Amp head into Combo amp + cab?

Mybikeisblack · #1 02-27-2011, 10:24 PM

Alright, so im looking into ways of avoiding having to buy more equipment than I have to for an upcoming gig.

This is what I have now

Peavey MegaBass Head from 1986
Peavey 1x15 cab (speaker says 400watt RMS)
Ashdown Five Fifteen 1x15 combo amp (100watts)
Ampeg BA210 SP 2x10 combo amp (220watts)

Now, is it possible to run the head to the peavey cab and possibly to the Ampeg combo amp? If so, how would I do that? Just plug from the output on the head to the input on the ampeg? Would this cause problems?

Or should I take the amp out of the ampeg, and just hook it up to a 1/4 jack and just run the head straight to the cab?

Any thing would help, I've looked up the head, and its a bi-amp head, would this help me in anyway?

Thanks for any help in advance.

bongomania · #2 02-27-2011, 10:31 PM

The bi-amping does not help at all. What you want is either a "preamp output" jack on the Peavey head, and/or a splitter box. If the Peavey has that preamp out jack, then run a guitar cable from that jack to the input of one of the combo amps. Better yet, if the combo amp happens to have an "effects loop return" jack, or a "power amp in" jack, plug the cable into that--because that will bypass the preamp built into the combo (usually resulting in less noise, less distortion, less mud).

A splitter box would go between your bass and the various amps. So like bass goes in, and there are two or more outputs that can each go to a different amp.

Mybikeisblack · #3 02-27-2011, 10:39 PM

Hm, the head does have a preamp out jack, and a power amp in jack if that helps. Neither of my combo amps have a "effects loop return" or a "power amp in" jack. So use a guitar cable and not a speaker cable for running to the combo?

Would you recommend the first method? Or the splitter method?

recreate.me · #4 02-27-2011, 10:42 PM

In the past with two combo amps, i plugged my bass into the input of the first, then on the padded input of that same amp i plugged from there to the input of the second combo amp.
I guess you can plug the head into the cab as per normal. Then split the input on the head to a combo, and split the combo to the next combo. I dont know anything about these amps, so i am assuming they have a normal input and a padded one (most higher powered ones do right ?)

bongomania · #5 02-27-2011, 10:42 PM

A speaker cable is ONLY for connecting an amp to a speaker. A combo amp is not (just) a speaker.

Run that guitar cord from the preamp out jack to the instrument input of just one of the combo amps. That's your cheapest/easiest option--leave one of the combos at home.

If you are bound and determined to use all three, then you're going to need a splitter regardless--either to split the bass signal before it hits any of the amps, or to split the "preamp output" of the Peavey into the instrument inputs of the two combos.

Mybikeisblack · #6 02-27-2011, 10:49 PM

No not bound to use three. Just 2, I included the ashdown just because its my practice amp. The ampeg has so much power on its own, I figured a 2x10 with a 1x15 would sound much better. Should the guitar cable be the same length as the speaker cable? Or does it matter. I figured this was easier since I already have all these things to work with now. Didn't see a point in spending extra money if its not needed.

bongomania · #7 02-27-2011, 11:13 PM

A decent rule of thumb with guitar cables (in any application) is they should be "as short as possible, but not shorter". I.e. use enough cable to get where you're going, and allow movement, but not any longer than that if possible.

Mybikeisblack · #8 02-27-2011, 11:15 PM

Alright, cause I have some decent speaker cables I just bought, shortest they had was 6ft, should I get my hand on a 6ft guitar cable? Or can I get by with a shorter one?