Feeding a preamp into the return loop of the AFD?

[Steven Latch]

Hey!

A long time rack and multi-channel amp users (among which the mighty JCM slash), I am really sold on getting the AFD.

However, because I like to have several switchable sound, I was thinking about setting up a small side rack to use alongside the AFD, with a GCX guitar switcher and a mesa boogie studio preamp. This would allow me to choose whether to send to the retun loop of the AFD, either the AFD preamp for distorsion, or the mesa for a sparkling clean.

Technically it will all work fine. But using an external preamp into the return loop of a head is a hit and miss thing. Did anybody try that with the AFD?

[surfnorthwest]

I dobt anyone has done that. most people buying the AFD are buying it for the AFD tone. Your setup will work but of course watch how much preamp line level you give the loop. If it were me I would find a used DSL and use its power stage for that setup and not a collectable amp like the AFD.

[Steven Latch]

Sure, I could use any Marshall Amp with a loop if I only intented to use the power stage, but the point would be to be able to switch between the Mesa and the Marshall preamp through the GCX switcher and feed this signal to the power amp.

The other option would be to use my JCM Slash (or any other amp) for cleans but the setup become too complex and cumbersome: Two heads equals much more weight. Need to share a single speaker with two heads....

-- Tue Mar 29, 2011 4:15 pm --

Well... I have just put a deposit on an AFD, picking it up during the week.

I'll be able to check wheter it's a great standalone amp or if it can get along well with a rack to make it a super versatile setup.

The worst mistake to make is not to try at all hahahahaha!

-- Tue Apr 05, 2011 11:09 am --

Well.. I got my AFD and had some time to experiment....

The AFD mode sounds great (not convinced yet by the #34 mode).

I tried plugging my mesa studio pre in the return loop of the amp. Fantastic sound too.

I will definitely get a GCX guitar switcher so as to switch between the clean/crunch of the mesa, and the AFD's own preamp. That will give me as much flexibility as multi-amp setup, will less weight and transportation hassle.

[santiall]

It is not harm by doing so. In fact you can alternate between AFD preamp or external one. The only issue to look out are ground loops when connecting all the system.

[surfnorthwest]

It is not harm by doing so. In fact you can alternate between AFD preamp or external one. The only issue to look out are ground loops when connecting all the system.

That would be cool, maybe stick this in the loop.

[Steven Latch]

Thanks. The GCX actually takes care of ground loops, signal losses and so on very well.

I have so far tried inserting the Mesa Boogie Studio preamp and it sounds fine. However, I am toying with the idea of using a Randall RM4 instead. The concept really works fine. Having access to a great marshall sound plus 4 emulations of other great amp would make a killer setup.

I have never tried the ENG. Surely a great thing too, but it wouldn't offer the flexibility of the RM4