First time using a slave amp

lpetersonrock · Post by **lpetersonrock** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 2:26 pm

Hi,

I'm going to try using a slave amp for the first time and want to make sure I'm doing this safely. My primary amp will be a Blackstar HT 5 and I plan on using a Crate CPB150 as the slave to power a 300W 4x12 Randall cab.

To do this safely, I'm plugging the speaker output of the Blackstar to a behringer ultra DI, then the DI parallel output to a hotplate (Weber miniMASS). I'd like to use the DI line-out to plug into the CPB's effects input, and then use its speaker outputs to power the cabinet and provide a tone similar to the preamp of the Blackstar.

Can anyone tell me if this is a suitable set-up or am I likely to damage my primary amp?

All suggestions are appreciated. Thanks

benjamin801 · Post by **benjamin801** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 2:58 pm

DO NOT DO THAT.

Speaker output has to go through the Hotplate first. Running the speaker output directly to the DI box will fry both it and your amp, it's just a matter of in what order.

lpetersonrock · Post by **lpetersonrock** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 3:01 pm

There are DI's that advertise inputs for speaker outputs. The one I'm using is described to be able to handle 3000 Watts. Perhaps I'm wrong but I thought this was the purpose of the ultra-di parallel output.

benjamin801 · Post by **benjamin801** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 3:09 pm

Ah, nope, you're right. I should have checked the specs on that Behringer before I replied. It will indeed take a speaker-level signal.

Carry on!

One more note, though: the Blackstar HT-5, at least the one I used to own, had a speaker emulated out and could be run without a load. So you could make things even simpler and not use a load box at all. :idk:

lpetersonrock · Post by **lpetersonrock** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 3:12 pm

Phew, that's reassuring. Thanks for the reply!

My only problem with the emulated out is that it bypasses the power amp as well as it's tubed sweetness.

I'm hoping to be able to keep the tubed quality and get as much volume as I can.

GuitarBilly · Post by **GuitarBilly** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 4:58 pm

lpetersonrock wrote:Hi,

I'm going to try using a slave amp for the first time and want to make sure I'm doing this safely. My primary amp will be a Blackstar HT 5 and I plan on using a Crate CPB150 as the slave to power a 300W 4x12 Randall cab.

To do this safely, I'm plugging the speaker output of the Blackstar to a behringer ultra DI, then the DI parallel output to a hotplate (Weber miniMASS). I'd like to use the DI line-out to plug into the CPB's effects input, and then use its speaker outputs to power the cabinet and provide a tone similar to the preamp of the Blackstar.

Can anyone tell me if this is a suitable set-up or am I likely to damage my primary amp?

All suggestions are appreciated. Thanks

That's a correct way to do it and it sounds good.

But if your miniMASS has a line out (most of them do) you don't need the DI box at all. You can simply plug the amp into the miniMASS and use the Mini Mass line out to the slave amp.

lpetersonrock · Post by **lpetersonrock** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 9:55 pm

I just tried out the line out on the miniMASS abd it works like you said. Thanks for the tip. Completely eliminates something I don't need! :-)

GuitarBilly · Post by **GuitarBilly** » Tue Apr 01, 2014 11:28 am

There you go

Have fun with the rig

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