The Power Tool is a 2-space rack device featuring a reactive speaker load, four band active EQ, line out with speaker emulations; an on-board 50-watt solid-state amplifier, and effects loop and headphone jack.
One newsgroup posting said that this incorporates the Palmer speaker simulation technology.
Mikey wrote:
>I have a Power Tool and it works pretty damn well. I got it for $50 bucks so I can't complain, but it allows a very fat distortion sound at minimal volume and also drives a separate cabinet.
Graham Duncan said he heard good things about this unit.
this altavista query reveals that www.broadway-music.com seems to have one for sale.
Reviewed in Best of Guitar Player (Guitar Gear issue; see my Books page). That detailed review appeared in the September 1992 Guitar Player issue. There seems to be nothing on the Web. "Instead of 12AX7 distortion, we were able to capture the sound of 6L6 meltdown [from the tube amp we used with this unit.]"
$599. 4 EQ bands (after your amp's power tubes) 18 dB cut/boost. fx loop. line input. headphone amp. balanced and unbalanced outs. LEDs for input level setting.
I read the following, which doesn't make sense. The "Instigator circuit" imitates the sound of a closed 4x12 or open-back cabinet -- this is available only on the high-level amp output, not the line outs. The "speaker emulator" circuit, on the other hand, works on the balanced and unbalanced line outs.
You can run the speaker output from your amp head up to 100 watts into Power Tool's input, and drive [guitar? full-range monitor? either?] speakers with the internal solid state amp. This eliminates need for a final monitor amp. [I mention this "extra" gear in my description of spearker isolation cabinets.]
You can insert Power Tool between the amp and the speaker in a combo amp, to simulate closed-back sounds. In that setup, you would be doing:
You can use line input to include another preamp in parallel with your amp, add fx in the Power Tool 's loop (for post-amp FX placement), or use unbal line out to drive a larger amp and spk, while sending a direct feed to the mixer.
GP's conclusion: The output of this product doesn't sound identical to an amp running directly into speakers, but the unit's tone controls and Instigator circuit help. You definitely hear power tube saturation, rather than just preamp tube distortion; there are more dynamics and definition.
Ad for Power Tool. Guitar Player magazine. Aug 1993. Page 69.
Microprocessor, MIDI footswitch, real-time continuous control. 2 continuous pedals, and some footswitches (on the floor foot controller unit). It looks like a 4 rackspace system with lots of chiclet buttons arranged in colorful sections with LED indicators, nice and complex. 100 customizatble preamp and output tube settings at the tap of a toe. Continuously vary the 4-band MIDI controlled active EQ, or the single-band parametric EQ with whatever pedal pressure sounds best. Switch or sweep between two programmable stereo FX loops. Two LFOs to control fx. Can modify the EQ in a cerrtain range. Stereo line-outs with cabinet simulation. Built-in Power Tool makes for authentic speaker emulation.
The ad shows a power tube as well as preamp tube, but I think the power tube is only included in the EB100S amplifier (shown), which has all the above-mentioned technology. There, I think the power tube is used for loud amplification as well as tone generation; I'm against combining those two functions; I wish a little power tube were included in the middle of all this processing power, as just a tone generator, *not* for final amplification.
PS Systems - (800) 446 8404 (in 1993)
Jim Whitmer wrote:
I actually did not own the amp but I demo'd it for a
week.
I currently do own a power tool.
Their amp (4 rack spaces) was HUGE and WAY heavy!. It
had big, Red, 7
segment LEDs and up/down parameter buttons, was fan
cooled and looked like
it was pulled out of the space shuttle.
It was essentially a Marshall 50 watt JCM 800(3 12ax7
and 2 EL34's)head
combined with a 100 watt stereo power tool with
digital control
It also had the ability to add a extra 12ax7 to the
preamp and 2 LFO's that
could be assigned to any parameter.
The tone controls (Bass,Mid,Treble and Presence)
switched between affecting
the power tool section AND as they operate on a stock
JCM 800 head.
There was (all digitally controlled) a master volume,
gain and a cascading
gain control (for the extra 12ax7 if it was added) to
control the head plus
a overall volume for the SS amp
I don't remember all of the parameters for the LFO's
but I do know that you
had the choice of all the wave shapes that are
avaible(Square,Rising Saw
Tooth,Falling Saw Tooth, Sine etc...)and of course
Speed.
