B-52 AT-100 Line Out Question

[kep1]

I noticed in the B-52 AT-100's specs that it features a line-out w/ level control. Does this mean I could go into the head and out to an interface like a firebox and be able to record a good distortion tone from it?

 

[Adam P]

Does this mean I could go into the head and out to an interface like a firebox

Yes.

and be able to record a good distortion tone from it?

That depends on what is good tone to you. Many people feel that miking the sound as it comes out of the speaker cab is the best way to get a good guitar sound. Others feel that a line out is what works for them.

If your amp is a tube amp, remember you must keep a speaker cabinet plugged into the head even if you're using the line out.

 

[kep1]

If your amp is a tube amp, remember you must keep a speaker cabinet plugged into the head even if you're using the line out.

can i plug a 100 watt head into my 60 watt combo amp if i don't have a cab yet?

Also, would it sound better than just amplitube le distortion or is that too opinion-dependent as well?

EDIT: I understand that this where a dummy load option like a THD Hot Plate comes in handy.

 

[Adam P]

Plug it into the amp? No. Plug it directly into the amp's speaker? Yes, if the speaker is of the proper impedance and can handle the wattage put out by the head. DO NOT plug an amp's speaker output into any input on another amp, though, unless you like spending money to fix or replace your equipment.

A dummy load would also work, yes, but for the amount you're going to pay for one, you'd be better off buying a cabinet and just muffling the crap out of it, since you'll be able to use the cab in live situations, and also be able to mic it up should you decide that the line out doesn't provide the tone you're looking for.

If you're isolating your cabinet by piling blankets on top of it or putting it in a closet, or any other means that confines it to a very small space, make sure that you're not confining the head as well, only the cabinet. Tube amps get very hot, and the excess heat buildup from confining a tube head could trash the amp or, more dangerously, cause a fire. Just use a long speaker cable and keep the head in a open, ventilated area.

As for Amplitube or other amp simulators, I can't help you there. I don't use them, as I'm a miking-the-speaker-cab type of guy myself.

 

[kep1]

when plugging my current combo amp right into the pc i am able to keep the master volume all the way down and turn the channel volume up as needed and record it fine. if i had the at-100 head and a speaker cab could i do the same and just keep the master volume all the way down and the volume of whatever channel i'm working with up?

 

[punkin]

Yup...turn it down works too. Those amps have a lot of gain (which = distortion) even at low volume levels. A proper speaker cabinet will bring much in the way of sound/tonal qualities. Plug the speaker output into any speaker will work but for the best sound, a 2x12 or 4x12 cabinet is your best bet.

Check out Avatarspeakers.com . Their G212H Speacial or dual V30 package sounds great with these amps.

 

[kep1]

i know that tube amps achieve their best tone when cranked. does "cranked" apply to the master volume only? if i kept the master down and the channel up would the tone be worse than if i had the master turned up while muffling the cab?

 

[punkin]

Go play one! I'm getting that you're on a budget and you've not played a lot of tube amps before.

A couple questions....

Which B52 amp are you looking at? There are the Transistor models and the tube models.

What sort of music are you planning to play...what sort of sound are you after?

Then, what are you wanting to do...record, practice, jam or play live gigs?

For an ultra clean and loud channel, the B52 has it. For rock to metal, the B52 works. For jazz to blues...IMHO there are better choises in that same price range.

The B52's are a high gain amp. A lot of the tone for these types of amps come from the input/driver stages. The master volume control drives the finals. The two gain controls set up the input. They don't wuss out and get farty at low levels like some of the botique jazz/blues amps. They get better when you crank them but for recording you can still turn them down to reasonable levels and get a nice sound.

If you're wanting something with a hot plate, check out the THD Univalve. It's a single ended, low power amp (15 watts or so...still freakin' loud!) and it has a hot plate built in. This IMHO is a great blues, jazz and classic rock amp that you can crank up full tilt for that final tube saturation at dorm-room levels.

PM me if you want to more info.

 

[nicolaad30]

I would use some sort of cabinet modeler after the line/out to get an acceptable sound on the recording.

 

[xstatic]

So far you have gotten some advice here that seems a little weird to me. First off, you may be able to use the line out of your head WITHOUT any speaker or dummy load. It all depends on whether or this specific head has been designed to allow for that. If not, you will need a speaker cab. I was always under the impression that things like the THD hot plate were to reduce power loads, and not actually defeat them. Basically, trun something like a 100 watt head effectively into a 50 watt head or something. This allows you to get similar tone at a lower volume, or just to be able to drive the inout and/or output stages harder with less overall volume output.

As far as using some sort of cabinet modeler on the output.... I would avoid that like the plague. In my opinion it is bad enough to be recording from a line output to begin with. To medle it though is just one extra layer of processing to screw it up. Save the modeling for mixdown, or just get an amp that was meant to be a modeler from the get go

 

[punkin]

Hey Xstatic, good points. It would seem a little weird how this thread just stopped. FYI Kep1 and I have had a bunch of "off-line" exchanges. I hooked him up with more info on the B-52, speaker cabs and suggested that he look at an amp modeller like the Line6 POD. I also gave him some recordings of B52 driven speakers, a couple different mic sounds and a recording done with all clean/line out recordings then reamped through an amp modeller. I think he's got a lot to consider. Seems like he was hooked on a hot plate but he doesn't yet have a speaker cab. I kinda pointed out that that would be "horse before the cart" so to speak.

I got the impression he was back to the drawing board and regrouping. He's doing the right thing by doing his homework, asking questions and hopefully...playing/test driving a lot of gear before he jumps in.