backup amp question???

[SCORSON]

Hi all -

I recently joined a band and was finally forced to upgrade from my practice combo to a proper rig. I was super fortunate on craigslist and found a great deal on an ampeg 4x10 cab w/ an ampeg 1x15 sub cab and a B2R 300W solid state head. The guy I bought it from also threw in a Carvin 100W tube power amp that Im assuming could be used as a backup amp. Just not sure on how to hook it up and I really dont want to damage anything. The B2R has an input on the back that says "power amp in" but I'm not sure where to come out of the Carvin. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[anderbass]

Your B2R "Power amp in" jack doesn't work that way. This is a input made for conecting an external preamp signal directly to your Ampegs poweramp section.

Your Carvin would only function very quietly if you plugged your bass directly into its input. It needs an external preamp of some sort connected between it and your bass.

Your B2R has a "Preamp out" jack. If you connected this output to your Carvin's input, they would work together. You could either connect both your cabs to the Carvin, (always follow Carvin's speaker connection/ohm info) or each amp could now power its own cab while linked together like this.

note:
Solid state amps like your B2R dont need any speaker cabs connected when only using the Preamp out" jack like this.

Any amp thats Tube powered (like your Carvin) always need a speaker(s) of the corect ohm connected anytime they're turned on. (its very important you follow this!)

In case your Ampeg completely quit working, you'd need some sort of external preamp (some types of pedals would work) you could use with your Carvin's poweramp to have a true backup amp system here.


Here's a link to the manual of the curent version of your Ampeg:
http://www.ampeg.com/pdf/B2RE.pdf

(quote from manual)

18. POWER AMP IN: This mono jack
allows you to feed the preamp output of
another amplifier to the input of the B2RE’s
internal power amp. This bypasses the preamp
circuitry of the B2RE.
WARNING: This jack goes directly into
the power amplifier. DO NOT connect
high level signals to it!

19. PREAMP OUT: A post-EQ signal may
be taken from this jack and sent to the
house mixing board, recording console or
external power amplifier

Here's a search link for your Carvin, you should hunt down its manual (probably at the Carvin web site) and follow all speaker connection instructions very closly:
http://www.google.com/search?source...US_enUS221US222&q=Carvin+100W+tube+power+amp+

Just so you dont damage your amps, you'll probably want to study up on the Ohm-facts info found here too: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=144244

 

[SCORSON]

anderbass -

thanks for the info and the links. ill be sure to read up on all that info before i do anything. Thanks again!!

 

[kosmicwizard]

Is your 4x10 an HE or HLF? I think it is probably a HE, but I want to ask to make sure. The B2r is NEVER going to drive those cabs in a way that will make you happy. The guy you bought the rig from probably used the Carvin as a power amp and the B2r as a pre ... If/when you try your rig out in this way, you will get the best that you can from this setup, WHEN you are unsatisfied with it, sell the 2 heads and get an SLM Era Ampeg B4r it will happily drive both of these cabs and you will be a happy camper. Cheers.