Mesa Boogie set up

[bigbassman75]

Hello fellow bass players

I own a Mesa Boogie M9 Carbine 900 watt head @4 or 2 ohms, 450 @ 8 ohms. I am playing through the Powerhouse 410, 8 ohm cab which is 600 watts. Recently my cab blew the 4 speakers and the tech guy was pushing for me to add on a 15 inch Mesa Boogie powerhouse 600 watt, 8 ohm cab. Said it's a mismatch and the 15 inch would take some of the load off of the 410. (it would b 2 outputs from the head into 2 different cabinets)

My question is this, wouldn't a 600 watts 8 ohm head b able to withstand 450 watts through it with out blowing 4 speakers?

Secondly, if i choose to add on would 212 or 115 b more suitable for this set up? I've tried them both and am kinda leaning towards the 115.

[Thunder Pulse]

Who is the tech guy you're referring to? It doesn't sound like someone from Mesa based on what he told you.

Your Carbine is not a mismatch for your cab..... unless you've got it turned almost all the way up. At that point it would be a mismatch for almost any single cab. Are you getting new speakers in the 4x10? If you are, you'd be better off adding a second 4x10 instead of a 2x12 or 1x15.

[RickenBoogie]

+1 2 matched cabs is the answer, and a whole lot more reading up on how all this works is a good idea too.

[Chef]

Yep.

Originally Posted by Thunder Pulse

Who is the tech guy you're referring to? It doesn't sound like someone from Mesa based on what he told you.

Your Carbine is not a mismatch for your cab..... unless you've got it turned almost all the way up. At that point it would be a mismatch for almost any single cab. Are you getting new speakers in the 4x10? If you are, you'd be better off adding a second 4x10 instead of a 2x12 or 1x15.

[bigbassman75]

Thanks guys

I didn't think that playing the M9 through a single cab would have blown the speakers. The cab and head were purchased about 1 year ago and have had sound issues with it ever since. It may have been a floor model that was used and no one told me. Regardless, I sent it to Mesa and they are replacing the speakers.
I usually don't hit over 5 on the head both gain and volume, no effect or pedals just the equalizers and some deep bass at times if i need to play in a dropped D format.

The guitar tech was from the music shop where i brought it in and he suggested 1x15 to offset it kinda like the 1200 watt Powerhouse 4x10 1x15 cab.
I was hoping to add a more rounder bottom end sound to the set up and another 4x10 might not cut it.

It's either get a second cab or downgrade to a M6, which i don't want to do.
Any suggestions are more then appreciated.

[Chef]

If by master and input set at 5, you mean pointing straight up....that's waaaaaaayyyyy harder than I've ever, ever pushed mine. I"m not at all surprised the 410 gave it up at that point.

I typically run input gain at noon, and master at 9 oclock....

If you need that sort of volume, I'd for sure add a second 410.
It'll be a taller setup, making it easier for you to hear, and matched cabs always work better, IMO, IME, etc.

[RickenBoogie]

Yes, and the 15 will NOT add more bottom. In fact, you'll just blow it up too. 2x 410's is the answer for both volume and low end.

[rockstarbassist]

5 on the M9?? Yeah you could probably blow some mid-level PA systems with that much juice...

[georgestrings]

Originally Posted by Chef

If by master and input set at 5, you mean pointing straight up....that's waaaaaaayyyyy harder than I've ever, ever pushed mine. I"m not at all surprised the 410 gave it up at that point.

I typically run input gain at noon, and master at 9 oclock....

If you need that sort of volume, I'd for sure add a second 410.
It'll be a taller setup, making it easier for you to hear, and matched cabs always work better, IMO, IME, etc.

Yeah, more speakers are usually the best way to put out alot of volume... I play in a LOUD 2 guitar modern rock/metal band, against 2 Triple Rec halfstacks, and my M-pulse 600 is typically at 1 o'clock on gain, and never above 10 o'clock on master volume... FWIW, we're known as one of the loudest bands in my area... Here's what I gig thru, although I'm certain a pair of PH410s could accomplish the same thing:

[georgestrings]

Originally Posted by rockstarbassist

5 on the M9?? Yeah you could probably blow some mid-level PA systems with that much juice...

No doubt - my M-p 600 is "only" 600 watts, and I can't imagine running it that loud...


- georgestrings

[bigbassman75]

Update

OK, i took your advice and got a second 4x10 Mesa Boogie cab.
As luck would have it, i found a used one for sale and have hooked it up with a Galilen-Krueger 410 RBH. (a loaner while my Powerhouse is in the shop)
I'm liking the sound off of it and am only playing at gain 5 (12 noon) and volume 3-4 (10 o'clock)
Hopefully this will solve my speaker blown problems.

Here is my second question.....

The sales guy who sold it to me told me that since i am putting a second 8 ohm cab onto my M9 it is going to play at 4 ohms instead of 8 meaning most efficiency from my Head.
I'm not that skilled in ohms, but if that's true do i stand to blow any more speakers playing it louder then 4 volume (10 o'clock) on my head?

[RickenBoogie]

Here's the thing- ANY amp can blow ANY speakers. It's not just volume, but also how you eq the amp. Lower frequencies eat up your power, and are harder on spkrs in general. You should be fine, but as always, common sense is in order, and pay attention to the spkr cabs. If they start to strain, turn down, and/or lower the low eq a bit.

[Caca de Kick]

Yes, two 8ohm cabs make a 4ohm load on the head.

Speaker blowing usually happens from over eq'ing too much low end and pushing loud volume.

[Chef]

As a broad generality, I tend to trim out some bass as I get louder.
Man, your settings are still louder than I go, and you have twice as much speaker as I do.

Your band must be Hella Loud.
Wear earplugs.

[Sartori]

As others have said, damaging speakers isn't all about your amp's rated power, but also how much low end you're using.

The two most dangerous knobs on the amp are volume and lows.