Time to upgrade

RoitMonger · #1 12-03-2011, 05:39 PM

I have a Peavey combo 210tx which pumps 210 watts at 4 ohms and 300 watts at 2 ohms. The Combo it's self was fine until I started playing with two guitars and a drummer, so now I need to upgrade. So should I keep the combo and just add a 4 ohm cab (if so suggestions would help) or buy a head a cab? Also on the combo there are pre/power amp slots, would it be worth buying a pre/power amp, and what do they do?

Thanks in advance,
Roitmonger

RoitMonger · #2 12-05-2011, 07:13 PM

Help please

**Primakurtz** · #3 12-05-2011, 07:39 PM

If you like the tone you are getting now, I suggest trying an additional 2x10 cabinet first.
If that doesn't work for you, you can begin the process of trading up.

**B-string** · #4 12-05-2011, 08:54 PM

Sorry you must have gotten lost in a posting frenzy?

Best advice I can offer is first get a good 8 ohm 410 cab.
1) You will triple your speaker count and still get a slight bump in wattage. The actual sound output be much more than the difference between 210 watts and 300 watts.
2) While you will be able to get a lot louder, if you decide later you want to go separates you already have a base 8 ohms cab to start off your new amp head.

What 410 cab.....that you will need to try out with your combo. Peavey 410, G-K 410's, Ampeg 410, Mesa, Genz Benz, Hartke............

You may just find you will not need a whole new rig for some time to come.

krstko · #5 12-05-2011, 10:33 PM

hmm ..I also play with 2 guitarists (100x SS + 60w tube) and a loud drummer and I had 100w Ampeg combo ..never had it past 3 on practices and on stage use PA

but if you want bigger, get a head and box, I think upgrading your combo is waste because you will soon need a lot of power for bigger stages

If I were you, I would get 410 cab (with the money you probably already have) and I would sell that combo for head

and btw, get used

JimmyM · #6 12-05-2011, 10:59 PM

I don't know...if you're looking to do this on the cheap, maybe you could find a used 4 ohm 210 and use it. There was a time when 300w was considered a ton of wattage, you know?

RoitMonger · #7 12-08-2011, 10:25 AM

Thanks guys

@ B-string: Wouldn't it be better to get a 4 ohm cap instead of an 8 ohm? And would mixing brands make it sound odd?

@ Krstko: We don't play out yet (we have a steady gig opening for a punk at when we have all our songs together) so keeping the combo would be a bonus.

@ JimmyM: Yep I still think 300 watts in insane, and the fact I have it in a combo makes it better

Also would setting the cab on top of the combo do anything to the sound, because I have no clue how I would be able to put it on top of the cab?

christw · #8 12-08-2011, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoitMonger

Thanks guys

@ B-string: Wouldn't it be better to get a 4 ohm cap instead of an 8 ohm? And would mixing brands make it sound odd?

Yes, and it might.

Quote:

Also would setting the cab on top of the combo do anything to the sound, because I have no clue how I would be able to put it on top of the cab?

Try under the combo. A used Peavey 210TX cab might do well. They're four ohms as well.

klejst · #9 12-08-2011, 12:05 PM

Perhaps pair the combo with a 1x15? Or as other's have said another 2x10. You can generally find Peavey cab's for cheap online or in the used section of your local Guitar Center.

CL400Peavey · #10 12-08-2011, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

Best advice I can offer is first get a good 8 ohm 410 cab.

I dont think combining cabs of 4 and 8 Ohms of impedance is the best idea if he wants to keep the combo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by christw

Try under the combo. A used Peavey 210TX cab might do well. They're four ohms as well.

This should match up fairly well.

All that being said a separate cab and head would really give you more versatility. Volume is more dependent on your speaker area than the wattage of your head. 10,000 watts through a 210 is still only going to get as loud as that 210 can go before you pop the speakers. More wattage will let you have more clean head room. Most cabs can really only handle half of what they are rated for, as that rating is thermal limit not excursion limit. 300 watts on two 410 cabs will be loud, really loud. That big boy ampeg you see every where? That is only 300 watts. Its the 810 fridge its sitting on that makes it that loud.

**B-string** · #11 12-08-2011, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CL400Peavey

I dont think combining cabs of 4 and 8 Ohms of impedance is the best idea if he wants to keep the combo.

Can you explain why? He states the combo is 2 ohm minimum, while the 8 ohm 410 will receive less wattage than the 4 ohm 210, neither will be in danger. The sound output from the 410 will still better than a match what the 210 is putting out, sound should better than double. The 2 ohm combo will not even run down to its 2 ohm minimum.

brendanbassist · #12 12-08-2011, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

Can you explain why? He states the combo is 2 ohm minimum, while the 8 ohm 410 will receive less wattage than the 4 ohm 210, neither will be in danger. The sound output from the 410 will still better than a match what the 210 is putting out, sound should better than double. The 2 ohm combo will not even run down to its 2 ohm minimum.

The 4x10 will receive half the wattage of the 2x10, so each driver in the 4x10 will only receive 1/4th the wattage of the drivers in the 2x10.

**B-string** · #13 12-08-2011, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brendanbassist

The 4x10 will receive half the wattage of the 2x10, so each driver in the 4x10 will only receive 1/4th the wattage of the drivers in the 2x10.

And I still don't see the point? 4 quarters still equal a whole yes? The suggestion I offered would increase the sound level for now and provide a starter cab if the OP goes to a separate head later. Surface area gets you more sound than wattage.

CL400Peavey · #14 12-08-2011, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-string

Can you explain why? He states the combo is 2 ohm minimum, while the 8 ohm 410 will receive less wattage than the 4 ohm 210, neither will be in danger. The sound output from the 410 will still better than a match what the 210 is putting out, sound should better than double. The 2 ohm combo will not even run down to its 2 ohm minimum.

If he is looking to keep the combo, and wants volume he should be powering all the speakers evenly. With an 8ohm 410 he will still be pushing the two speakers in the combo very hard to be heard. The 210 cab will be getting twice as much power as the 410, and then those speakers get a fourth of that power. The 210 speakers will be way over powered in comparison. If the op is looking for volume he will have two speakers at their limit, and four that are barely warmed up. Two will be on the edge of distortion, four that sound completely different.

I'm all for getting at least a 410 cab, but that advice would come with me saying ditch the combo as well. Getting a whole new rig might not be in his budget, but finding a used 210 PV cab for $100 might.

If you really want to upgrade your rig don't bother with any 410. Find an 810, 610, or 412 used and then go shopping for a head. Anything that pushes 300 watts at 4 ohms will be loud given you have enough speaker area.