Guys who have or had experience w/ LH1000 - Need thoughts...

**Ronny49** · #1 07-07-2011, 11:32 AM

Hey Guys...

I purchased an LH1000 a few weeks ago from ZZounds and got a good deal.

But I am most likely going to return it now because of certain issues I am having with it. I tried calling Larry a couple of days ago and left him a voice mail message, though he has yet to return my call.

One of the issues I am having is the lack of a gain knob. This amp only has a master volume. So, what happens is I get distortion at volumes around 5 on the volume and when slapping, my speakers give a loud click and the cones are going wacko!

My cabs are the SWR GoLight 410 and 115. But mind you, I swapped out the factory Neo for a Eminence Kappa Pro ceramic in the 115 that sounds so much better. It's now a 600 watt cab.

I like the sound of the LH1000 a lot at practice volumes, though when I have played out, it get muddy, distorted and just sounds like a cheap amp. My Bugera 5500 sounded better! Tho I don't trust that head as far as I could throw it!

Any thoughts on this?

onosson · #2 07-07-2011, 11:39 AM

I can't speak to the 1000, but I have an LH500, which has the same controls except the cabinet balance dial. I have never had any distortion, running it up to 2:00 on the volume. Sounds like your amp in particular has a problem, but it's certainly not the way it should operate. You should have tons of clean headroom. I would suggest engaging both the limiter and the brite switches for slap especially.

Bass_Pounder · #3 07-07-2011, 11:40 AM

No experience with that head..........

With that said, there are tons of amps out there without gain knobs and only master volume - Has nothing to do with how the amp operates other than a gain knob allows you to maximize the input on the preamp end of the amp.

The noises you are hearing are your speakers hitting their mechanical limit. Wattage ratings mean nothing, what matters is how much excursion you have - most speakers hit their mechanical limits long before hitting the thermal "wattage rating".

Sounds more like an issue of how you are EQ'ing, or a cab problem rather then something wrong with the head.

**Ronny49** · #4 07-07-2011, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onosson

I can't speak to the 1000, but I have an LH500, which has the same controls except the cabinet balance dial. I have never had any distortion, running it up to 2:00 on the volume. Sounds like your amp in particular has a problem, but it's certainly not the way it should operate. You should have tons of clean headroom. I would suggest engaging both the limiter and the brite switches for slap especially.

I have had the limiter engaged since getting the amp. For the brite switch, I think it's a bit much for the highs, so I don't really use it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass_Pounder

No experience with that head..........

With that said, there are tons of amps out there without gain knobs and only master volume - Has nothing to do with how the amp operates other than a gain knob allows you to maximize the input on the preamp end of the amp.

The noises you are hearing are your speakers hitting their mechanical limit. Wattage ratings mean nothing, what matters is how much excursion you have - most speakers hit their mechanical limits long before hitting the thermal "wattage rating".

Sounds more like an issue of how you are EQ'ing, or a cab problem rather then something wrong with the head.

Strange as I have never had this happen with any other amp except the SWR SM1500 when the gain is too high.

My 410 cab is rated at 800 rms and my 115 now at 600 rms.

Can't figure out why I would have such an issue with the volume only at 5.

jjk2007 · #5 07-07-2011, 11:53 AM

It has been noted that the preamp tube on some of the LH1000's/500's are faulty out of the box. I own the 1000 and have had zero issues with it. I would suggest changing out the preamp tube and see what happens then.

Bass_Pounder · #6 07-07-2011, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronny49

Strange as I have never had this happen with any other amp except the SWR SM1500 when the gain is too high.

My 410 cab is rated at 800 rms and my 115 now at 600 rms.

Can't figure out why I would have such an issue with the volume only at 5.

Every amp is different.

For a 1,000 watt amp - "5" on the master does not always equal 500 watts. Depending on the gain structure and EQ, many amps easily hit their max output at the "half way: point of the knob travel.

And again, wattage ratings mean nothing. Depending on how you EQ, your cabs probably hit their mechanical limit at around half the thermal rating. Since you have a 600 watt cab combined with a 800 watt cab - the 1X15 is your limiting factor (besdies the fact that it is a poor combo with a 4X10 - but thats another discussion).

If the 1X15 is hitting it's mechanical limits at around 300 watts, that limits you to putting out 600 watts from your amp before them farting out.

**Ronny49** · #7 07-07-2011, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass_Pounder

Every amp is different.

For a 1,000 watt amp - "5" on the master does not always equal 500 watts. Depending on the gain structure and EQ, many amps easily hit their max output at the "half way: point of the knob travel.

And again, wattage ratings mean nothing. Depending on how you EQ, your cabs probably hit their mechanical limit at around half the thermal rating. Since you have a 600 watt cab combined with a 800 watt cab - the 1X15 is your limiting factor (besdies the fact that it is a poor combo with a 4X10 - but thats another discussion).

