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4ohm Amp into an 8ohm cab

#21
Thanks for all the info, lads.

To answer a few Qs. We should definitely have FOH support. I will be bringing my two notes opus as a backup just in case.

I do know how tube amps work. I used to rock a Mesa 400+ through this Goliath III and a Big Ben. That was some rig! My current tub setup, an ampeg pf20t actually doesnt need a load and makes a great DI. Such a great amp.

I currently have the ampeg Pf20t, threTC bh250 and my old SWR Mo Bass (which i bought hwhen i bought the 2 SWR cabs). I can conceivably bring the SWR but I'd also have to bring a EU power transformer. I have a 1000 watt one but it is pretty heavy to use it as I bought the Mo Bass when i lived in San Francisco. I left the big ben behind.

The cabs i currently have are the SWR Goliath III, the aguilar 1x12 and an ampeg 2x10 that matches my Pf20t to give me a modern fliptop. So nice.

I should be absolutely alright with the TC and the SWR 4x10.

I will go with the folks saying i wont get much more in DBs and not bother with bringing the 1x12 as a second cab.

Cheers, all!
 
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#23
lidl e said:
Thanks for all the info, lads.

To answer a few Qs. We should definitely have FOH support. I will be bringing my two notes opus as a backup just in case.

I do know how tube amps work. I used to rock a Mesa 400+ through this Goliath III and a Big Ben. That was some rig! My current tub setup, an ampeg pf20t actually doesnt need a load and makes a great DI. Such a great amp.

I currently have the ampeg Pf20t, threTC bh250 and my old SWR Mo Bass (which i bought hwhen i bought the 2 SWR cabs). I can conceivably bring the SWR but I'd also have to bring a EU power transformer. I have a 1000 watt one but it is pretty heavy to use it as I bought the Mo Bass when i lived in San Francisco. I left the big ben behind.

The cabs i currently have are the SWR Goliath III, the aguilar 1x12 and an ampeg 2x10 that matches my Pf20t to give me a modern fliptop. So nice.

I should be absolutely alright with the TC and the SWR 4x10.

I will go with the folks saying i wont get much more in DBs and not bother with bringing the 1x12 as a second cab.

Cheers, all!
Click to expand...
I have a GS 112 that I did like for small gigs. I have run that with my WD800 for almost a year before I got my SW 115 which is lighter than the GS and has become the single cabinet I now bring. Have been experimenting with the two for louder things, if there is ever a need 😊

IMG_9277.jpeg
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#25
Tube amps have a characteristic impedance, where matching the load to the amplifier helps maximize power output.

Solid State amps are almost all very low output impedance - FAR less than 4 ohms. They are NOT designed to be used into a matched impedance.

A solid state amp is designed to proved a certain amount of voltage at its output when driven with a given input level. The current that a speaker load draws from that voltage source depends on its impedance - the lower the load resistance, the more current is drawn. When the amp has to supply more current, it works harder. So, solid state amplifiers are rated for a certain minimum load impedance - that is not the impedance of the amplifier, it's just a limit as to how low you can go with the speaker impedance and still have reliable operation. Thus, there is no such thing as a "4 ohm amp" - it's an amplifier that works reliably into any load as long as it's 4 ohms or greater. If you want it to be really reliable, using a speaker load that is higher in resistance (ohms) than the rating is a good idea - it gives you some margin, which will likely prolong the life of the device..
 
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#29
lidl e said:
Thanks for all the info, lads.

To answer a few Qs. We should definitely have FOH support. I will be bringing my two notes opus as a backup just in case.

I do know how tube amps work. I used to rock a Mesa 400+ through this Goliath III and a Big Ben. That was some rig! My current tub setup, an ampeg pf20t actually doesnt need a load and makes a great DI. Such a great amp.

I currently have the ampeg Pf20t, threTC bh250 and my old SWR Mo Bass (which i bought hwhen i bought the 2 SWR cabs). I can conceivably bring the SWR but I'd also have to bring a EU power transformer. I have a 1000 watt one but it is pretty heavy to use it as I bought the Mo Bass when i lived in San Francisco. I left the big ben behind.

The cabs i currently have are the SWR Goliath III, the aguilar 1x12 and an ampeg 2x10 that matches my Pf20t to give me a modern fliptop. So nice.

I should be absolutely alright with the TC and the SWR 4x10.

I will go with the folks saying i wont get much more in DBs and not bother with bringing the 1x12 as a second cab.

Cheers, all!
Click to expand...
The TC maybe a nice amp but if your mini road trip lands you more gigs like that I would consider one of their larger heads that would put out a little more power at the 8 ohm threshold like the BH550 or something else like a Hartke.
 
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#30
DJ Bebop said:
The TC maybe a nice amp but if your mini road trip lands you more gigs like that I would consider one of their larger heads that would put out a little more power at the 8 ohm threshold like the BH550 or something else like a Hartke.
Click to expand...
Good advice IMO.
 
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#32
As a crude approximation you can reckon that speaker area is what gets you volume. So if you add one 12 to four 10s that's not going to do much. A 2x12 on the other hand, should certainly make it's presence felt. If there's budget but not space you might consider leaving the 410 and taking a pair of 8ohm 2x12s, which would be a useful increment. I do tend to the feeling though that if the 410 doesn't cut the mustard it might be more beneficial to get the rest of the band to turn down.
 
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#34
DJ Bebop said:
The TC maybe a nice amp but if your mini road trip lands you more gigs like that I would consider one of their larger heads that would put out a little more power at the 8 ohm threshold like the BH550 or something else like a Hartke.
Click to expand...
I ended up selling the BH250 and am gonna grab a BQ500.

I'd get the BH550 but i can't seem to find them in any shops and I've gotten my pedal collection to a point where i don't really need the toneprint function anymore.

I think the BH550 might be discontinued?

If i start getting many more shows i'd likely go for a more featured head, or bust out the SWR Mo' Bass which has been sitting in a flight case for over a decade

Thanks for the info, lads.
 
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