• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

External Speaker option

Sorry to hear that! I just picked up an HA2500 off eBay for $180. Really nice amp for the price. Good luck with your search for an amp, hope that tech can get your Ampeg back in order.
 
If you're playing in a band that's loud enough to mic the kick drum, but not playing venues with PA, then you absolutely need something big enough to keep up -- forget about 150-watt (and smaller??) combos and extension speakers. A head and cab is the logical path, but meanwhile, try to make do with the BA115HP if that proves repairable. Then marshal your resources while you keep diligently seeking a used head and cab. If you could find an older Peavey amp and a PV 215 cab, that could be a great score on your budget. Alternatively, as has been mentioned, there tend to be more 410 cabs in the used market as folks upgrade.

I know your area pretty well -- there was a boatload of PV gear sold into that market in the late 70s, 80s, and 90s, and almost all of it is still serviceable. There should be something out there in the wild that would work for you. I'd consider putting a listing in the 'musical instruments - for sale' section of the local Craigslist saying you're looking to buy a bass amp and emphasize that you're on a tight budget without actually saying what your top dollar is. Then try to negotiate with any responders that exceed your budget. I don't cruise CL as much as I used to (my GAS is thoroughly quenched), but I used to see ads here -- admittedly a larger market -- where it seemed as if the seller was 'highly motivated', as they say in real estate.

And keep in mind that you'd be able to sell the Ampeg if it's working and recover your repair investment at the very least. I know all too well how it is to be scrambling and trying to do things without sufficient scratch -- patience is even more important in that situation. Good luck with it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CallMeAl
What a bummer. Maybe they got busy and you’ll hear back.

that 140 head might work, but seems kinda low to me. I’d shoot for a 350 head, ideally 500w. (Heads are typically advertised/named after their 4ohm rating. 500w head will typically put 350w into 8 ohms.)

A 4 ohm cab will give you more output than a comparable 8ohm cab. The benefit of 8 ohm is running 2 cabs together. 2 8 ohm cabs run a 4 ohm load. So for your situation a single 4 ohm 410 sounds like the best bang for the buck (but then you can only run one.) some heads can run at 2 ohms (2 x 4 ohm cabs) but you gotta look at the manuals.

in the meantime, get that 115 up
Off the floor, roll down bass EQ and roll up the mids for increased cutting power. I used to have the 100w version of that amp, it got quite loud!

Keep at it, there’s something out there for you!
 
If you're playing in a band that's loud enough to mic the kick drum, but not playing venues with PA, then you absolutely need something big enough to keep up -- forget about 150-watt (and smaller??) combos and extension speakers. A head and cab is the logical path, but meanwhile, try to make do with the BA115HP if that proves repairable. Then marshal your resources while you keep diligently seeking a used head and cab. If you could find an older Peavey amp and a PV 215 cab, that could be a great score on your budget. Alternatively, as has been mentioned, there tend to be more 410 cabs in the used market as folks upgrade.

I know your area pretty well -- there was a boatload of PV gear sold into that market in the late 70s, 80s, and 90s, and almost all of it is still serviceable. There should be something out there in the wild that would work for you. I'd consider putting a listing in the 'musical instruments - for sale' section of the local Craigslist saying you're looking to buy a bass amp and emphasize that you're on a tight budget without actually saying what your top dollar is. Then try to negotiate with any responders that exceed your budget. I don't cruise CL as much as I used to (my GAS is thoroughly quenched), but I used to see ads here -- admittedly a larger market -- where it seemed as if the seller was 'highly motivated', as they say in real estate.

And keep in mind that you'd be able to sell the Ampeg if it's working and recover your repair investment at the very least. I know all too well how it is to be scrambling and trying to do things without sufficient scratch -- patience is even more important in that situation. Good luck with it.
 
I am not that familiar with craigslist. I used to use it and BackPage.com for commercial company years ago when I drove truck. Was safer than the CB and the quality of said company was bar far better. But my time constraints are less than 7 days I cannot assume that the Ampeg will be fixed by then. So, I will be ordering something today. So as i can have it by Friday. I have found a Behringer Ultrabass BX4500H Bass Amp Head that fits in my budget now I am searching for a cabinet also. My problem is every one I find I can't seem to find any specifications on them. Which is very frustrating because I need to handle this today. so back to the search. I've been using Musicians Friend and I pit in my query used bass cabinets and in search keeps coming up Items that are listed guitar cab even trying manufactures site nothing. No Ohm ratings no wattage ratings nothing that gives me a beginner enough to satisfy my limited knowledge.
 

Attachments

  • upload_2021-5-2_9-51-32.png
    upload_2021-5-2_9-51-32.png
    1.2 MB · Views: 25
What a bummer. Maybe they got busy and you’ll hear back.

that 140 head might work, but seems kinda low to me. I’d shoot for a 350 head, ideally 500w. (Heads are typically advertised/named after their 4ohm rating. 500w head will typically put 350w into 8 ohms.)

A 4 ohm cab will give you more output than a comparable 8ohm cab. The benefit of 8 ohm is running 2 cabs together. 2 8 ohm cabs run a 4 ohm load. So for your situation a single 4 ohm 410 sounds like the best bang for the buck (but then you can only run one.) some heads can run at 2 ohms (2 x 4 ohm cabs) but you gotta look at the manuals.

in the meantime, get that 115 up
Off the floor, roll down bass EQ and roll up the mids for increased cutting power. I used to have the 100w version of that amp, it got quite loud!

