Building a new rig. All that's left is an FRFR cab and I could use some help..

[vernon]

Many great suggestions have already been given. The best powered cab I’ve owned is the Buscarino Chameleon 1x8.

[Woody Sound]

Quilter Labs BlockDock 10TC plus a Toneblock amp would be my choice.

Well that seems to be a lot more amp and quid than the OP is looking for.

[Ukena]

AFAIK, the Harley Benton GPA-100 is available in 220-240V configuration only. Works fine on this side of the pond with my Metro 6.5FR II. However, a preamp/line level signal is a must.

Apparently, a jumper can be soldered to make the GPA work with 110v. YMMV...

From Reddit:

you can jump a solder point in the back of the PCB that changes the voltage. It's even marked(it's a class D switching power supply so it's okay to do this).Took awhile to take apart and you have to replace the power cable it comes with (they sent me a US power cable for free with it)I've been using it for months now and no issues. I power a fender rumble 100 that was gutted due to the amp not working. Wired up up at 8ohms I run my multi effects pedal through it. Sounds great and more than loud enough for me.

Any idea if running it this way reduces the power output or changes the sound?

Great post. Mentioned all over. I did this and it works great. It does not change the voltage going to the circuit so there is no change in functionality or power. It’s a trick with diodes where you allow voltage one direction in each leg and it adds up to the same. The jumper you would be looking for is J3. I have pictures of taking the thing apart and my bad soldering job if someone can show me how to share them. Sry, total noob.

[Jim Soloway]

Sometimes I find that life makes these decision easier.

I rented a small personal PA locally for a month just to experiment. (One of the few real benefits of having Long and McQuade everywhere in Canada). It's a Yorkville (their house brand). It's not great but it was really handy. I've played three gigs with both the ParaEq and the Yorkville and the results were stellar, even considering the Yorkville's short comings). I had been looking at a variety of small PA's, especially the one's with battery power, as alternatives to an FRFR cab but most of them charge a significant upcharge for features that are not essential to me. I was really intrigued by the Yamaha StagePas units but I didn't like the value equation. Then suddenly Yamaha started clearing them out a few days ago (I assume for a newer version but who really knows). The 100 and 200 models both with and without a battery are being offered by numerous vendors in Canada with a 50% or higher discount. I ordered a Stagepas 100BTR, the little one with the battery for $300 CDN including tax and shipping. It may not be the perfect solution but it may do everything I need in a small package for a great price and if not I should have no trouble off loading it for pretty close to what I paid.

[Ukena]

Well, there you go. Congratulations!

[Jim Soloway]

Well, there you go. Congratulations!

Thanks. Sometimes I think that just making a decision is more important than making the perfect decision. I hope this is one of those.

[alpop]

Sometimes I find that life makes these decision easier.

I rented a small personal PA locally for a month just to experiment. (One of the few real benefits of having Long and McQuade everywhere in Canada). It's a Yorkville (their house brand). It's not great but it was really handy. I've played three gigs with both the ParaEq and the Yorkville and the results were stellar, even considering the Yorkville's short comings). I had been looking at a variety of small PA's, especially the one's with battery power, as alternatives to an FRFR cab but most of them charge a significant upcharge for features that are not essential to me. I was really intrigued by the Yamaha StagePas units but I didn't like the value equation. Then suddenly Yamaha started clearing them out a few days ago (I assume for a newer version but who really knows). The 100 and 200 models both with and without a battery are being offered by numerous vendors in Canada with a 50% or higher discount. I ordered a Stagepas 100BTR, the little one with the battery for $300 CDN including tax and shipping. It may not be the perfect solution but it may do everything I need in a small package for a great price and if not I should have no trouble off loading it for pretty close to what I paid.

Thanks for the info on this great deal! I just ordered the 200. (Battery powered)

[bluejaybill]

May I ask how you are using the Para EQ? I have one and love it (the newer Deluxe version) but I believe the boost is the only volume control. Is that what you are using for volume? I assume the speakers don't have a volume control.

Otherwise, I could certainly see using one as a preamp, the tone sculpting possibilities are endless, and it's very clean sounding. I like their compressor too.

[jzucker]

Jack, which exact model/version and was the guitar straight into the Alto? I'm trying to figure out why I had a poorer experience.

I am was using a modeler going into the alto. Currently, i'm using either the TC Combo Deluxe 65 or the Fractal FM3. Both sound great. I've also used it with a Helix stomp which also sounds great.

[jzucker]

Sometimes I find that life makes these decision easier.

I rented a small personal PA locally for a month just to experiment. (One of the few real benefits of having Long and McQuade everywhere in Canada). It's a Yorkville (their house brand). It's not great but it was really handy. I've played three gigs with both the ParaEq and the Yorkville and the results were stellar, even considering the Yorkville's short comings). I had been looking at a variety of small PA's, especially the one's with battery power, as alternatives to an FRFR cab but most of them charge a significant upcharge for features that are not essential to me. I was really intrigued by the Yamaha StagePas units but I didn't like the value equation. Then suddenly Yamaha started clearing them out a few days ago (I assume for a newer version but who really knows). The 100 and 200 models both with and without a battery are being offered by numerous vendors in Canada with a 50% or higher discount. I ordered a Stagepas 100BTR, the little one with the battery for $300 CDN including tax and shipping. It may not be the perfect solution but it may do everything I need in a small package for a great price and if not I should have no trouble off loading it for pretty close to what I paid.

Did you end up punting on the TC Combo Deluxe? I thought your clips sounded good with it.

[rpjazzguitar]

I am was using a modeler going into the alto. Currently, i'm using either the TC Combo Deluxe 65 or the Fractal FM3. Both sound great. I've also used it with a Helix stomp which also sounds great.

Thanks. The difference seems to be in the voltage level entering the powered speaker. From my ME80, the signal is the same as a guitar with ordinary passive pickups (actually, it can be increased in various ways, none of which are necessarily desirable). So, to get usable volume I had to crank the Alto's volume knob into the "mic" range. That made low frequencies boom horribly.

I'm guessing that your modeler outputs a signal comparable to what a mixer does (pro line level, +10db?) and you didn't have to crank the Alto into the "mic" area of the volume knob.

Used that way, the Alto sounds fine.

Does that sound right?