Amp and speaker pairing

takhammer · #1 07-14-2011, 12:08 AM

Sorry if this seems like a repeat, as I have asked a similar question earlier this year, but I'm starting to understand a lot more(i think). Just don't want to burn up my amp or mess my speakers up. Thanks in advance to anyone who voices there knowledge.

Ok, I have a gig on Friday, and my band is opening for another band, and one of the members is semi famous. He will be using my bass rig, as will I so i just want to have the best combo that i have available without destroying anything.

That being said, I have a Hartke Transient Attack 5000 Head. One of the heads big features is the ability to Bi-Amp. So this means it has two seperate power amps both capable of pushing 250w at 4 ohms, or 160 at 8 ohms. Now i believe that can be one four ohm cab, or 2 8 ohm cabs equaling 4 ohms(correct me if i'm wrong).
I also have a Mark Bass f1 which runs 500w at 4 ohms, and 300w at 8 ohms.

My cabs to choose from are:
Gallien Krueger Backline 410 which handles 400w. @ 8 ohms.

Hartke 115 tp which handles 150w at 8 ohms.

An old ampeq 410 which is 8 ohms, not sure of power handling but its doing fine with the 300w at 8 ohms at about half volume.

Epifani ul210 which handles 500w and is rated at 4 ohms.

I was thinking of all the different combos, and wanted to see what a few TBers thought.

Craig_S · #2 07-14-2011, 12:17 AM

I'd use the F1 and the Ampeg for tone or the F1 and the GK for loudness. Which is more important?

takhammer · #3 07-14-2011, 12:42 AM

Loudness is a factor, and so is tone. That being said it is a pretty big room, and i don't think i can over do it.What about both?That would be 250w to each right? I was thinking of that combo, or towards the hartke head using the GK or ampeq(unsure which), the hartke, and the Epi. Could i do that as long as the epi is on a separate amp from the two 8ohm cabs, and it is being run on bi-amp? Would that be 125w two each of the 8 ohm cabs, and then 250w to the 4 ohm?

Craig_S · #4 07-14-2011, 12:49 AM

I would never use a mismatched speaker setup. Rent something that will do the job properly.

takhammer · #5 07-14-2011, 01:01 AM

Why not? Just a personal preference thing? I've done it a bit, never had problems, and
kind of liked experimenting with the different tones.

Lowtonejoe · #6 07-14-2011, 01:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by takhammer

Sorry if this seems like a repeat, as I have asked a similar question earlier this year, but I'm starting to understand a lot more(i think). Just don't want to burn up my amp or mess my speakers up. Thanks in advance to anyone who voices there knowledge.

Ok, I have a gig on Friday, and my band is opening for another band, and one of the members is semi famous. He will be using my bass rig, as will I so i just want to have the best combo that i have available without destroying anything.

That being said, I have a Hartke Transient Attack 5000 Head. One of the heads big features is the ability to Bi-Amp. So this means it has two seperate power amps both capable of pushing 250w at 4 ohms, or 160 at 8 ohms. Now i believe that can be one four ohm cab, or 2 8 ohm cabs equaling 4 ohms(correct me if i'm wrong).
I also have a Mark Bass f1 which runs 500w at 4 ohms, and 300w at 8 ohms.

My cabs to choose from are:
Gallien Krueger Backline 410 which handles 400w. @ 8 ohms.

Hartke 115 tp which handles 150w at 8 ohms.

An old ampeq 410 which is 8 ohms, not sure of power handling but its doing fine with the 300w at 8 ohms at about half volume.

Epifani ul210 which handles 500w and is rated at 4 ohms.

I was thinking of all the different combos, and wanted to see what a few TBers thought.

Use the F1 with the Ampeg and GK 410's.

Most bang for your buck. Max power output and max cone area.

Max it out!

But if you want to mix & match your cabs then go right on ahead and do it.

On paper this is not ideal but I have NEVER had a problem doing it in 10 years of playing AND have had great compliments on my tone.

Joe.

paganjack · #7 07-14-2011, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lowtonejoe

Use the F1 with the Ampeg and GK 410's. Most bang for your buck. Max power output and max cone area.

