eightbitraptor Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 In my introduction thread I promised a lot of potentially stupid questions, this is probably one I'm going to start jamming with a few people soon and want to get myself a new amp. I'm looking at getting a head for now rather than a combo. I might have to end up travelling by train with my stuff occasionally so I thought this would be a more sensible light weight option and the practice space we're looking at has cabs they're prepared to let me use. My question is about using it at home for practice as well. I've heard it's unwise to power on valve heads without an attached load, but does that hold true for solid state stuff too? Could I use it at home with headphones or using the line out into my PC? Apologies if this is a dumb question, and also if anyone has any alternative advice - I'm all ears! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTractor Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 Normally, this is no problem at all. The lack of a cab just means the output transistors don't have to work. They take a cuppa and thank you for this. However, IMS the few solid state amps with output transformers do need a load. I also think someone on BC recently (the last year) specified something about this with scientific certainty, so you might wanna perform a search for that old thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieBass Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 The small lightweight Class D heads all seem to feature a headphone output these days and don't need a speaker to be connected which is why they're so popular for both home practice and gigs in just the situations you've described. I think the headphone socket also doubles as the line out and of course these units often have a DI out when you want to put bass through a PA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truckstop Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 For sure the Ampeg PF's and the Gallien Kreuger MB's all have this function from my personal experience. I imagine it'd be the same for other class D type heads. Truckstop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eightbitraptor Posted August 3, 2014 Author Share Posted August 3, 2014 Awesome! Thanks folks that's exactly what I wanted to hear. What's a class D head though? :$ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roland Rock Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 [quote name='eightbitraptor' timestamp='1407060168' post='2516918'] Awesome! Thanks folks that's exactly what I wanted to hear. What's a class D head though? :$ [/quote] Class D heads are the really lightweight ones, as they do the job with lots of clever pulsing and switching, negating the need for heavy transformers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 A lot of modern small heads have a headphone out and aux in socket. This allows you to plug in an MP3 player and jam along to music whilst listening to a mix of the music and your bass through headphones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero9 Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 Something like a TC Electronic BH250 ticks all the boxes I don't have any experience with them, but am seriously considering getting one as a backup, given the price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eightbitraptor Posted August 3, 2014 Author Share Posted August 3, 2014 [quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1407062159' post='2516932'] Class D heads are the really lightweight ones, as they do the job with lots of clever pulsing and switching, negating the need for heavy transformers. [/quote] Got it. Thanks :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eightbitraptor Posted August 3, 2014 Author Share Posted August 3, 2014 [quote name='zero9' timestamp='1407065603' post='2516963'] Something like a TC Electronic BH250 ticks all the boxes I don't have any experience with them, but am seriously considering getting one as a backup, given the price. [/quote] Wow. They do sound perfect! That and the GK Mb200. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonesy64 Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 I have just picked up an Ampeg PF350 for home use into a 112 or unplugged from the cab to use with headphones and ipad/laptop/iPhone. It's a great feature that I think most of these small class D heads now have. You can't really go wrong with a PF or any of the ones already named. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theyellowcar Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 [quote name='eightbitraptor' timestamp='1407068884' post='2516994'] Wow. They do sound perfect! That and the GK Mb200. [/quote] The MB amps get a lot of great reviews and positive comments on here, I don't think you would go too far wrong with one of those! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted August 3, 2014 Share Posted August 3, 2014 Its safe to say (rule of thumb) all valve heads need a load or you will blow them ( there's a separate thread somewhere, I think from last week about this) but you wouldn't be travelling by train with a valve head anyway...would you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eightbitraptor Posted August 4, 2014 Author Share Posted August 4, 2014 [quote name='yorks5stringer' timestamp='1407094852' post='2517305'] Its safe to say (rule of thumb) all valve heads need a load or you will blow them ( there's a separate thread somewhere, I think from last week about this) but you wouldn't be travelling by train with a valve head anyway...would you? [/quote] Lol no. That would be madness. Not least of which for my back ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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