      On top of my kind words for this unit, there are (at least) two other 
    noters that have had one of these long term! So there - I don't ALWAYS
    go out and buy the newest gizmo on the shelf!!!!
    
    							-B()()M-    

> On top of my kind words for this unit, there are (at least) two other 
> noters that have had one of these long term! 

I don't know if I was included in that count, but I still swear by my
KH Quattro -> SP-1000 combination that I've had for a couple years now.
No need to upgrade a thing - it does everything I need it to do!!!

alan

My Sp1000 is here to stay also...
It's still the ballz of my rig !!
jc

================================================================================
Note 1329.122    Metaltronix Amplification (Perfect Connection)       122 of 124
FREEBE::REAUME "Let's get RACKed!"                   20 lines   2-JUN-1992 14:04
                            -< kick up some dust! >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
>     It seems that only two items have been stable in my rack. 
    
    	Hmmm.  Lessee, 1) the power strip?, 2) tuner?
    
    
>     I don't ALWAYS go out and buy the newest gizmo on the shelf!!!!
>    
>    							-B()()M-    
    
      Boom, yer a regular model of restraint!
    
      -pat (just teasin'!)  

Mine has worked flawlessly for over a year now. And it's pretty loud...

dbii

Just checking my personal name...
Thanks Pat !!

:)

    
      I think that means four of us have a SP-1000.
    
      Coop , Alan S, dbii, and me! I think thats it. 
    
      Hey - there's no other power amps out there w/ sine_wave LED meters!
    
    								-B()()M-
    

    The trick with those meters is to see how long you can keep
    them all lit...
    :)

     
      I occasionally look at my meters while playing - hello Yellow!
    
      Luckily this new band I'm in is fairly loud (did I say that?)
    and the Sp-1000 shines when pushed (audio wise and illuminated!)
    
    							_B()()M-

This hasn't been said in a while:

Metaltronix rulez !!

(I wanna buy a hutch!)
jc

    
       ...yeah - what he said!!!
    
       Even though the SP-1000 hasn't been resurrected there has been a
    slew (sic?) of new guitar oriented power amps lately, many of them
    non-tube. Like:	Rocktron's VELOCITY 300
    			Hafler       MosFET something
    		        Marshall's   VALVEstate 8008/8004
    			H&K          CF-200 (replaces CF-100)
    			ADA 	     Microtube 200 (hybrid w/12AX7's)
    
      	      Tubewise there's:
    
    			H&K 	     VS-250 (2 X 50 / four EL84's)
    			VHT	        ?
    			Seymour Duncan  ? (big$)
    
    							-B()()M-

Big bucks ??

How about Boogies Simulclass 295 and the 5050.  They have 6L6 drivers in 'em !

jc

    Another source for guitar power amps is Peavey. They have a few
    differant models. The one I'm most familiar with is the 60/60.
    They also make a mono 60w amp. My understanding is that these
    amps can use 6l6 or EL34 power tubes. 
    
    The 60/60 is very similar to the Mesa Boogie 50/50. It has the
    same presence circuit which uses 12AX7's. The 60/60 is priced
    about $300 less then a Mesa 50/50.
    
    Definately worth checking out if your in the market.
    
    Mark

    
    
      I attended a music store Christmas Party last night. One of those
    "by invitation only" things. The weird thing is I hadn't bought
    anything there in the last year, maybe they are trying to tell me
    something!
      So I got together with Tim Harrington (axeman for the Masters of
    Reality and the Bogeymen) and started on the subject of amps. 
    He has used a Metaltronic M1000 for some time and truly loved the amp.
    According to him the new Lee Jackson designed Ampegs don't even measure
    up! He's using an an old Ampeg B-15 head coupled to a 12" speaker these
    days. He also has a 50 watt Marshall (older model) that he likes.
      On the Metaltronix amps he mentioned that he would NEVER take the
    M1000 on the road. It blew up on him a couple times and he lost trust in
    it. I told him that if he had it bulletproofed to not self-destruct
    that it would be a classic. Interesting thought there! 
    

    Isn't an Ampeg B-15 the old Portaflex bass amp?  Or am I confused?  Or
    does he play through a little bass amp?
    
    Dave

    Oh, man, the B-15 makes a *killer* lead amp if you like your sound
    really brown...big, fat, oozing with grease, and at 30 watts running it
    on 10 is no sweat!
    
    						Walter Hull

    I honestly didn't think the Lee Jackson Ampeg sounded as good as the
    Metaltronix M1000 either, but 2-3 years had transpired between the time
    I played them and I thought maybe I'd just forgotten or my tastes in
    tone had changed some or something.
    
    All I remember is being completely blown away by the M1000 I demoed, I
    mean standing there with drool running down my face, playing the thing
    until they closed the store, considering selling my car and most of
    what I owned so I could buy one...
    
    But when I played the new Ampeg, I thought something like...  "Cool
    amp, but I like my Marshall better.  If I needed three sounds, I might
    think about it."
    
    Greg

    Have yet to hear the Ampeg thing.  I saw one in Dallas ... the guy
    said "You'll drool" -- I replied "yeah, as I walk out the door" 8^)
    
    I remember my jaw on the floor with the M1000.  Even the ultra rare
    BLUES 59 didn't sound as good!
    
    ?!?!?

   Any thoughts out there as to how a Metaltronix/Perfect Connection guitar
   power amp would work as bass power amp?  My gut feel is that it _should_
   work just fine, but I'd like to know if these things are somehow "tuned"
   for the signals a guitar preamp would likely send to it, or some other
   electronic esoterica.

   Question #2:  Can the stereo amp be bridged to run in mono mode?

   Thanks,

   -- Sam
   

    I *think* it was just a standard MOSFET based power amp, therefore
    would probably work ok for bass.  However, they power rating was lower
    then what you'd typically run in a bass rig.
    
    Greg

    I'd think it'd work Sam - As Greg said - 100/side might be a little
    low - but these things are loud as snot anyway.  You're welcome
    to take mine up to Woodland for a night and try it...
    
    jc

   Thanks for the info (and offer, Coop!).  I've also gotten some info via
   mail;  specifically, that these beasts are not bridgable.  Bummer.  I'm
   looking to use it for the "bottom" of a biamp rig, and while 200w (bridged
   mono) would probably work, 100w is a little lean.  Especially since I'll
   be powering the top with 150w...

   The search continues.

   -- Sam
   

    100wts is probably pretty short for much bottom end.  Bass frequencies
    really suck up the power amp output power.
    
    gh

    ya need one of those PV 1200wt jobbers feeding a stack of Hartke cabs
    for that killerlow end!!

    Peavey???  Un-uh.  Crown.
    
    gh