ampeg 8X10 With B2RE head help

HattoriHanzo · #1 01-30-2011, 11:01 PM

So im new to the forums. I just bought a used Ampeg 8X10 with a B2RE head. I had it hooked up with a instrument cable which I recently learned is a big nono. So im am going to go get some speaker cables asap. I have a few questions first what would be the best speaker cable to get with this set up and I know there is different ways to hook up the head to the cab, what would be the best way to connect it? Sorry for being a newb at this but I've only used combo amps up to this point....

waleross · #2 01-30-2011, 11:17 PM

speakon or a regular heavy duty 1/4" speaker cable : http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SKJ610
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/S12NN10
Most mega music store sell these you can get similar most anywhere..................................

HattoriHanzo · #3 01-30-2011, 11:35 PM

Ok thanx for the cable help but what about plugging it in?

kosmicwizard · #4 01-31-2011, 12:13 AM

People generally think the speakon connectors are a big deal, but depending on how old your head and cab are those might not be an option for you. If you have the same cab as me it is called the 8x10E and has three 1/4 inch jacks and then 2 speakon connectors directly under the two 1/4 inch jacks that are side by side instead of on top of each other. Plug into either of the side by side 1/4 inch jacks or speakon connectors.

I had you amps big brother the B4r (1000 watts @ 4 Ohms mono-bridged) for quite a while, it was a great amp, it produced a lot more watts than yours does and so I was careful in what I used to connect it to my cab ... I might get others that disagree with me, but I think that it doesn't matter as much when you aren't dealing with as many watts.

I am not sure if you are happy with the amount of volume you are getting but I think that not listening to Ampeg in regards to setting up this head is better. They say to adjust the gain until it flashes at the hardest played notes, then adjust your master. I think that taking off the limit defeat lets the amp "breathe" and since I want the most clean wattage coming out of it I put the master at full and use the gain to adjust my volume levels.

The gain knob is how much wattage you are sending to the preamp, since it is solid state you don't want to cause it to clip and distort, that is why I use it as the overall volume control. I hope that this helps and that you are happy with your new rig! Cheers.

HattoriHanzo · #5 01-31-2011, 12:23 AM

I am very happy with the rig besides comsetic damage everything works fine. This thing is a beast. I used to play outa an ampeg 1X15 Combo lol so this was a major upgrade. As for it being loud it definitely is. My band mates get mad at me now cuz its so loud. I remember reading something about depending on how you hook it up there's options to use the top 4 speakers or lower 4 and then one hookup to use all 8. I will take that advice about the gain and master. I had it opposite where the gain was farther up than the master. I need to take a pic of the back panels for the head and cab.

kosmicwizard · #6 01-31-2011, 12:38 AM

You are right about the cab being divided into 2 8 Ohm 4x10's, I told you how to do it so you will be running all 8 speakers. Cheers.

HattoriHanzo · #7 01-31-2011, 12:46 AM

Oh ok. I guess I wasn't getting why there is two side by side 1/4 inch connections. I thought I would need to have bot plugged in to get all 8 speakers thanx for the info

kosmicwizard · #8 01-31-2011, 12:29 PM

No the two side by side are so you can daisy chain to another cab. For example on my rig The chain goes head to bottom left input of the 8x10, then bottom right of the 8x10 to the 2x15, this is called daisy chaining. Cheers.

HattoriHanzo · #9 01-31-2011, 10:45 PM

Your crazy using a 8X10 And the 2X15's sounds like its a major beast! Thanks for the clarifciation.

sapienerabass · #10 01-31-2011, 11:01 PM

Hi Guys,
Sorry to hi-jack the thread but I run a similar amp (B2R 350w) as a back -up amp. I also use it with an 810e. I've always been concerned about Solid-State (square -wave) distortion messing up my speakers so I leave the limiter in place..
I'd be keen to give your idea a go to give it more juice but I am concerned about horrible SS distortion.
My SVT2 Pro is my main amp=tubes, loud, no probs.

I am not sure if you are happy with the amount of volume you are getting but I think that not listening to Ampeg in regards to setting up this head is better. They say to adjust the gain until it flashes at the hardest played notes, then adjust your master. I think that taking off the limit defeat lets the amp "breathe" and since I want the most clean wattage coming out of it I put the master at full and use the gain to adjust my volume levels.

kosmicwizard · #11 01-31-2011, 11:32 PM

since I want the most CLEAN wattage coming out of it I put the master at full and use the gain to adjust my volume levels.

this is the way to avoid square wave distortion ... DON'T turn the gain up to full with the master all the way up and the limit off you will blow up the head. Listen to the head and the cab ... You will be able to hear the distortion starting just as the tube amp but instead of loving it and turning it into OD turn the gain down and you won't damage anything. This is the best way to get everything out of the SS Ampeg heads I have come across that everyone else says are WAY underpowered, LOL. The B2r isn't a 2PRO but it is still a good head with the right cab, it is the surface area of the cones more than watts that increase volume. Cheers.

sapienerabass · #12 02-01-2011, 12:08 AM

Thanks Kosmicwizard, good advice.

I haven't really spent alot of time with the B2R as it's a back-up. I never really thought it was as bad as some on here suggested!! But I do run an 810e!!

Next time I fire up the B2R I will be trying your suggestion. Thanks again!

kosmicwizard · #13 02-01-2011, 11:25 AM

Glad to help. Get back to us on how it works for you and what you think of it in regards to the 2 PRO, in tone, power and overall volume. Cheers.