Tech 21 Power Engine

[Rocco Crocco]

For those who don't know what these are, here's a description from MF...

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/tech-21-power-engine-60


I have two of these. Sound-wise, they are barely passable for the way I use them with my Helix. Two months ago I put them on Craigslist in an effort to move on. I haven't gotten a single bite. No even a lowball offer.

Last year when these would pop up on Craigslist, they seemed to sell pretty quickly. It looks like they have fallen out of fashion.


I stumbled on a few threads in other forums, where people have added tweeters to them, quite easily and cheaply. This dramatically increases the range of the cab, adding more top end and "sparkle" as one user said. A google search should show you a step-by-step guide on how to perform the mod.

The tweeter is a Pyle Driver PDBT28 Titanium Tweeter. $21 through Amazon. It comes with a mylar capacitor that only allows freqs above 2k through the tweeter. Super simple. The only other thing I need is a 3" hole saw bit, and I am good to go.

I am actually pretty pumped to see how this improves the amp. If it goes to plan I can leave my FRFR at our rehearsal place, and keep the Tech 21s at home for a stereo rig.

Here's a couple pics.

With tweeter added

 

[cybermgk]

They run V30s?

I might look at replacing those with a more linear, if not an actual FRFR speaker. V 30 is anything BUT flat response.

Warehouse Guitar Speakers has their ET65 and ET90 that are a lot flatter (though not completely). 60-70$ a pop.

 

[Rocco Crocco]

No, that guy must have replaced his speaker. They come with a Celestion Seventy80.

 

[cybermgk]

No, that guy must have replaced his speaker. They come with a Celestion Seventy80.

Ah, more or less the flattest Celestion. That makes sense.

 

[idontnoah]

I have one of these too and was thinking about unloading it. Let us know what you think of the end result.

 

[Rocco Crocco]

Alrighty... I did the tweeter mod on one of my Power Engines today. I don't have a workbench and my girl would destroy me if I tried to do this on the kitchen table, so I had to work on the floor. Sciatica!!

Anyway, the nuts and bolts of the mod was easy. The sound difference is fairly subtle but a noticeable improvement. Playing my Helix with its presets designed for a FOH system, it sounds fine. It cost almost nothing, so it was absolutely worth it. I would rather have a nice FRFR that a modded PE, but I can make this work.

I have another PE, and I will be installing the tweeter next week (after my back gets better). I'll then have a loud stereo rig to run my Helix through.


EDIT -- The online directions I posted for this mod in the OP suggests using a 3" hole saw. That is a little too big, IMO. I would go with 2 3/4".