If the 1X15 is hitting it's mechanical limits at around 300 watts, that limits you to putting out 600 watts from your amp before them farting out.

First I should say that I am only running in a bridged mode. I run the first speakon cable to my 410 which will then take the first hit and then from the 410 to the 115.

Both cabs are making the noise.

Regarding the 410/115 combo... this is and has been the ultimate classic set-up for rock bassists. I have used this set-up for many years in my playing experience and love it. Back in the early 90's I used a 410/118 combo and shook the stage crazy!

**Ronny49** · #8 07-07-2011, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjk2007

It has been noted that the preamp tube on some of the LH1000's/500's are faulty out of the box. I own the 1000 and have had zero issues with it. I would suggest changing out the preamp tube and see what happens then.

I'll try it. There is a Sovtek in there stock. I'm not really a fan of Sovtek. What about a JJ? Any suggestion on a tube for replacement?

Soul Power · #9 07-07-2011, 12:09 PM

I've not had distortion even once with my LH1000, chances are it's something just wrong with yours.

nogoodwithnames · #10 07-07-2011, 12:10 PM

What's your eq settings? Lows around 2, mids at ten, and highs at 0 is the "flat" setting. My lh500 sounds its best at 2-10-2 and or 5-5-5. If I go any higher than about 5 on the low end it sounds somewhat like you're describing.

Bass_Pounder · #11 07-07-2011, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronny49

First I should say that I am only running in a bridged mode. I run the first speakon cable to my 410 which will then take the first hit and then from the 410 to the 115.

Both cabs are making the noise.

Regarding the 410/115 combo... this is and has been the ultimate classic set-up for rock bassists. I have used this set-up for many years in my playing experience and love it. Back in the early 90's I used a 410/118 combo and shook the stage crazy!

Does not matter which cab is "connected first", they both take an equal hit sharing the output wattage.

There have been many threads on the subject of the pairing you use. A typical single 15" can only move about as much air as a 2X10. Against a 4X10, it is outgunned, and is the weak link that will likely blow before the 4X10 would.

The things I have stated may NOT be the problem at all, but are definitely things to consider with all rigs.

You may have a problem with the head that is causing the clipping or causing subsonic frequencies to be sent to your cabs that would cause the movement you are seeing.

Hopefully someone with that exact head can chime in and share their experiences.

jjk2007 · #12 07-07-2011, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronny49

I'll try it. There is a Sovtek in there stock. I'm not really a fan of Sovtek. What about a JJ? Any suggestion on a tube for replacement?

I'm not sure on the tube stuff. I think if you search there is a thread about someone swapping the tube on their LH and the changes in tone it made.

**Ronny49** · #13 07-07-2011, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nogoodwithnames

What's your eq settings? Lows around 2, mids at ten, and highs at 0 is the "flat" setting. My lh500 sounds its best at 2-10-2 and or 5-5-5. If I go any higher than about 5 on the low end it sounds somewhat like you're describing.

Ok... well, I like a lot of bottom end and yes, I am set at 9 on bass, 6 on mid and 6 on treble.

If I back the bass off, I know I don't want this amp any longer.

EDIT: Hey... Thanks for everyone's help on this... I called Zzounds for a return tag. I will need to search out a different solution for my needs.

jjk2007 · #14 07-07-2011, 12:36 PM

Wow, that's a lot of low end. Probably more than your cabs like to see! I run the 3-10-0 setting (flat) and I get plenty of low end that way. I run through a single Hydrive 410 though. Well, good luck with your amp quest Ronny.

**Ronny49** · #15 07-07-2011, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjk2007

Wow, that's a lot of low end. Probably more than your cabs like to see! I run the 3-10-0 setting (flat) and I get plenty of low end that way. I run through a single Hydrive 410 though. Well, good luck with your amp quest Ronny.

Not sure about the cabs, but maybe the Hartke cabs get a better bottom end response. Mine don't give me much bottom end. I can't afford to swap cabs tho.

Bass_Pounder · #16 07-07-2011, 01:48 PM

If you scoop that heavy with the EQ, I believe you are going to run into the same problems with ANY amp and those cabs.

**Ronny49** · #17 07-07-2011, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass_Pounder

If you scoop that heavy with the EQ, I believe you are going to run into the same problems with ANY amp and those cabs.

Well, I did run through the SM1500 and had enormous bottom end and my cabs sounded better than ever!

But I just quit my band and the amp belonged to the managing company... so I must find something that doesn't cost as much or weigh as much that will provide the same amount of bottom end.

Actually, I just bought an SWR Grand Prix pre amp off of ebay! Yippee!

I'm looking at a new Mackie FR-1400.
I know this is off topic, but any thoughts on power amps for bottom end? I tried doing a search on power amps and got back everything but...