Here's my question. I have a rumble 200 combo amp and a rumble 500. I want to drive the speaker in the 200 with the extension speaker output of the 500. If I just wire in a 1/4" jack to the 200 speaker and leave the amp of the 200 turned off will it damage the amp since the speaker is still connected to it? I want to still be able to use the 200 as a combo at other times. I hope this makes sense.
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Adding speaker input to combo amp
- Thread starter jaywyatt
- Start date
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,068
- 5
- 221,132
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Yes, you will likely damage both amps.
There must be no connection whatsoever between the two amps.
There must be no connection whatsoever between the two amps.
LOL, Andy showed up while I was typing.
I was going to suggest running a signal cable from the FX send of one amp, to the FX return of the other, but will defer to the expert on whether this is the optimum solution.
I was going to suggest running a signal cable from the FX send of one amp, to the FX return of the other, but will defer to the expert on whether this is the optimum solution.
Yup. You need to disconnect the combo's speaker from its amp if you're going to use it as an extension speaker. One way to accomplish this is to add a short, captive speaker output cable and plug to the output of the combo amp, along with a mating speaker input jack. Then you can unplug the amp from the internal speaker when you want to use it as just a speaker cab.
Thanks for the reply. I wasn't sure. Don't want to damage anything. So I would need to install a switch of some type to disconnect the speaker from the amp portion if I want to go this route?
The method I suggested would be more foolproof than a simple 'disconnect' switch, since only one amp output could be plugged into the combo speaker at a time.
I'd posit it would be far cheaper to simply buy a Rumble extension cabinet than to roll the dice cooking your 500 and 200.
It would drive both speakers, but each one through its own power amp.
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,068
- 5
- 221,132
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
Agreed.
I see a lot of amps out there that have been damaged because somebody made the wrong assumptions, not knowing as much as needed to modify their gear.
Yes I will do the method you mentioned. I can see that the switch may not get switched and cause damage.
You could consider selling the Rumble 200 and get a Rumble 210 cab so you will have all the same size speakers as your Rumble 500. More speakers equals more sound and this is what your after. The idea of using a 10 in speaker cab and a 15 cab seemed like a good idea but many players found that using all the same size speakers created a more even and consistent sound as opposed to using a 210 and 15 combination due to the different frequency characteristics and timing development of the sound waves. That Rumble 200 also makes a great practice amp at home if you rehearse away from your house so you could still keep it.
You could install 2 female 1/4" jacks to the back of the combo - attach the lead from the amp to the top jack and attach the internal speaker to the bottom jack. Make a short cable and plug into both to use as a combo, or use the individual jacks to use the components separately. I did this to a Peavey TNT 130 many years ago and it served the intended purpose perfectly
- Feb 12, 2006
- 61,068
- 5
- 221,132
- Disclosures
- Development Engineer-Mesa Boogie, Development Engineer-Genzler (pedals), Product Support-Genz Benz
There must be no continuity between the two jacks, including the sleeve connections. This mean that if the jack panel is metal, the jacks must be fully isolated.
I mounted them on the back of the wood cabinet using the Peavey jack cups - and I had them labeled. Ran the original speaker cable to the upper jack, and connected the speaker to the bottom jack. Made a very short speaker cable with 90 degree phone plugs to connect when used as a combo.
I've done that with an open back guitar combo once: Remove the speaker cable at the speaker, and solder a 1/4" jack at the end. Solder a female 1/4" plug to another cable and attach that to the speaker. Close the connection for normal operation, pull it apart to use the speaker without the amp.
Pro: You can't leave the amp plugged in by accident because to access the speaker, you need to sever the connection.
Con: This works not too well with closed back combos.
Pro: You can't leave the amp plugged in by accident because to access the speaker, you need to sever the connection.
Con: This works not too well with closed back combos.
Augh! Don't do that! It's gonna damage one or both amps!
YES! This is the Fender endorsed safe way to connect two Rumble combos used by a lot of the hundreds of members of the TalkBass Fender Rumble Club. Plug your bass into the Input of whichever amp has the instrument cable plugged into the FX Send. That amp will completely control everything about the other amp, none of it's controls will function at all! The R200c will still output up to 140 watts, as usual, and the R500c will still output up to 350 watts, as usual, no matter which is the slave or master.
I did the effects send / return route and was not happy with the sound sounded kind of out of phase or something not sure why. Possibly the difference in power going to each cabinet? Anyway, I did the mod and it sounds awesome! No damage to either of the amps. Now it has 250 Watts going to each cabinet and sounds better.