I got rid of it because it was HUGE and WAY heavy!
(did I mention that
before?)
seriously, it was too long(deep) to fit in a standard
SKB case.
but it did sound very good (could not get a good
metal tone though)
The power tool on the other hand is awesome!
The power tool layout is as follows
2 rack spaces
reactive load > active tone controls
(Bass,Mid,Treble and Presence +/-18db)>
speaker/cab sim > Effects loop > 50 watt SS Amp
The rear panel of the power tool is as follows:
Amp input - this will take the speaker output of a
tube amp up-to 100 watts
into a reactive load.
Line input - I don't know if this passes or bypasses
the load.
Effects send and receive
Line Level output
Built in 50 watt solid state power amp out (2)
The from panel from left to right is as follows:
LED input level
Amp level control
Line in level control
Tone controls (Bass,Mid,Treble and Presence +/-18db)
Line out level control
Line out speaker/cab sim switch (dry, open back combo
or 4/12) "Instigator
Circuit"
Built in SS power amp volume
Built in SS power amp speaker/cab sim switch (dry or
4/12) "Instigator
Circuit" apparently you can make a combo sound
like a 4/12 cab but not vice
versa
Head phone output and volume control (the Line out
speaker/cab sim switch
affects this)
Power switch
I currently run a Fender Prosonic thru one and love
it.
my set up is :
Guitar > Teese Wah > Prosonic speaker out into
Power Tool (load) > Lexicon
Vortex (Power Tool Effects Loop) > Power Tool
SS Amp driving the Prosonic's
Speakers (Instigator Circuit ON)
This sounds almost exactly the same as the amp thru a
2/12 closed back
Celestion V30 cab I tried.
Feel free to ask any questions that you may have.
--Jim
[No manufacturer's page found via AltaVista and Yahoo.]
[to do: search Harmony Central for user comments.]
DejaNews query: "power tool" or "PS Systems"
[need a search for EB100S amp as well.]
Messages 1-20 of exactly 20 matches for search "ps systems" "power tool":
Date Scr Subject Newsgroup Author
1. 97/03/05 074 Re: PS Systems Power Tool alt.guitar.amps Graham Duncan
2. 97/02/27 069 Re: PS Systems Power Tool alt.guitar.amps Mark Garvin
3. 97/03/04 048 Re: PS Systems Power Tool alt.guitar.amps Mikey
4. 97/02/27 045 PS Systems Power Tool alt.guitar.amps Steve
5. 98/09/15 044 Re: B.C. Rich question. alt.guitar Stn Monkey
6. 98/10/09 041 Re: shocked playing live >> alt.guitar.amps Ned Carlson
7. 98/09/18 041 Re: B.C. Rich question. alt.guitar NoOne
8. 98/04/04 041 Re: thd hot plate... #1/4 alt.guitar.amps Steve
9. 97/08/02 040 Re: HOTRAILS ON A STRAT?? alt.guitar Darren
10. 97/07/30 040 Re: HOTRAILS ON A STRAT?? alt.guitar Jeff Vineburg
11. 98/03/06 039 Re: Electrocuted alt.guitar.amps Jay Ts
12. 97/11/06 039 Re: Making a Les Paul Jr. rec.music.makers.guit Paul Buerk
13. 97/08/06 037 Re: HOTRAILS ON A STRAT?? alt.guitar Chris Hogan
14. 97/11/11 036 Re: Making a Les Paul Jr. rec.music.makers.guit TKO
15. 96/10/04 034 Re: Where to Find Univox Par alt.guitar James P. H. Ful
16. 98/06/05 033 Re: PREAMP SWITCHERS? #2/4 alt.guitar.amps Gary Watts
17. 97/12/06 033 Re: Battery operated tube am alt.guitar.amps Andy Moss
18. 96/10/16 025 Information on Switchers#2/4 alt.guitar gary watts
19. 96/08/12 025 Re: best midi foot contr#2/4 alt.guitar gary watts
20. 96/05/14 025 Rev 2: Guide to Switcher#2/4 alt.guitar gary watts
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