Keep at it, there’s something out there for you!
That 115 is an awesome amp. I've had it 5 years in that time I have jammed with friends at not real a band but just jam sessions. Though we did play quite a few summer backyard parties a few graduation parties for friends kids a wedding or two. Where multiple musicians would rotate in and out. It was plenty loud enough. Yeah, I built a stand that not only lifts it off floor a little but also angles it back a tad.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CallMeAl
Well I have too get this handled. He hasn't answered me in 24 hours I found thus head Ultrabass BX4500H Bass Amp Head which seems to be what i need i also found a few cabinets This one in particular Behringer Ultrastack BG412H 4x12 Guitar Cabinet has me confused as to its Ohm rating; I think 12's maybe not what I'm looking for. But the description is more what i'd like to know what they mean. Also, i searched bass cabinets this comes up in query but its description is a guitar cab.
 
From what I gathered on the web, that cab has 4 x 16-ohm drivers and is set up to either run as a series/parallel combination as one 16-ohm load, or it can be split into two 2 x 12, 8-ohm halves. That implies that it would be fairly easy to actually use it as an all-parallel 4-ohm load with a minimal amount of effort -- either with a simple internal wiring modification, or using two speaker cables plugged into the parallel outputs of your amp...which I'm presuming it does have.

Of course, that doesn't change the fact that it is NOT a bass cab...and given Behringer's reputation for performance, I wouldn't expect that it would work all that well for that purpose.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Donald Wormuth
From what I gathered on the web, that cab has 4 x 16-ohm drivers and is set up to either run as a series/parallel combination as one 16-ohm load, or it can be split into two 2 x 12, 8-ohm halves. That implies that it would be fairly easy to actually use it as an all-parallel 4-ohm load with a minimal amount of effort -- either with a simple internal wiring modification, or using two speaker cables plugged into the parallel outputs of your amp...which I'm presuming it does have.

Of course, that doesn't change the fact that it is NOT a bass cab...and given Behringer's reputation for performance, I wouldn't expect that it would work all that well for that purpose.
Thank you for the information I understand what it means now. I just never seen a cab that said 16 ohms. not that i rally have been doing this long. I always just dealt with combos' easier to just plug and play. Just now have advanced beyond those. Need something bigger with upgrade options. Like speaker configs.
 
Yeah, I hadn't seen that before either, but it's not a terrible idea. It sort of looks to me like that cab is aimed at folks that want to do a full 2-cab stack but don't really have a monster amp.

I did do a search of the local CL in Waco, and there really was damn little there...nothing at all in the way of bass amps. I did see a Behringer head with a 4 x 12 BASS cab for $300, but it was in Brenham.

Just for the record, CL doesn't really have a... uhmmm..., 'commercial company' section anymore. :D
 
Last edited:
I looked my problem is transportation our vehicle is not so good. Otherwise, I'd of went too Dallas and grabbed that other one. But he finally got back to me on that other deal. Said he would deliver either Wednesday or Thursday. Which is cutting it really close for my comfort I have to have this handled being our first gig. I even checked on a rental GC didn't have anything. And i just moved here last September don't know anyone yet in scene to borrow back home it be no problem. Don't want to cancel or have any problems will look bad you know what i mean. Booking agent may say FU if we cancel or lose credibility as to being reliable. I've been using a Marshall 1/2 stack and guitar head for practice through it works tone is horrible. Even using a compression pedal and a preamp eq pedal. Just can't get that low. Plus, I'm turned down a lot as to not blow-up speakers. Though playing Motorhead it sounds badass. I heard somewhere that Lemmy played through a guitar head and Amp.
 
I sent you the link to that Behringer rig in post #5.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

The head is a BX4500h, but the pictured cabinet is a BB410, not a BG412H. The BG412H is a guitar cabinet in all-black with a slanted upper half. It is not a good solution for bass. The BB410 is a 4 ohms cabinet with a claimed 1200 watts RMS capability.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
  • Like
Reactions: Donald Wormuth
Well, Got the Ampeg back it was n OP amp fried replaced it. Works great I forget how loud it is. Not often i get to crank it up even at 7 she's got some power. So, Wednesday or Thursday Hartke HA2500 bass amp 250 watt
Seismic 400-watt 2x10 Cabinet - Seismic 300-watt 1x15 Cabinet - will be delivered. I'm getting there and I am going to also wire the Ampeg so i can use it as another cabinet if needed. Will have to research it to find out exactly how and if i can use the 2 15's together.
 
Well, Got the Ampeg back it was n OP amp fried replaced it. Works great I forget how loud it is. Not often i get to crank it up even at 7 she's got some power. So, Wednesday or Thursday Hartke HA2500 bass amp 250 watt
Seismic 400-watt 2x10 Cabinet - Seismic 300-watt 1x15 Cabinet - will be delivered. I'm getting there and I am going to also wire the Ampeg so i can use it as another cabinet if needed. Will have to research it to find out exactly how and if i can use the 2 15's together.
See my post #6 about BA115 and external cabinet: no go.
 
I'm not adding a external speaker. I'm going to use the speaker as a cabinet.
It's the other half of the same equation: you won't be able to run your 4-ohm Ampeg 'extension' speaker in parallel with another speaker cab because the parallel impedance is going to be below 4-ohms, which is probably a bigger load (lower nominal impedance) than your inexpensive amp is going to be able to handle. Plus there's the issue of two parallel loads with unequal impedances and single vs. multiple drivers...the point is, your 4-ohm, single 15 'extension cab' can't contribute anything useful to the equation of your getting louder. IMHO, anyway.
 
  • Like
Reactions: abarson