Noob question about amps

Noose · #1 01-31-2011, 10:18 PM

This might be a very dumb question so please bear with me.

So I got a fairly old kustom 250 bass head given to me. I played it through my hartke 410 at fairly low levels and I really dig the tone I was getting out of the set up. Problem is that it breaks up at relatively low volumes. Some people might like that distorted sound but I do not. I was wondering if it is possible to somehow use the head in conjunction with a separate power amp to get more headroom. Can this be done with any amps at all or is it something that should never be attempted under any circumstances? Like if a person had a pretty large cab that could handle higher watts, is there a way to push that speaker with two different power amps?

Again I am totally ignorant in regards to how amps/speakers work so take it easy on me.

Noose · #2 01-31-2011, 10:38 PM

ItsMichaelYeah · #3 01-31-2011, 10:44 PM

Depends on the amp. If it has a slave option. I don't know to much about Kustom amps. But maybe the amp
Might need some repair. If it's as old as you say it might be full of dust and other things.

Noose · #4 01-31-2011, 10:49 PM

I am guessing it is a 70s era head. It has the really thick pillow like padding all over it. I think you are right. The thing smells like an ashtray and was dusty as he'll when I got it. The person who gave it to me said it had sat in his attic for years without being touched.

Noose · #5 01-31-2011, 10:53 PM

Maybe even older. I don't know much about them. I don't think it has a "slave" option. I'm assuming that this idea of using one amp to boost the power of a second amp is what they call "slaving". See, I already learned something. I love this forum.

kosmicwizard · #6 01-31-2011, 11:55 PM

Since you are fairly new to the forums, welcome. Your head isn't that popular so it isn't well known but that doesn't mean it isn't good. Do a search to find other threads by others that have owned this head and I am sure you will learn lots about it. IME, you can get a poweramp and run the cab with it ... there are a few different ways to get the signal from the head to the poweramp send/return, effects loop, slave ... anyway the signal will travel through the pre-amp section of the head, effect the tone and be amplified by the poweramp and then sent to the cabinet. I am not familiar with your head but it should work as long as the output on your pre is high enough and the input is low enough on the poweramp that you are connecting to. All the best, Cheers.

Noose · #7 02-01-2011, 12:08 AM

Thanks for nearly completely not answering my question. I didn't ask if my amp was popular. I don't care if it is popular at all and I'm not the least bit interested in whether other people think it's good. It was a gift from my uncle and I like the way it sounds.

I already did a search and it came up with nothing regarding my question.
I already know how to use a preamp/power amp setup.

pnut166 · #8 02-01-2011, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noose

Thanks for nearly completely not answering my question. I didn't ask if my amp was popular. I don't care if it is popular at all and I'm not the least bit interested in whether other people think it's good. It was a gift from my uncle and I like the way it sounds.

I already did a search and it came up with nothing regarding my question.
I already know how to use a preamp/power amp setup.

Wow. Are you 14 years old or something ? What`s with the attitude ? Don`t plan on getting any help here if that`s the way you roll. You`re question is about a low-run, 30 yo head. That`s why it isn`t "popular". Has absolutely nothing to do with quality. Kinda common sense. If you "like the way it sounds" and "already know how to use a pre / power amp setup", then why did you even start the thread ?

Noose · #9 02-01-2011, 10:15 AM

Again I didn't ask anything at all about the quality or popularity of the head. The guy thought it was important to point out that the amp wasn't popular, which I thought was pretty rude. Also I am not asking a question about that specific amp. I'm asking a general question. If you want to give your ****** opinions regarding someone elses stuff don't get butt hurt when they get ****** back.

tdub0199 · #10 02-01-2011, 10:26 AM

Easy Grasshopper!!!! I was reading the thread and caught the "Attitude" as well.... "Kosmicwizard" was ONLY letting you know that the amp was not very popular and you may not find the help you need here, you may wanna take it to a tech if it means that much to ya....

masterFlash · #11 02-01-2011, 10:49 AM

Hey Noose,
KosmicWizard is using popular to mean 'not a lot of people have it' and therefore there isn't a wealth of info on this site about it. KosmicWizard is not using popular to mean that it's not part of the 'Cool Club'. He follows up with some clear suggestions from his experience that might help out.

ItsMichaelYeah · #12 02-01-2011, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noose

I am guessing it is a 70s era head. It has the really thick pillow like padding all over it. I think you are right. The thing smells like an ashtray and was dusty as he'll when I got it. The person who gave it to me said it had sat in his attic for years without being touched.

My advice would be take it to an amp tech and show him the "problem" and see if he can fix it and or clean it. If not you might need to get a new amp with more head room for the clean sound you want.

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

This is a SS head that is known to be growly, he said he doesn't like it and wants to know if he can set the preamp to a tone he likes and drive his cabs with a poweramp. I said yes he can and told him different ways that that is possible, since post #5 indicated to me lack of knowledge. If he takes my greetings and comments of out context and tells me he already knows how to do something without thinking that the Kustom head has a preamp and a poweramp in it and since he likes the tone (which comes from the preamp) and needs more clean power (which comes from a poweramp) maybe there is wisdom in my ramblings. Thanks for sticking up for me guys ... I am done with this little one. Cheers.

gregoire1 · #14 02-01-2011, 11:16 AM

What is the impedance of your cab and head? If you can add another cab, that may significantly increase your volume before break-up. Or if your cab has even one bad speaker (voice coil or deteriorated surround) that could be your problem.

Hopkins · #15 02-01-2011, 11:25 AM

Dude you will be hard pressed to get an answer with an attitude like that. If you read his whole post instead of getting all (in your own words) "butt hurt" you would have seen that he gave you a pretty clear answer. That response was in pretty poor taste man.

mdogs · #16 02-01-2011, 01:47 PM

Ya, that amp sucks, if you like the way it sounds why on earth would you put a post on here talking about how you don't like the tone when you turn it up. Then you say you are "totally ignorant," which by the way, nice job proving, asking for advice? I know tools like you and I refuse to deal with them...

ItsMichaelYeah · #17 02-01-2011, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdogs

Ya, that amp sucks, if you like the way it sounds why on earth would you put a post on here talking about how you don't like the tone when you turn it up. Then you say you are "totally ignorant," which by the way, nice job proving, asking for advice? I know tools like you and I refuse to deal with them...

Now now there. We don't have to go down to that level. Remeber this is the internet. no one wins in a agreement on here. unless you're JimmyM talking about Ampeg. that's about it.

RickenBoogie · #18 02-01-2011, 05:16 PM

OP, you really should go back an re-read KosmicWizards first response.(post #6) Not only did he answer your question, he gave you alot more info. Your attitude (post #7) is what's at fault here. If you want strangers on the internet to help YOU, you have to play nice.