Solid State Guitar Amp Forum | DIY Guitar Amplifiers

Solid State Amplifiers => Amplifier Discussion => Topic started by: magnon on November 07, 2009, 10:07:56 PM

Title: SS Pre into SS Poweramp?
Post by: magnon on November 07, 2009, 10:07:56 PM
I have a solid state Marshall 30w (http://www.zikinf.com/_gfx/matos/dyn/large/marshall-g30rcd.jpg) and I want to use it as a pre amp and funnel it into a Laney Pro-Linebacker 100R http://www.laney.co.uk/prod_archive.php (http://www.laney.co.uk/prod_archive.php). Is there anyway to accomplish such as thing?

The Marshall has a headphone out and a "CD" (aux) input. I'd like to be able to use the Marshall just for tone and push it out through the Laney in all of it's crappy 100 watts of glory. Seriously, I like the gain channel on the Marshall even though its a cheap one.

Am I going to have to build a new output for the Marshall directly after the pre-stage? and then somehow plug it into the power stage of the laney? Has anyone done this? As much as I'd like to buy a new amplifier I really can't and I'd just like to have a louder version of the Marshall anyway, so...

Can anybody help me out on this one? I don't mind having a franken-amp, I just want a loud amp that sound decent.
Title: Re: SS Pre into SS Poweramp?
Post by: J M Fahey on November 08, 2009, 10:17:10 AM
Hi Magnon.
Does it have an effects loop or line out?
Or an external speaker jack?
If it does not, I'll post some adapter to turn your headphone out into a line out, without "Frankenstizing" it.
Let's try to avoid messing with its innards if at all possible.
Juan Manuel Fahey.
Title: Re: SS Pre into SS Poweramp?
Post by: magnon on November 08, 2009, 12:01:33 PM
The Marshall has a Line Out, Headphones out and "CD" in. The Laney (dont have it in front of me) has an F/X loop I think. Would Line out to the effects loop work?

http://www.laney.co.uk/manuals/PL50R-65R-100R-100Twin%20Manual%20-%201989%20-%20Issue%201.pdf (http://www.laney.co.uk/manuals/PL50R-65R-100R-100Twin%20Manual%20-%201989%20-%20Issue%201.pdf)
Title: Re: SS Pre into SS Poweramp?
Post by: J M Fahey on November 08, 2009, 09:21:26 PM
Hi Magnon.
It will work.
Plug a guitar cable from the Marshall line out (its internal power amp and speaker will still work  :tu:) into the Laney Loop in or effects return or power amp in or whatever they call it.
Both amps and speakers will work, controlled by the Marshall preamp.
Be warned !!!! You will be loud !!!! ;)
Juan Manuel Fahey
Title: Re: SS Pre into SS Poweramp?
Post by: magnon on November 08, 2009, 09:50:15 PM
Will it use the laney's preamp in addition to the marshall's input, or will the fact that the laney is not receiving any signal from it's input (one of 3!) bypass the laney preamp altogether?
Title: Re: SS Pre into SS Poweramp?
Post by: J M Fahey on November 09, 2009, 12:00:59 AM
If you plug into the loop input, which I think is on the back panel, you are bypassing the Laney's preamp.
Juan Manuel Fahey
Title: Re: SS Pre into SS Poweramp?
Post by: magnon on November 09, 2009, 09:45:03 PM
Is there a section for ss amp repair on here? (I neglected to mention it but the output transistor on the Laney is blown.) I think it is the output transistor, it's two burnt little components on  the pcb right next to the output (need to take a decent picture) not sure if its before or after the effects loop, I think its right before the speaker out though...
Title: Re: SS Pre into SS Poweramp?
Post by: magnon on November 12, 2009, 12:40:19 AM
Either way, thank you for helping me. I'll be able to get loud enough now :)
Title: Re: SS Pre into SS Poweramp?
Post by: joecool85 on November 12, 2009, 03:05:16 PM
Quote from: magnon on November 09, 2009, 09:45:03 PM
Is there a section for ss amp repair on here?

