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extension cab?

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by rockapede, Jul 21, 2003.

  1. Jul 21, 2003 #1
    rockapede

    rockapede

    Sep 5, 2002
    Marshfield, MO
    Well I feel rather stupid. I decided it was time for a new amp and went to Music City in Springfield. Couldn't afford a half stack or whatever, so I played around with a few combos and decided I loved the tone of the Fender Bassman 100. It also SEEMED sufficiently loud when I was playing by myself in the store. I go to rehearsal with my new toy and find it is not nearly as loud as I had thought when I am playing with a volume-happy guitarist and a bangin' drummer. I don't really want to sell the amp or anything because I love the tone, but I was wondering if it wold be possible for me to use a Bassman 115H cab as an extension cab. Would my Bassman 100 be able to handle it and would it make that much difference?
    Thanks in advance.
     
  2. Jul 21, 2003 #2
    Piezoman

    Piezoman

    Nov 29, 2002
    Bronx, New York
    I wouldnt get a 15. It wont cut through as nice as the 10's. If you want the bass though, get the 12'. THeyll be punchier than the 15 and deeper than the 10's.

    Does ampeg make a 2x12? Youre prolly better off with the 2x10 or sumtin.

    What speex does the amp have now.
     
  3. Jul 21, 2003 #3
    rockapede

    rockapede

    Sep 5, 2002
    Marshfield, MO
    It's nothing big, 100w, 15" driver w/a horn, bottom ported, so I realize it's not going to be really loud or anything, but I've heard other 15" combos with similar power that seemed a lot louder.
     
  4. Jul 21, 2003 #4
    rumblethump

    rumblethump

    Mar 25, 2000
    Pioneer CA. 95666
    Does your amp have and extension speaker out? The
    biggest complaint I've heard about the early bassman series is that there was no ext speaker jack. If you do have one, be sure to find out the minimum ohms that the amp will run at and what your current speaker(s) ohms are. Then you can determine what ohm ext speaker you will need.
     
  5. Jul 21, 2003 #5
    rockapede

    rockapede

    Sep 5, 2002
    Marshfield, MO
    Btw, I like having a down low, B-string rumble and that's why I got a 15"; just suits my style.
     
  6. Jul 21, 2003 #6
    rockapede

    rockapede

    Sep 5, 2002
    Marshfield, MO
    I just looked at my amp, and now I'm stumped, because there isn't an extension output. There's a tuner out, an effects loop, and a balanced xlr output, but no extension. That doesn't make any sense whatsoever, because even the little crappy squier amp that came with my first bass had one.
     
  7. Jul 21, 2003 #7
    rumblethump

    rumblethump

    Mar 25, 2000
    Pioneer CA. 95666
    How long have you had the amp? If less than 30 days, some music stores will take them back. I would explain to your salesman the problems you have found with it and see if you can exchange it for something that will better suit your situation. 100 watts is not going to cut it with a loud drummer and guitar. 300 watts is probably a minimum. I also like 15s, but 10s will round out your mids which is mostly what your audience hears anyway. I use both together with my 5 string. :D
     
  8. Jul 21, 2003 #8
    rockapede

    rockapede

    Sep 5, 2002
    Marshfield, MO
    Yeah I'll see if there is a 30 day policy. For now I'm just running the xlr out into the PA and using the amp mainly for a monitor, which has been working well, so I may just stick with that.
    thanks
     
  9. Jul 21, 2003 #9
    rockapede

    rockapede

    Sep 5, 2002
    Marshfield, MO
    Don't get me wrong though, the bassman is a really nice amp with lots of tone-shaping tools for the price...it's just not as loud as I (stupidly) thought it would be.
     
  10. Jul 21, 2003 #10
    rumblethump

    rumblethump

    Mar 25, 2000
    Pioneer CA. 95666
    You might try putting the amp up on a stand closer to your ears. If you really like the tone
    I'm pretty sure that Fender now has a Bassman 300 watt head that has more than one speaker output jack. ;)
     
  11. Jul 21, 2003 #11
    Mcrelly

    Mcrelly

    Jun 16, 2003
    Minnesota, USA
    for a while I played in my basement with a drummer and guitar and keyboards. he wasn't a really loud drummer or guitar, but I didn't get usable volume until I had 100w and two 10s, MINIMUM! we didn't have a p.a., but if that works for you? great!

    I agree with the others if you can get a head about 300watts min and at least a couple of 10s or 12s, my new favorite speaker size since I like lows and don't like to carry anything real heavy.

    I am almost conviced that unless you are in a small jazz group or little church band setup an average bass combo (0-100w, 1 speaker) WON'T cut it on stage and should only really be used as a SOLO practice amp.

    good luck!
     
  12. Jul 21, 2003 #12
    Petebass

    Petebass

    Dec 22, 2002
    QLD Australia
    Not all combo's have an extension output. What's happening here is that Fender have used an amp that runs at a 4 ohm minimum load, and attached a 4 ohm speaker to it to maximise the output wattage. If you add an extension speaker, the load drops below 4 ohms and the amp will fry itself. That's why they haven't included an extension speaker output.

    Some combo's use an 8 ohm speaker instead. This robs the combo of some watts, but allows for future extansion cabs. A second 8 ohm speaker will result in an overall load of 4 ohms, right where the amp likes it.

    I say swap it for something more useful.