Using a combo as a head

[SMILEYSIXX]

I've been considering getting a cabinet and using my combo as a head for it, but I'm not entirely sure if this is feasible. It's a Fender Bassman 350, but one issue I have is that it does not have a 1/4" line out, just an XLR. Do all cabinet have 1/4" inputs or do some use XLR?

[Venom of God]

I don't think any cabs would use XLR, as it is balanced and designed for a mixing desk. No where near enough power to push speaker cones! Why do you want to do that anyway?

[SMILEYSIXX]

Just to begin with. I don't have a lot of money right now, so instead of shelling out a couple thousand for a good head, a 115, and a 410 I figured I could do it piece by piece starting with a 410 and hook it to my 115 combo and then later get the head and the 115 cabinet when I can.

[Venom of God]

Unfortunately I don't think that's going to happen, sorry! Might just have to stick with what you've got until you can afford something better. I could be wrong though, hopefully someone with more knowledge than me chimes and and tells you an easy way to do it!

Good luck!

[dhsierra1]

just took a look at the Fender website, the reason you don't have a 1/4" extension speaker jack is because it uses a 4 ohm driver. The amp in there probably can't manage to drive a 2 ohm load. A number of combos are configured like this, alas

[SMILEYSIXX]

Thanks! It's difficult to figure this out using musician's friend because most picture don't show you the inputs on the cabs, so my only option may be going to a store to have someone help me, unfortunately.

[dhsierra1]

if you're looking for expandibility, perhaps the XLR line out might have enough voltage to drive a power amp and cabinet of your choice. If not, then you'd have to go w/some sort of line boost, maybe a VT pedal or something along those lines.

[pie_man_25]

Originally Posted by Venom of God

I don't think any cabs would use XLR, as it is balanced and designed for a mixing desk. No where near enough power to push speaker cones! Why do you want to do that anyway?

my Warwick head only has an XLR and a speakon out, and my Warwick cab only has XLR and speakon in/out, no 1/4" jacks. That's for the soeaker out. It also has an XLR plug for DI, which doesn't power a speaker.

[SMILEYSIXX]

Originally Posted by dhsierra1

if you're looking for expandibility, perhaps the XLR line out might have enough voltage to drive a power amp and cabinet of your choice. If not, then you'd have to go w/some sort of line boost, maybe a VT pedal or something along those lines.

That would end up costing as much as getting a whole new rig.

Originally Posted by pie_man_25

my Warwick head only has an XLR and a speakon out, and my Warwick cab only has XLR and speakon in/out, no 1/4" jacks. That's for the soeaker out. It also has an XLR plug for DI, which doesn't power a speaker.

Do you have a link to the cab?

[dhsierra1]

not necessarily. Go used. Watts are dirt cheap these days. Used cabs of decent/good quality can be had quite cheaply, too. CL, or better yet TB has scads of them listed for sale. I think your rig new is about a grand, you'd spend just a couple hundred to have something pretty darned good to add to it.

[Epidrake]

I got rid of my Bassman for the same reason. The XLR is useless to drive cabs.
You don't have to shell out thousands for a decent rig. Sell the Bassman and look in the classifieds here at TB. I put together a killer rig buying used from right here.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Epidrake

I got rid of my Bassman for the same reason. The XLR is useless to drive cabs.
You don't have to shell out thousands for a decent rig. Sell the Bassman and look in the classifieds here at TB. I put together a killer rig buying used from right here.

+1. I've seen folks come away with a quality head and 410 for $300 before. Patience is key, but you can do it.

As for using the Fender in another capacity besides a standalone combo, forget it...not gonna happen. It's not built to be expandable. That's what turned me off their Bassman TV combos, too. Absolutely fantastic sound, but no expandability.

[SMILEYSIXX]

The amp isn't bad in certain situations and if you play a gig that gives you a decent PA, you're fine, but seeing as how a good deal of my musical ventures lead me into the DIY situation, I need something else.

[dhsierra1]

Originally Posted by SMILEYSIXX

The amp isn't bad in certain situations and if you play a gig that gives you a decent PA, you're fine, but seeing as how a good deal of my musical ventures lead me into the DIY situation, I need something else.

therein lies your answer: sell the Fender and get something else.

FWIW, I've driven power amps via DI out but you do have to use the right sort of line amp (which I have) but you really must love the sound of the combo to wanna monkey w/levels and such, not that I'm necessarily disageeing w/JimmyM

As mentioned in the posts above, you've lots of good choices in the used dept so why suffer if you're finding you need the flexibility and power? The answer is out there somewhere in the classifieds

[will33]

In your case it would involve removing the amp from the combo, building it into it's own headcase and taking the speaker wires that were hooked up to the combo's speaker and wiring them to a jack you'd have to drill into the back panel.

That's why I wouldn't buy a combo unless it already was built to chain another cab to it.

Of course with the advent of these little micro heads I'd think a lot of people would be playing "expandable" combo's. Why even bother carrying separate pieces when a 500 watt amp only adds 4 pounds to the speaker you have to carry anyway.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by will33

Of course with the advent of these little micro heads I'd think a lot of people would be playing "expandable" combo's. Why even bother carrying separate pieces when a 500 watt amp only adds 4 pounds to the speaker you have to carry anyway.

That's exactly why I was so bummed out with the Bassman TV combos. For $1000 you should get expandability.

[will33]

For $1000 they should carry it to the gig for you.

[BassmanPaul]

Originally Posted by SMILEYSIXX

Just to begin with. I don't have a lot of money right now, so instead of shelling out a couple thousand for a good head, a 115, and a 410 I figured I could do it piece by piece starting with a 410 and hook it to my 115 combo and then later get the head and the 115 cabinet when I can.

Don't mix a 4x10 and a 1x15. The pairing just doesn't work well.

[Electricblue]

Originally Posted by BassmanPaul

Don't mix a 4x10 and a 1x15. The pairing just doesn't work well.

To me it sounds good, I ran it out of coincidence, not of choice though.

A single 15 is "equal" to a pair of 10s. But the 115 will always be the weak link.

Get a couple 410's and enjoy the sweet thump. It's like God farting directly in your face. Damn amazing.

[RickenBoogie]

I don't care who it is, I don't want them farting in my face. period. and +1 to something.