Using your Amp in Countries with 220 volt systems

Bill Bassett · Post by **Bill Bassett** » 6 Dec 2019 2:00 pm

Lots of touring bands travel through Europe and Austrailia and New Zealand, which is where I'm going. So, I'm having my various amplifiers and whatnot shipped over, but what might I expect when they get there? I'm pretty sure those addaptors for your electric razor ain't gonna cut it. What do the touring pros do? I plan to take a new Peavey Nashville 112. A new Boss Katana 100 watt head and some other items. Has anyone had those converted for use in 220 countries? Thanks, B

Brett Lanier · Post by **Brett Lanier** » 6 Dec 2019 3:24 pm

If your band is using a backline company for anything add a step down transformer to the list.

Raymond Lester · Post by **Raymond Lester** » 7 Dec 2019 12:36 am

Bill, Check with Peavey because they make 220v amps. If you have not brought your Peavey yet I'm sure they will do a 220v one. Roland make 220v amps as well. You can by step down transformers over here, they are a little heavy and bulky.

Per Berner · Post by **Per Berner** » 7 Dec 2019 3:46 am

I've got a 2001 Peavey NV 1000 which was imported from the US. Ever since I got it back in 2004, I've used it with an external transformer (going down from 240 to 110 V). It cost me about 60 dollars back then, it fits above the reverb tank inside the amp and has never caused any trouble.

Marc Jenkins · Post by **Marc Jenkins** » 7 Dec 2019 9:38 am

If you grab a Milkman The Amp, you can use it with 110 or 220 and run it with any speaker, anywhere...

Malcolm McMaster · Post by **Malcolm McMaster** » 7 Dec 2019 10:32 am

Might be cheaper to use a local back line hire company in each country, shipping your own would probably cost a small fortune, or as suggested something like Milkman The Amp, runs 110 - 240. If working through agent or with individual promoters they can probably advise who they normally use.

Douglas Schuch · Post by **Douglas Schuch** » 7 Dec 2019 5:08 pm

Most Class D amps these days run on 100-250 volts - Milkman Half and Half/The Amp and Quilter Tone Block, to name just two. I'd thing about one of those.

I looked into smaller, more solid-state devices that could handle the load on Amazon - and most had feedback from someone who had their device fried by them. Not wanting my 110V amp fried, I have stuck with a big, heavy transformer here in the Philippines, but have a Quilter on it's way to me that I hope will please my ears - it's lighter than the transformer I use now!

K Maul · Post by **K Maul** » 7 Dec 2019 8:23 pm

Quilter amps will automatically adapt to any power source.

Malcolm McMaster · Post by **Malcolm McMaster** » 7 Dec 2019 10:50 pm

Bill just google Backline Hire UK/EUROPE, lots of companies listed there. Most of US bands I have worked alongside have virtually all hired amps over here. Eg Dale Watson, BR549, etc.

stevepo · Post by **stevepo** » 8 Dec 2019 10:41 am

Bill,

I have lived and played Steel in Europe and the Middle East. A small transformer will handle your amps and the weight is only a few pounds. Take a US power strip to connect everything to the transformer.

Steve

Susan Alcorn (deceased) · Post by **Susan Alcorn (deceased)** » 8 Dec 2019 6:01 pm

Bill, I travel to Europe a good bit, but the last time I took an amp there was maybe 2006, and it was a giant hassle. Since then I've always used backline. It's usually not too hard to find a nice Twin Reverb (I bring along a preamp eq pedal in case I need to dial down some of the highs).

Whatever you decide to do, best of luck on your trip.

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 8 Dec 2019 7:02 pm

You may be able to buy all new amps while you are there for what you will be charged to fly all that equipment. I like the milkman “the amp” because it can be used in so many ways and always sounds good. There are a bunch of great stomp box size pre amp/amps out there now that where made for airline travel.

Make sure you check baggage fees and weight restrictions. If you go over 3 items some airlines triple there fees. Do not make any assumptions! Carefully check everything and then verify with the airline. I learned this crap the hard way.

Steve Sycamore · Post by **Steve Sycamore** » 9 Dec 2019 1:56 am

I believe most of continental Europe uses 240 volts so I would choose that rather than 220 when buying transformers. Peavey no longer sells 240v supply parts for the Nashville 400 so I purchased a toroidal power transformer with 52 and 12 volt output taps that I believe matches the specs of the original transformer and is a serious upgrade in current capability. I think it was made by Antech.

Peter Harris · Post by **Peter Harris** » 9 Dec 2019 3:21 am

Bill, backline hire is easy enough in Australia...the nominal voltage here is 240vac & 50hertz...Boss Katana gear is built specifically for various markets and voltages around the world, and is freely available here to suit.
This country is the size of USA with all the population (and the gigs!) spread around the perimeter..you shouldn't have any trouble sorting equipment hire out in advance.
Transport costs to and within Australia are exorbitant; hiring would be WAY cheaper.
By all means PM me if you have any questions.
Cheers,
Peter

Justin Griffith · Post by **Justin Griffith** » 18 Dec 2019 8:31 am

I’ve always borrowed an amp.