That would be my guess too. It may not be the completely ideal tone pairing, but if you need lots of volume those 2 cabs would be the closest. The Epifani would probably sound way different from the other cabs.

MuzikMan · #8 07-14-2011, 04:47 AM

I would use either head but I would definitely use both of your 4x10 cabs. In your situation I would want to have the most cab available because someone else is using it. This will lessen the chance of damage to your gear.

takhammer · #9 07-14-2011, 10:33 AM

thanks for your input guys

Craig_S · #10 07-14-2011, 02:15 PM

I don't care what has been done before. Mismatching cabinets is not a good way to go about things. You've got two different cabs throwing who knows what frequencies and all sorts of odd $#!+ going on between them... Now, we have the majority telling the OP it's okay. I'm shaking my head in disbelief. Incredible...

I guess if your semi-famous guy really cared, he would have provided a proper backline for his set.

MuzikMan · #11 07-14-2011, 03:07 PM

Well, we are working with a limited set of gear here. If he had a matching set of cabs then everyone would probably recommend that pairing. If you would like to donate a cab I'm sure nobody would object

Craig_S · #12 07-14-2011, 03:23 PM

All I have is my MB 104HF. Sorry.

My point is the OP's loud cab that doesn't sound great is better than a mismatched, frequency cancelling mess.

MuzikMan · #13 07-14-2011, 03:27 PM

You're right but a pair of mismatched cabs will still offer more protection from some stranger using his stuff. I think sound becomes secondary in these cases.

Marko5657 · #14 07-14-2011, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by takhammer

Loudness is a factor, and so is tone. That being said it is a pretty big room, and i don't think i can over do it...

No PA support?

Craig_S · #15 07-14-2011, 03:30 PM

The GK is 400watts program and the F1 is 300 watts @ 8ohms. I don't think it will be a problem. My MarkBass rig gets L O U D even at 8 ohms.

Lowtonejoe · #16 07-14-2011, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuzikMan

Well, we are working with a limited set of gear here. If he had a matching set of cabs then everyone would probably recommend that pairing. If you would like to donate a cab I'm sure nobody would object

+1 and...

I'd like the next one!

Joe.

Lowtonejoe · #17 07-14-2011, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig_S

I don't care what has been done before. Mismatching cabinets is not a good way to go about things. You've got two different cabs throwing who knows what frequencies and all sorts of odd $#!+ going on between them... Now, we have the majority telling the OP it's okay. I'm shaking my head in disbelief. Incredible...

I guess if your semi-famous guy really cared, he would have provided a proper backline for his set.

This has to be one of the most ridiculous/alarmist posts I've read.

Trust me, the world will not end because of mismatched cabs and they routinely sound good! Give it a shot! Will you hear a difference in EXACTLY the right places? You betcha. Will it RUIN THE NIGHT?? No!

Unless you are using in ear monitors you...will...always...have some cross cancellation/reinforcing going on!

Relax! Enjoy the ride!

Joe.

Craig_S · #18 07-14-2011, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lowtonejoe

This has to be one of the most ridiculous/alarmist posts I've read.

Alarmist? Seriously? Ever used a dictionary? Ridiculous? Nowhere near as ridiculous as your above comment. Get a clue.

Lowtonejoe · #19 07-15-2011, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Craig_S

Alarmist? Seriously? Ever used a dictionary? Ridiculous? Nowhere near as ridiculous as your above comment. Get a clue.

Joe.

takhammer · #20 07-15-2011, 12:54 AM

Hey guys, thanks again for your thoughts. I ended up running some combo tests, and decided to roll with the Markbass and GK. Got back here and saw all the comments, and just wanted to say, though i have mixed and matched and been fine before, when i was running my test, i didn't like the way the mismatch sounded. So my ear tends to go with Craig this time, but thanks again to all who chimed in. I love having a place to come and discuss these things.

P.S. I found out while searching, that the ampeq is technically only 100w rms, therefor i wasn't able to test the F1 with the GK and Ampeq, b/c it would have been too much for the Ampeq cab.