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Post new topic Straight Ahead mini~Power Amp ☆(2019 version) ☆
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Author Topic:  Straight Ahead mini~Power Amp ☆(2019 version) ☆
Jay Ganz


From:
Out Behind The Barn
Post  Posted 2 Apr 2015 10:09 am    
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Output is 500 watts with a 4 ohm speaker or 300 watts with an 8 ohm. (THD less than .1%)

They can be set up to run on 240V AC for anyone outside the U.S.

Fully protected against shorted output, over current, over temperature,
DC fault protection on speaker, under & over supply voltage.

AC cord included.



Will work with Push/Pull or All Pull steels.










☆☆☆ Discussion below relates to older version


Last edited by Jay Ganz on 6 Mar 2022 8:53 am; edited 14 times in total
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George Piburn


From:
The Land of Enchantment New Mexico
Post  Posted 3 Apr 2015 8:39 am     More Input Please
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Can you talk about the Input,

Is it set up for direct from the Pickup?

My Lap Steels use a 10k single coil with tone and volume controls.

I also use a KORG Pandora as a DI so to speak will it accept it?

Thanks in advance - love your product all ready. Very Happy

GeorgeBoards Steel Guitars.
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Jay Ganz


From:
Out Behind The Barn
Post  Posted 3 Apr 2015 11:46 am    
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Basically, you can plug the lapsteel directly into the amp if you want. I've done this with a standard Tele pickup.
Of course, this would mainly be OK for a low volume practice situation. Using the Korg Pandora would drive the amp a lot better
resulting in more wattage output from the amp to your speaker.
I use a small Empress preamp/EQ pedal with the amp when playing out with a loud band.
That preamp can be set for up to +30 db gain but I usually only need about +20 db, which gives me more than enough volume.
I've also tried a TC Electronic Spark Booster pedal (which has EQ adjustments) with a mini HOF reverb pedal into the amp with great results.
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Doug Jones


From:
Oregon & Florida
Post  Posted 3 Apr 2015 5:47 pm    
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Unless I am totally incorrect, this portable little power amp might be best used for steel guitar with a steel guitar preamp such as a Blue Tube, Sarno Tonic, PV Profex, etc. Perhaps 2 of them would work well for the stereo or 2 channel out types like the Sarno Revelation or Walker Stereo Steel. Other than lightweight powered speaker cabinets like the T.C.Furlong cabinet, a number of players have opted to use the power amp sections of combo amps such as the Nashville 400 or Evans FET 500. This little power amp will lighten the load to go between your preferred means of pre-amplificaton and just a speaker cabinet. Other uses might work well with an unpowered PA mixer to power the PA speakers of your choice. Class D power is incredibly light as evidenced by the popularity of the GK MB-200, etc. Basically, wherever you need power amplification, this little guy will do the job in a significantly smaller and lighter package.
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Sonny Jenkins


From:
Texas Masonic Retirement Center,,,Arlington Tx
Post  Posted 4 Apr 2015 7:20 am    
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Would this amp work with RV-3 and speaker???
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Jay Ganz


From:
Out Behind The Barn
Post  Posted 4 Apr 2015 8:02 am    
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Yes, the input is sensitive enough so that it would work at a low volume.
As Doug accurately described though, using some type of preamp (or gain booster) with it's own EQ
would really take full advantage of the amp's performance.
It's really "tone neutral" without the low end boost commonly found in other amps tweeked for bass guitar.
Also no brittle high end that I've heard in many other Class D amps.
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Michael Maddex


From:
Northern New Mexico, USA
Post  Posted 4 Apr 2015 9:24 am    
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Jay, pardon me if I am missing the obvious, but where are the input and output jacks what type are they? Also, what is the input impedance? Thanks.
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Jay Ganz


From:
Out Behind The Barn
Post  Posted 5 Apr 2015 10:44 am    
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Rolling Eyes

Last edited by Jay Ganz on 1 Apr 2019 10:45 am; edited 3 times in total
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Brad Sarno


From:
St. Louis, MO USA
Post  Posted 6 Apr 2015 6:35 am    
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Jay,

is the gain control passive and right at the input? If so, can you mod this thing to have a slightly higher input impedance, like 25k or 50k?

