4 ohm or 8 ohm

[heroina]

Hi

I am buying a bass cabinet and i need some help.

I was thinking about buying an PEAVEY 410 TVX
but it comes in 4 ohm and 8 ohm versions. Currently I am using
Fender Bassman old head but I will have to change the amp very soon.

Still not sure for the amp but probably it will be Gallien Krueger 400RB-IV

Other option for cabinet is also GALLIEN KRUEGER BACKLINE 410BLX-II
which is almost same price and it is 8 ohms.

The thing I really don't understand is difference beetween 8 ohm and 4 ohm // and what is better to buy if you don't know what amp you are going to use later


thank you for answers

 

[Luke19Boarder]

if you are planning on adding another cabinet at some point, you will probably want to go with the 8ohm cabinet ... that way, your load will be 4ohm with both cabinets. However, if you are getting a new head that is 2ohm stable, or is bi-ampable, you can use two 4 ohm cabinets.

 

[iriegnome]

I use 3 cabinets in my current rig. All 8 Ohm and my amp is 2 Ohm stable.
Agreed, if you are unsure of where your rig will be taking you, you can always pick the 4 Ohm and look for a 2 Ohm stable amp and then suppliment with either 4 Ohm or 2-8Ohm cab's... Lot's of choices and decisions!

 

[BassmanPaul]

The old Fender Bassman needs a 4Ω cabinet. That's its rated output impedance. Just about all SS amps are happy working into a 4Ω load. If you intend adding cabinets in the future ( I personally don't see a need) then I'd still get a 4Ω cabinet. There are plenty of 2Ω capable amps out there. Carvin B1500 for example. You also have the option of going the pre/power route. All decent power amps can handle 2Ω loads per channel.

Don't even think of bi-amping. The need to do so is so far behind us for it to be considered obsolete. It's also such a waste of resources having to have two poweramps.

I use 2x10 cabinets. I use a pair to gig with equalling your 4x10. That has been all I have needed for the last twelve odd years and I am not a "stay in the back of the mix" player. I actually own four of the 2x10 cabinets but only use all four when I'm in the mood for some fun!

Paul

 

[B-string]

Your pretty much stuck with a 4 ohm cab (because of the bassman), it will be fine with the 400rb IV (but thats the only cab you will be able to run, still an awesome amp).
Buy the Peavey IMO over the Backline series (i can't believe I SAID Peavey).

 

[KJung]

The old Fender Bassman needs a 4Ω cabinet. That's its rated output impedance. Just about all SS amps are happy working into a 4Ω load. If you intend adding cabinets in the future ( I personally don't see a need) then I'd still get a 4Ω cabinet. There are plenty of 2Ω capable amps out there. Carvin B1500 for example. You also have the option of going the pre/power route. All decent power amps can handle 2Ω loads per channel.

Don't even think of bi-amping. The need to do so is so far behind us for it to be considered obsolete. It's also such a waste of resources having to have two poweramps.

I use 2x10 cabinets. I use a pair to gig with equalling your 4x10. That has been all I have needed for the last twelve odd years and I am not a "stay in the back of the mix" player. I actually own four of the 2x10 cabinets but only use all four when I'm in the mood for some fun!

Paul

+1 to all points!

 

[heroina]

thanks for the answers

hm

well if I understand it would be easier to buy 8ohm

but

does that mean that I won't be able to connect it to the old Bassman
which is currently my only option

 

[Bassmec]

Fender have called a hell of a lot of amps Bassmans.
Yes it would be dead right for a Bassman 50/70/100/135
Has it got tubes in?.

 

[heroina]

sorry

yes it's an old tube bassman 100 head

with tubes // today more known as a vintage guitar amp

now it is connested to an 16 ohm marshall guitar cab

 

[Bassmec]

Yes viewed from the back you have two sockets the left is eight ohms and the right socket has a switch in the socket to make the output transformer use its 4 ohms secondary when you plug a plug in it .if I remember right?!.
PS To run with a marshall 4 X 12: on the 1960 model use the stereo switch on stereo and connect both (now 8 ohms sockets) with two output cables to your heads sockets.

 

[B-string]

sorry

yes it's an old tube bassman 100 head

with tubes // today more known as a vintage guitar amp

now it is connested to an 16 ohm marshall guitar cab

OUCH! A 8 ohm cab would at least be a closer match for that Bassman than 16 ohms.
Hard call if running an 8 ohm cab for a while on the Bassman is a real good idea, with the intent to go with the G-K later.
Your already running a risk with a 16 ohm load on that Bassman? 8 ohms is at least "closer"?

 

[heroina]

hm

yes it has two sockets

the left one says something like this:

speaker load 4 ohm

and the right one:

EXT speaker

 

[MNAirHead]

Overall.. if you do not plan on getting tons and tons of cabinets.. 4 ohm is your pal.

8 ohm has more uses, but cuts your power.

I spent tons and tons and tons of time planning this - I spent my money on a variety of 4 ohm cabinets.. I use them either in pairs (biamp) or singles..

Downside is that once you go to 4 cabinets etc.. you're stuck buying a new head.

Most heads will support 4 ohms efficiently.

Tim

 

[Bassmec]

A valve amp has a matching transformer! therefore there is no advantage to running at lower ohms, if there is a transformer tap available for the right ohms use that whatever it is you will get the same power at 16 ohms if thats in the list of available transformer taps.
It isn't on this amp its either 8 or 4.

 

[BassmanPaul]

thanks for the answers

hm

well if I understand it would be easier to buy 8ohm

but

does that mean that I won't be able to connect it to the old Bassman
which is currently my only option

Forgive me but did you read all the posts? Of the first five only one advised buying an 8Ω cabinet. The rest 4Ω! Yet you disregard the majority opinion. Why did you ask the question in the first place if you are going to ignore the advice you are given?

Paul

 

[BassmanPaul]

A valve amp has a matching transformer! therefore there is no advantage to running at lower ohms, if there is a transformer tap available for the right ohms use that whatever it is you will get the same power at 16 ohms if thats in the list of available transformer taps.
It isn't on this amp its either 8 or 4.

Where did this come from? The Bassman 100 does not have an impedance selector switch. It's standard Fender: 4Ω with an extension speaker jack. It needs a 4Ω load and there in no provision for operation into 16Ω.

Very few US made amps ever came with a method of changing output transformer taps. Ampeg is one of the few that did. When I first arrived over here I found this very strange. Being used to the amps available in the UK, I couldn't understand this.

Paul

 

[Bassmec]

I think the switch if there is one is in the extension speaker jack socket, the one I have has a mercury magnetics op transformer so may not be standard, I had heard that Swedish export UL models also did not have this switch or spare tap. I know an original fender Bassman blond 2 X 12 cab was 4 ohms. But the 1950s Bassman Wide panel and TV combo where a single 8 ohm 15" Jensen driver and the Bassman Ten combo was 8 ohms series parallel cts or jbl speakers again total 8 ohms.
But whatever its sposed to be, 8 Ohms is a lot better than 16 for it.
Although we do run ours at four ohms both amp output sockets populated
two cables into a Marshall 1960 cab with the switch on stereo.
Sounds great never had a problem with it.
Rosalita's bass player Jay plays his old 100 with an old fender 1 X 15 cab with an electrovoice 8 ohm driver in it, he has only recently built another 15" cab again 8 ohm so now he is running on 4 still didnt have any issues with eight and he has done a **** load of touring with it into
8 ohms with no problem other than cracking an output tube by dropping sweat on to it while moving it when it was hot.