8ohm Head

[gary mitchell]

I was playing a gig last week end,and the bass player from the band before us ask me a question. He has an old cab he really likes, a 212 can't remember what brand, but its rated at 600 watts 8ohms neo speakers. I have a cab I like real well a Carvin BRX 212 and it got me thinking, I wouldn't mind finding a 8ohm head if they make one, just to use with this cab by itself. Do they make such monster. This is maybe a real stupid question.

[GrowlerBox]

You can use that cab with any head -- for solid state power sections, the impedance rating is a minimum (most are 4 ohm, some are 2 ohm), for tube power amps there needs to be a closer match between amp and cab, but most, if not all, will have an 8 ohm setting available.

[Bass_Pounder]

Originally Posted by gary mitchell

I have a cab I like real well a Carvin BRX 212 and it got me thinking

If you actually have the 2X12 BRX series Carvin, make sure you hold onto it. They were only made for a couple of years, and are pretty hard to find.

The actual model was called the BRX12

[BassmanPaul]

Originally Posted by GrowlerBox

for tube power amps there needs to be a closer match between amp and cab, but most, if not all, will have an 8 ohm setting available.

No not all, the SVT is one glaring example. 2Ω and 4Ω is all she wrote for those.

[gary mitchell]

It is really a 2x12 BRX212. And in very good condition, I just haven't used it along time.

[GrowlerBox]

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

No not all, the SVT is one glaring example. 2Ω and 4Ω is all she wrote for those.

I did not know that. Thanks for the correction.

[gary mitchell]

I was thinking maybe trying a Ibanez Promethean 1x10 combo and for a little larger gigs, putting it on top of the Carvin 2x12 cab for a full 500 watts. I have a bigger rig a SWR SM900, Schroeder 310212, which is getting to be a hassle. That cab weighs 95 pounds. The Carvin is a neo I not sure what it weighs, but it's a little smaller but a little deeper.

[GrowlerBox]

Originally Posted by gary mitchell

I was thinking maybe trying a Ibanez Promethean 1x10 combo and for a little larger gigs, putting it on top of the Carvin 2x12 cab for a full 500 watts.

Sounds like an awesome way to blow the 110 speaker. Use either/or, not both, and forget the "full 500W" unless you're doing something useful with it, e.g. running 2 identical cabs.

[gary mitchell]

The Hartke LH1000 can run like 500 watts on one side, the cab is rated at 600. Then I can add a 210 are 15 if need to for bigger gigs.

[gary mitchell]

What two 12s could I put in that cab to make it a 4ohm cab, around 600 watts are so.

[GrowlerBox]

Originally Posted by gary mitchell

What two 12s could I put in that cab to make it a 4ohm cab, around 600 watts are so.

I see you've started another thread on this topic, but thought I'd respond here. You noted that you're a bit short of cash at present, and my advice would be to start with that thought.

Do you like the way your cab sounds now, and is it loud enough for the rehearsals/gig you do? If the answer to both questions is yes, then just stick with it as it is -- there is really nothing extra to be gained from "getting all the watts" out of your head. Doubling the power without also increasing the number of speakers you're driving does almost nothing to increase your volume, and you increase the risk of blowing the speakers, which can only take so much power before they start to fart, which is an indication that they're about to break down. This typically happens when the speakers are receiving somewhere around half their rated power (differs a bit from speaker to speaker, depending on its specs). You really need to ignore the quoted thermal rating ("power handling") specification.

So, if you like the tone, but need to be louder, then you need another cabinet, preferably identical to the one you have, but if this isn't possible, then you need to try it out with as many as you can and see what works -- it is unpredictable, and the only people that may be able to offer useful advice are those who have used exactly the same combination of cabinets, preferably with the same rig, and even better, in the same rooms you're working in. If you change the cabinet to 4 ohms, you will then be unable to combine it with anything for most heads, unless yours is 2 ohm capable.

If you don't like the tone, then you're probably better off selling that cabinet and finding one that you do like the tone of, because changing the speakers around is unlikely to achieve what you want without also significantly modifying the box, and this can be an expensive and frustrating endeavour. The "perfect" speaker for your box dimensions may be available off the shelf, and some of the other guys here may be able to model your cabinet with a few alternatives if you provide internal dimensions and port diameter/lengths.

Hopefully, some food for thought. Definitely not something to go into half-cocked, especially if you can't afford a failed experiment.