Expanding ones rig

Fearsomeshoe · #1 12-17-2010, 10:14 AM

Hey guys.

I have a Marshall MB-30 lying around and I don't want it to go to waste.

I'm planning on buying the Acoustic B200H and B410 package from musicians friend. The head is 200 watts @ 4 ohms with 1 channel.

Would I be able to plug the B410 cab and my Marshall as an extension? A friend told me I could use a combo amp to expand my sound.

I tried reading up on the stickied threads and the whole bass amps faq but I couldnt really find the answer I was looking for. It's troublesome particularly because the B200H head is only 200 watts. The B410 is 400 watts @ 8 ohms so I'm afraid I would be underpowering it?

If someone could answer my question or point me in the right direction it would be MUCH appreciated!

RickenBoogie · #2 12-17-2010, 12:13 PM

No, using the tiny practice combo in conjunction with a 200 watt head/cab is an excersize in futility. The word is "balance", and there would be none. Better to get an additional 8 ohm 410 with the rig you're buying.

Fearsomeshoe · #3 12-17-2010, 01:18 PM

I see. What I don't understand though is how a 200 watt head can power two 400 watt cabs.

Maybe I'm not understanding the concept of ohms. From what I've read I don't feel I've fully understood the concept.

If someone could shed some light on this that would be great.

The whole package is 549 dollars and it looks as though I'm going to get it. I'm not falling into the combo amp trap. I just want to know I have enough power to expand.

I read on various stickied threads that 400 watts should be good enough to power one through a medium to large sized gig. Unfortunately my budget is 650 dollars.

RickenBoogie · #4 12-17-2010, 06:12 PM

The amp produces 200 watts. Period. The speakers have a wattage rating, which is the limit they can take before the voice coil burns out. It has nothing to do with anything else. The amp will power one, or two of those 410's with ease. To get louder than one 410 will get you, another 410 is the answer. An example: if you were to get the B600 head instead, but use the same 8 ohm 410, it wouldn't be appreciably louder than the 200 watt head through the same cab, but the 200 watt head through TWO of the 410's WOULD be louder than the 600 watt head through one of the 410's. Make sense?

Fearsomeshoe · #5 12-18-2010, 09:56 AM

Thanks.

I was on musicians friend and I saw a GK Goldline 500 head for 300 bucks.

500 watts @ 4 ohms which sounds like a better deal then the 200 watt acoustic head for the same price.

But if I get the GK does that mean I have to buy a cab with higher wattage?

somegeezer · #6 12-18-2010, 10:02 AM

No. A 400 watt cab will work with a 500 watt head fine. You'd probably never use the full power of the head anyways.