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Can I put a different head on my bass cab

D

Demivelvetlove

Feb 16, 2022
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#1
Hey,

So i'm new here lol. I have a Peavy 400 series and 2x15 peavy cab. I want to get a different head to use with my 2x15 cab because the current Peavy has a death cap on it and I don't have enough time to get it fixed before my next tour. Im not the best at techy stuff. Is there anything I should or shouldn't do when looking for a new bass head or any restrictions? Let me know! Thanks!
 
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#2
Never, ever mix heads and cabs! And by that I mean, absolutely do what you like and can afford. I ran a Yamaha head into Radio Shack drivers, and for years I used an Ampeg head with Peavey cabs.

There is one very important consideration: the power rating (Watts) and impedance (Ohms) of your speaker cab. A typical Peavey 2x15 cab would be 4 Ohms, and anywhere from 200 to 800 watts depending on the version. Just make sure whatever head you get is rated for similar wattage as the cab at that ohm load.

As far as which head to get, that's a combination of budget and preference. For touring you'll want to consider reliability as well. But ask a dozen bassists and you'll get 2 dozen answers of which amp to buy; I'm partial to Ampeg and Yamaha myself but I've used Peavey and Gallien-Kruger as well.
 
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#3
Demivelvetlove said:
Hey,

So i'm new here lol. I have a Peavy 400 series and 2x15 peavy cab. I want to get a different head to use with my 2x15 cab because the current Peavy has a death cap on it and I don't have enough time to get it fixed before my next tour. Im not the best at techy stuff. Is there anything I should or shouldn't do when looking for a new bass head or any restrictions? Let me know! Thanks!
Click to expand...
Never mix brands, it's a recipe for disaster. Both you and the crowd might enjoy it.
 
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#4
All jokes aside, you can mix brands at will with no ill affects.
+1 for what @gtlover wrote about knowing your power handling and load of your cabinet. All the Peavey 215's I've seen are 4 ohms, but it's best to check the label/badge on the back.
Watts are relatively cheap today, so there isn't a very good reason to cheap out on low-watt amps. Better to have more on hand than not enough.
Your Peavey 400 has built-in distortion/fuzz: is it important that your new amp have this as well? This will inform your selection.
 
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#5
Demivelvetlove said:
Hey,

So i'm new here lol. I have a Peavy 400 series and 2x15 peavy cab. I want to get a different head to use with my 2x15 cab because the current Peavy has a death cap on it and I don't have enough time to get it fixed before my next tour. Im not the best at techy stuff. Is there anything I should or shouldn't do when looking for a new bass head or any restrictions? Let me know! Thanks!
Click to expand...
Seriously, it doesn’t matter, beyond making sure whatever head you do get doesn’t overpower the drivers, and you like its features/sound. Unless there’s anal retentive aesthetics issues.
 
#6
Demivelvetlove said:
Hey,

So i'm new here lol. I have a Peavy 400 series and 2x15 peavy cab. I want to get a different head to use with my 2x15 cab because the current Peavy has a death cap on it and I don't have enough time to get it fixed before my next tour. Im not the best at techy stuff. Is there anything I should or shouldn't do when looking for a new bass head or any restrictions? Let me know! Thanks!
Click to expand...
Oh, and welcome to TB!!
 
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#7
Why the obsession with the "death cap"?

Look, man, that amp is how old? AND ITS STILL CHUGGING...

Do you like it? Those old PV amps are 99% of the time THE definition of reliable. Take it for a check up, maybe (MAYBE!) have the doctor change out the cap. Pick up a similarly powered newer amp as a backup since you're headed out on the road.

Unless there's a problem with the amp, roll with it. That thing might outlive amps that haven't even been made yet.
 
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#10
Demivelvetlove said:
Hey,

So i'm new here lol. I have a Peavy 400 series and 2x15 peavy cab. I want to get a different head to use with my 2x15 cab because the current Peavy has a death cap on it and I don't have enough time to get it fixed before my next tour. Im not the best at techy stuff. Is there anything I should or shouldn't do when looking for a new bass head or any restrictions? Let me know! Thanks!
Click to expand...
Just get another Peavey.
Takes a lick'n and keeps on tick'n.

I toured with a Mark VIII and the guitarist knocked it off the top of an 8x10... mid-song.
Never missed a beat... If I hadn't seen it happen, I never would have noticed.

I still have that head. Still works.
 
#11
Only get an amp that you are able to lift onto the cabinet.
36x10 cab.png
 
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#13
I don't know about your "death cap" or the history of reliability of your amp.

AFIK, you can pair any head with any cab with the following cautions.
- If your head has a higher rating watts rating than your cab, be careful with the volume knob. I sometimes run a single 400w cab from a 1200 watt head with no issues - I 'm just careful not to approach the high end of the volume knob. Use your ears and common sense.
- You do need make sure the head will handle the ohms rating. Most cabs that I'm aware of are wither 4 or 8 ohm. Most amps that I'm aware of can handle 4, and/or 8 ohm loads (some can handle 2 ohms). Typically 2 8 ohm cabs are paired to generate a 4ohm load. Some heads can handle multiple loads (mine can handle a 4 ohm load on speaker 1 and either 4 or 8 ohm load on speaker 2).
- I believe the cab needs to be in phase (wired the same) with your head.
- Keep in mind that tube driven heads should not be operated without a speaker attached; class D heads can be used without a load (great for headphone practice).

+1 to those that say attend to your current amp and get your self a backup head. Even "reliable" stuff can fail. I can't imagine being n the road and having to deal with an emergency gear acquisition situation. I carry a backup to local gigs.
 
#14
Demivelvetlove said:
Hey,

So i'm new here lol. I have a Peavy 400 series and 2x15 peavy cab. I want to get a different head to use with my 2x15 cab because the current Peavy has a death cap on it and I don't have enough time to get it fixed before my next tour. Im not the best at techy stuff. Is there anything I should or shouldn't do when looking for a new bass head or any restrictions? Let me know! Thanks!
Click to expand...
I switched to a GK head with a Peavey 2x15" cab. Worked like a charm!
 
#16
Demivelvetlove said:
Hey,

So i'm new here lol. I have a Peavy 400 series and 2x15 peavy cab. I want to get a different head to use with my 2x15 cab because the current Peavy has a death cap on it and I don't have enough time to get it fixed before my next tour. Im not the best at techy stuff. Is there anything I should or shouldn't do when looking for a new bass head or any restrictions? Let me know! Thanks!
Click to expand...

What is a death cap?
 
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#20
@Demivelvetlove

Are you talking about the solid state Musician/Bass 400 or the tube Classic 400? I'm assuming the former, as the Classic is much newer and could not have gone to market with either the cap or a 2-prong power cable.

The 400 had an A-series and a B-series, and according to these schematics there's a filter cap on the neutral power lead. As long as you use a proper 3-prong power cable there's only a minute likelihood of any zap hazard, which would mean that the house wiring is wrong and that's a bigger issue. Is yours a factory original 3-prong power cable or has it been butchered?

Free download Peavey Bass 400 A Series Schematics
Free download Peavey Bass 400 B Series Schematics

In other words, there's probably no good reason to remove the filter cap if you have a proper 3-prong power cable.
 

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