New power, no knowledge (first post)

[Guicemeister]

Greetings TB!

This is my first post so please bear with me.

I just recently acquired an Ampeg SVT-4 Pro and 810 Classic cabinet from a friend for an amazing price. It's waaay more than what I am used to and I have no idea how to manage the power.

I'm about as ignorant as one could be when it comes to tone and power management.

My main question to you is this: What is the best way or ways to connect the cabinet to the head?

I've had people tell me that you can damage a speaker by underpowering it just as much as you can by overpowering it. Well that's news to me.

This is an amazing head and cab and I want to make sure (a) that I don't fry anything and (b) that I'm getting the best sound from what I have.

Thanks everyone
GM

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by Guicemeister

My main question to you is this: What is the best way or ways to connect the cabinet to the head?

With a speaker cable.

I've had people tell me that you can damage a speaker by underpowering

Required reading:
AMPS FAQ!! Info on OHMS, Allsize RIGS-OverUnderPowerCabs DIY TechTalk-Links

[JimmyM]

underpowering is a total myth. only overpowering speakers blows them, not underpowering. you could easily use only one side of your 4 pro and have enough power to do pretty much anything with that cab. or you can use a bridged speakon cable if you'd like to hook it up to your cab in mono. either way will work just fine. if you hear it making fart noises, turn down...that's all.

[krovx]

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

Love this!

[Rick Auricchio]

Originally Posted by Guicemeister

...I have no idea how to manage the power.

That's why it has volume controls!

...I want to make sure ...that I'm getting the best sound from what I have.

If you get a tone you like, you're done. There's no point trying to achieve other tones.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Rick Auricchio

That's why it has volume controls!

If you get a tone you like, you're done. There's no point trying to achieve other tones.

good point, rick. those rigs have tone built into them, so all you have to do is tweak it to your tastes. it's not brain surgery.

[Guicemeister]

Thanks everyone.

Thanks Bill for the "required reading."

I have never used Speakon cables and didn't even know what they were until recently.

I should have phrased my question a bit differently. I'm not a complete idiot and I know how to use the gain and volume knobs and I understand how to tinker with tone. What I didn't understand was the importance of a proper connection between the head and cab. I was using an instument cable when I first got the stack.

I just need to do my homework I suppose.

[JimmyM]

ya, absolutely do NOT use an instrument cable with that rig. it's so high power that it'll burn up an instrument cable and possibly cause major damage. the shield is too thin in an instrument cable to work for speaker connections.