eephus wrote: Mon Oct 06, 2025 10:19 am My main input here is that you'll need a little preamp to get the instrument level signal up substantially.

The input is really low impedance, and my "preamp" pedal won't drive it sufficiently on its own. Sounded dull and not very loud initially.

Very simple little amplifier board got the volume up and now it has power for days.

I need to stress-test it in a full practice, though. I have a feeling I might need a little burlier fan (the one the kit came with is low noise and kind of wimpy).

Would just the balanced line out of a Rusty Box be plenty?

Kniferide wrote: Mon Oct 06, 2025 12:35 pm

eephus wrote: Mon Oct 06, 2025 10:19 am My main input here is that you'll need a little preamp to get the instrument level signal up substantially.

The input is really low impedance, and my "preamp" pedal won't drive it sufficiently on its own. Sounded dull and not very loud initially.

Very simple little amplifier board got the volume up and now it has power for days.

I need to stress-test it in a full practice, though. I have a feeling I might need a little burlier fan (the one the kit came with is low noise and kind of wimpy).

Would just the balanced line out of a Rusty Box be plenty?

I would think so but Tim's experience points otherwise...only one way to tell.

Kniferide wrote:

eephus wrote: Mon Oct 06, 2025 10:19 am My main input here is that you'll need a little preamp to get the instrument level signal up substantially.

The input is really low impedance, and my "preamp" pedal won't drive it sufficiently on its own. Sounded dull and not very loud initially.

Very simple little amplifier board got the volume up and now it has power for days.

I need to stress-test it in a full practice, though. I have a feeling I might need a little burlier fan (the one the kit came with is low noise and kind of wimpy).

Would just the balanced line out of a Rusty Box be plenty?

Maybe, yeah.
The 1/4" out of the Origin Super Vintage I use is instrument-level, which did not hack it.
It seems like a lot of people do what Kerry (amp guy) did, was just make a little opamp front end to jack up the signal.

If I had the thing with no front end on it again, I'd try the DI out of the pedal into the raw power amp input.
But now it's got the front end on it and it sounds good.

So this amp rules.

Sorry the pix kinda suck--I was in the basement, subpar lighting, and in a hurry.

Here's the "front" view. It's wide and shallow and not that tall. 3.5x5x14". Tilted up so you can see it better.



Both sides of the case are ventilated.

Here's the link to the case, which a guy in Latvia sells.
He has a couple versions now. This was the most brutal looking one, so I got it.

I have it sitting at the back of a flat tray-type board.
The fan and power is on the "left" end and the outputs are on the "right" end.
The Origin Super Vintage pre pedal, a Greg Norman EA passive splitter, and a lil power supply sit in front of the power amp.

Here's the fan/power end.



Fan isn't overly burly--very quiet--could easily put in a higher powered fan, but haven't needed it.

Here are the outputs and power.



The bottom two outputs were originally XLR ins, hence the labeling. Now they're speakon outs, like the top outputs.
Left side is one channel, right side is the other. Can do 4 or 8 ohm out on either or both sides.

Here's a closeup of the inputs and knobs.



The little dots at 2 o'clock by the knobs...that's about 2/3 of the way up on each channel.
That's as loud as I would run it into my speakers (four 1x15s, either EVM15L 400W or Kappalite 3015 300W, two per side).

The only addition to the power amp module/case bits, besides knobs and the custom in/out jazz, was a basic gain stage to get inst level up to line level to drive the module properly.

Running each channel into (2) 1x15s is pretty glorious.
Louder than the Tone Hammer 700/Demeter Minnie combo I used at the SKWM shows in September.
You can easily use just one channel and turn it up like halfway, plenty loud into (2) 1x15s.
Very clean, full-range sound.

Anyway. Success! Will replace the pix if/when I take better ones.
And if you want one, let me know--Kerry Dulin here in Chicago put it together and can knock one out pretty quick as soon as he can get parts.
I probably have $1000-1100 into this one all-in.

eephus wrote: Mon Oct 06, 2025 10:19 am My main input here is that you'll need a little preamp to get the instrument level signal up substantially.

The input is really low impedance, and my "preamp" pedal won't drive it sufficiently on its own. Sounded dull and not very loud initially.

Very simple little amplifier board got the volume up and now it has power for days.

I need to stress-test it in a full practice, though. I have a feeling I might need a little burlier fan (the one the kit came with is low noise and kind of wimpy).

Is this the setup that has you liquidating a veritable candyland of amps?

TylerDeadPine wrote: Mon Feb 23, 2026 1:51 pm

eephus wrote: Mon Oct 06, 2025 10:19 am My main input here is that you'll need a little preamp to get the instrument level signal up substantially.

The input is really low impedance, and my "preamp" pedal won't drive it sufficiently on its own. Sounded dull and not very loud initially.

Very simple little amplifier board got the volume up and now it has power for days.

I need to stress-test it in a full practice, though. I have a feeling I might need a little burlier fan (the one the kit came with is low noise and kind of wimpy).

Is this the setup that has you liquidating a veritable candyland of amps?

Yeah...for bass, when I tried out everything and went back to this solid-state guy...it was the best option for me right now, and I just don't feel like holding onto all these other amps now, great as they are. No doubt they are better in some applications, though.

The guitar stuff, I've been playing exclusively through my old Bassman, and that's got what I want, so...thin the herd.

eephus wrote: Mon Feb 23, 2026 4:15 pm

TylerDeadPine wrote: Mon Feb 23, 2026 1:51 pm

eephus wrote: Mon Oct 06, 2025 10:19 am My main input here is that you'll need a little preamp to get the instrument level signal up substantially.

The input is really low impedance, and my "preamp" pedal won't drive it sufficiently on its own. Sounded dull and not very loud initially.

Very simple little amplifier board got the volume up and now it has power for days.

I need to stress-test it in a full practice, though. I have a feeling I might need a little burlier fan (the one the kit came with is low noise and kind of wimpy).

Is this the setup that has you liquidating a veritable candyland of amps?

Yeah...for bass, when I tried out everything and went back to this solid-state guy...it was the best option for me right now, and I just don't feel like holding onto all these other amps now, great as they are. No doubt they are better in some applications, though.

The guitar stuff, I've been playing exclusively through my old Bassman, and that's got what I want, so...thin the herd.

I respect both of that. Respect, and want your Hiwatt.