The whole forum is dedicated to building, modifying and repairing ss amps.  So, yes :-)

More specifically, if it is an issue with the amplifier as a whole, you can post it in this section and it is fine.
Title: Re: SS Pre into SS Poweramp?
Post by: magnon on November 15, 2009, 04:58:56 AM
I'm charging up the camera (only 2 mega pixels, so the photos probably won't help much) but I'm looking at the laney head and theres black stuff (dried) coming out of one or the resistors it looks like (R28). R27 is right next to it and looks fine. I don't have access to my multimeter right now so I cannot test them. The last time the amp was in use my bassist was using it to play bass through and black smoke started coming out of the amp. I switched it off and it has not been played through or turned on again.

Preliminarily, does anyone know whats going on here? Has anybody experienced this 'black goo' before? What would the best course of action be? If its a case of replacing the resistor that would be fine, but could it have effected other things as well?
Title: Re: SS Pre into SS Poweramp?
Post by: J M Fahey on November 15, 2009, 07:26:12 AM
Hi Magnon.
1) Take the pictures in good lighting, maybe outside, with your arms steady against the table, if a "Macro" setting is available , use it for real close ups.
2) that resistor is probably burnt, but I'm certain some other components are burnt too, with no damage visible. Tell us the Laney amp model, and I'll dig in my library.
Title: Re: SS Pre into SS Poweramp?
Post by: magnon on November 18, 2009, 03:01:36 AM
In lieu of a photograph (for now) I have the schematics http://huncledussey.110mb.com/PL100R_1248.pdf (http://huncledussey.110mb.com/PL100R_1248.pdf).
The visibly damaged resistor is "R28" which (I am not great at schematics) looks like it lowers the signal for the headphone out (8 ohms). I'm wondering if the 4 ohm speaker was plugged into this when it blew... (I can't recall)
Would you surmise that only the headphone stage is blown?
Should I stick it back in the cab and try it out through the correct speaker out?
I have not touched this thing since it started smoking for fear of screwing something up.
Do you think it would have blown something else up? It doesn't look like anything else is on that path that would effect the normal speaker output. What do you say?
Title: Re: SS Pre into SS Poweramp?
Post by: J M Fahey on November 18, 2009, 07:07:56 AM
Maybe these are good news.
*IF* you plugged your cab into the headphone out, and played loud , you could overheat R27/28, with the second one taking some heavier beating.
The amp would sound weak, buzzy, thin and distorted and the resistors would possibly smoke.
As a test, try to make a series lamp fixture to protect your amp (it has been posted in SSGuitar) just in case there is some serious problem (probably not :) ) and re- plug your cabinet into the headphone out, just for a minute to see if you get clean sound  (although at earphone levels, listen very close to the speakers).
If all seems well, plug it into the speaker out proper, still using the series lamp. If all is well, replace R27/28 and keep on Rocking .
Juan Manuel Fahey
Title: Re: SS Pre into SS Poweramp?
Post by: magnon on November 28, 2009, 11:26:56 PM
Made the lamp and got it working fine. I suppose it was fine all along but I appreciate the help and support you guys gave me along the way. Thank you all very much!
Title: Re: SS Pre into SS Poweramp?
Post by: Antonio222 on May 07, 2012, 05:42:54 PM
 Are you refering to the G 30R CD Marshall??? I found this very interesting.I have the Laney PL100R and a Marshall G30R CD. As you i really love the Gain channel on the Marshall and would be interested in doing this too..Were you successful with this project????Is it worth the time and effort to do it??
Thanks
Antonio222
Title: Re: SS Pre into SS Poweramp?
Post by: mexicanyella on May 09, 2012, 08:02:16 AM
I'm not the OP, but it wasn't really a project, at least based on the original question and yours...just plug your Marshall's line out/FX send/whatever into another amp's line in/FX return jack. The Marshall's preamp tone will now come through both amps' power sections and speakers: amp slaving.

It's definitely worth it if you like the master amp's tone but want more volume, and you have a suitable slave amp sitting around. I have had lots of fun doing this with a little Peavey amp I like as the master amp, slaved through various different amps.