10k is fine in reality, but some tube preamps may prefer to see a higher Z load if possible.




Thanks,
Brad
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Jay Ganz


From:
Out Behind The Barn
Post  Posted 6 Apr 2015 7:04 am    
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Brad,

The volume is just a passive control right at the input.
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Brad Sarno


From:
St. Louis, MO USA
Post  Posted 6 Apr 2015 7:14 pm    
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This little power amp would be ideal for any of the preamps I make whether it's the old Tonic, the Revelation, the SMS Classic, or the octal V8 pre. What a great thing Jay has provided here!! Way cool.


Brad

www.sarnomusicsolutions.com
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Wally Moyers


From:
Lubbock, Texas
Post  Posted 16 May 2015 5:03 am    
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Jay,

I'v been looking for a small amp to mount inside of two small speaker cabinets for stereo operation.. One of my rigs is a Kemper Profiler that has Session 400 and Little Walter profiles. Do you see any problem with the vibration if they are mounted in the cabinet? I'm currently using two Nashville 112s power amp inputs but find them to have noises and static occasionally… Would love to buy a couple of powered cabinets but haven't found any..
Thanks,

Wally
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John Booth


From:
Columbus Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 16 May 2015 6:22 am    
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Can you make a stereo version?
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Jay Ganz


From:
Out Behind The Barn
Post  Posted 17 May 2015 5:06 am    
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Wally,
There are four 1/2" thick rubber cushions on the bottom to act as shock absorbers,
so cabinet vibration shouldn't be a problem.

John,
There might be a stereo version in the future. It would be a bit smaller in size with 150 watts per channel.
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John Booth


From:
Columbus Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 17 May 2015 9:49 am    
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Could one of these be mounted inside a steel seat or would it get too hot in there?
JB
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Jay Ganz


From:
Out Behind The Barn
Post  Posted 17 May 2015 10:38 am    
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The amp does get a bit warm after a while, so it should have some ventilation.

Last edited by Jay Ganz on 21 May 2016 11:22 am; edited 1 time in total
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Paul Sutherland

 

From:
Placerville, California
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2015 12:23 am    
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Jay: I'm interested in this power amp. Are you still selling them for $250 shipped CONUS? Have you ever tried one with a Sarno Octal V8. Brad S. seems to think it would work well, but I always like to know someone has actually done it. thanks. Paul
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Jay Ganz


From:
Out Behind The Barn
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2015 4:47 am    
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Hey Paul,
Yeah, the first small batch is gone but I now have some more available. Check your email for more details!
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Bill Hatcher

 

From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2015 6:35 am    
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any sound samples??
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David Nugent

 

From:
Gum Spring, Va.
Post  Posted 15 Aug 2015 4:28 pm    
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Jay..Would it be possible to order a unit with a 9V output jack for powering effects pedals?
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Scott Hay


From:
Portland, OR / Yucca Valley, CA USA
Post  Posted 15 Aug 2015 8:19 pm    
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Man, that is awesome. Brad or Doug, have you tried one? Mount that in an open back 15" cab, use a V8, and there's your amp.

It looks like it would fit in a steelers choice seat.
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Vincent Serice

 

From:
Sulphur,Louisiana
Post  Posted 7 Sep 2015 5:30 pm    
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Jay, could you post how to go about ordering the amp? I would really like to order one.
Thanks a lot
Vincent Serice
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Mike Wilson

 

From:
Mansfield, Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 18 Nov 2015 5:40 am     ut
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This really sounds like an awesome option for someone that really likes the rack units. Johns idea of attaching it to a seat or some of the other ideas as putting it inside of cabinets or whatever. I can imagine several ways of mounting one of these. Jay Ganz has done it again.
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Ford Cole

 

From:
Texas
Post  Posted 19 Nov 2015 7:42 pm     amp
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Any one else try one of these?
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James Yoder

 

From:
Texas, USA
Post  Posted 22 Dec 2015 5:10 am     Mini Piwer Amp
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How do I go about buying one of these amps. Steeljim11@gmail.com. phone 956-748-2590
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