Acoustic B200 Head - Clipping Issues running it @ 4ohm's ??

[phatbassplayer]

Re: Acoustic B200 Head -

I've read a few posts about clipping Issues when running the head @ 4ohms...

Is this just a fluke or is it a common occourence?

[SurferJoe46]

That's pretty close to the bottom for Ohmage for that amp.

I'd be more likely to look at what the drivers are doing physically first.

Fifteen-inchers can get pushed pretty hard if you're at 13 O'clock on the output - and you or others might be confusing farting with a failure of the amp to make the grade and actually start to clip the signal.

There is a clip signal light that you can use to your advantage on the Acoustics though. If you like that particular sound (I don't) it's kinda like an overdrive and you can just play along with it lit up all the time if you like. Acoustic says so.

It gets all 'tube-y' sounding and some people like that.

I keep my GAIN on the conservative side to stay outta that zone.

Of course, I am running a little more power than you (B-600H and a B-450) - but I can fart my 115s if I push them hard and that's without the clip light blinking at all.

[DeeDeeEntwistle]

so, if the clip lights coming on thats not a sign on this amp to turn down the gain? lol

[knucklehead G]

It does clip pretty well, honestly. Pushing it through two 15's sometimes it sounds like there's a tube in there.

[DeeDeeEntwistle]

so dont worry if the clip light comes on? ive been very worried and havent really got my gain up pass half way.

[SurferJoe46]

Acoustic says it's OK to run there if you like it.

IBID........"while the Gain and Volume controls give you complete control over the character of your tone. Increase the gain for some old school rock tones, or lower it and turn up the volume for great clean, classic or funk tones. The preamp includes a very natural and tube-like compression as well as a harmonically rich distortion circuit, which keeps your tone musical--even at high volume levels. The B200 also includes a frequency sweepable -10dB notch filter to tailor your mids, and a six-band EQ for exact control over every nuance of your bass's tone.

[DeeDeeEntwistle]

so with the gain all the way up even? sorry, im not really a genius when it comes to amps in general.

[SurferJoe46]

I can only say that the Acoustic Company didn't say not to do that.

Personally I never push anything past a reasonable amount - except for cars and motorcycles.

If you find you need to run 110%, then it might be time to get a little more horsepower in your amp.

When I need distortion or warm tube-like sounds, I just run either an ART tube amp or add my MXR DI+ unit and turn the EQ a little higher than normal - but that's just me.