Genz Benz Shuttle Max Mixing Cab Impedance

[dcbee81]

I just bought a Genz Benz Shuttle Max 12.0 and it came with a Eden 2x10 8ohm speaker cab, which i’m connecting to the Speaker A output.

I have a 1x15 speaker cab i was going to connect to the Speaker B output. I dont know the rated power of this speaker but it is part of a Warwick CCL 250W combo so i’m guessing it is 250-300W. Unfortunately it is a 4 ohm speaker which means thd genz benz can put out 600W on that channel.

To me it seems if i crank the amp and it puts out 375W on the A channel and 600W on the B channel i’m likely to damage the 1X15.

Any practical tips on how i could make this work or is it just a bad idea?

 

[walterw]

Any practical tips on how i could make this work or is it just a bad idea?

it's not the greatest idea, there doesn't seem to be any way to adjust the volume of the two power amp outputs separately.

if there were i could suggest turning the side with the 15" way down so it doesn't get too much power, but absent that there's no way to really control it, you could end up exploding the 15 before the 2x10 starts to sound good. even if you could, chances are a cheaper 4Ω 15" won't get that loud before it starts to get in trouble, so even trying to balance the cabs by ear would be risky

you got a monster amp there, it may just be time to get a cab or cabs that'll do it justice (you could do a lot worse than a second matching eden 2x10 cab)

 

[dcbee81]

Thanks mate, confirms my suspicion.

I’m keen to fill out the lower end with a 1x15, there are a bunch of 8 ohm 300-400W second hand options out there, i was just hoping to utilise the 1x15 I already had - it was a sad moment when i popped the multimeter on it and measured 4 ohms

 

[agedhorse]

What did it measure exactly? It shouldn't have measured 4 ohms DCR.

Warwick made both a 4 ohm combo (no extension speaker jack) and 8 ohm combo (has an extension cabinet jack). It's critical to know what you have first.

Also, never plug an amp into a combo speaker that still connected to the combo's internal amp, that's a good way to badly damage one or both amps. To answer your next question, no, it doesn't matter if the combo's amp is switched off or unplugged from the power source.

 

[dcbee81]

3.9 ohms, leads on my multimeter measured 0.2ohms (dont know how to zero my multimeter) so speaker is 3.7ohms.

Measured it by disconnecting the lead coming out of the speaker box and testing it at the 1/4 inch connector.

 

[dcbee81]

And there is no speaker ext jack on mine, looks like there is a blanked port next to the amp input jack.

 

[agedhorse]

Ok, maybe you should look for an 8 ohm cabinet then. That would be a better choice.

 

[dcbee81]

Yeah I think so.

Only other option i can think of is using the DI out on the shuttle max and running it to the input of the Warwick amp.

Obviously going to result in quite a different sound and its not utilising the GB amp to the max but any major issue with that technically?

Might be an interim solution if its not going to cause major problems?

 

[agedhorse]

2 practical options, the first is to use the tuner output into the instrument input of the combo. The other is to use the master effects send into the effects return of the combo.

 

[dcbee81]

Great, thanks agedhorse! Will give that a try, who knows - it may be all I need!

Loving the GB amp btw, I hear you were part of that team. Great work.

 

[agedhorse]

I designed the Shuttle and ShuttleMax line.

If you need an owners manual, message me.

 

[walterw]

I’m keen to fill out the lower end with a 1x15

that's a whole other thing!

don't assume a 15 has more low end than say that 2x10 you already have, because it may not; it could even have less

a quick search on TB for "mixing cabs" or "4x10 plus 1x15" will bring up a million threads explaining why that isn't usually a great idea, and why if you want multiple cabs, the safest bet is finding a cab that you think sounds good and getting two of them

 

[dcbee81]

Good advice, thank you.

Im glad ive got a way to test the theory, before forking out for another cab.

Ive had the warwick combo nearly my entire bass-playing life. Separate amps and cabs is an whole new game for me.

 

[dcbee81]

2 practical options, the first is to use the tuner output into the instrument input of the combo. The other is to use the master effects send into the effects return of the combo.

I take it both options provide a signal that has not been coloured by the pre-amp channels, is that right?

 

[dcbee81]

I designed the Shuttle and ShuttleMax line.

If you need an owners manual, message me.

Well its a great amp - kudos!

A manual would be great, have found it on manualslib but a consolidated pdf would be awesome.

 

[agedhorse]

I take it both options provide a signal that has not been coloured by the pre-amp channels, is that right?

No, the master effects send is the combined channel 1 & 2 based on the channel select and mix switches.

The tuner output is pre-everything, it’s essentially an active split of the input signal.

 

[dcbee81]

Oh sweet, will have a play with both, thanks

 

[baxter_x]

the first is to use the tuner output into the instrument input of the combo.

I just learned another thing today.

 

[Nebadon2000]

I would recommend if you hookup like agedhorse suggested

Start with Combo volume off then start playing using 2x10 only and slowly bring up volume of combo until you perceive to get fuller bass
and it blends with 2x10 as to not blur or muddy overall tone

You may have to lower bass on Genz Benz and lower mid/highs on combo

 

[dcbee81]

I would recommend if you hookup like agedhorse suggested

Start with Combo volume off then start playing using 2x10 only and slowly bring up volume of combo until you perceive to get fuller bass
and it blends with 2x10 as to not blur or muddy overall tone

You may have to lower bass on Genz Benz and lower mid/highs on combo

Yes, good advice. I had a quick play with it tonight and more or less used that technique.

Its a bit of a clunky setup, every time you adjust level you need to adjust and rebalance both amps. Might give it a go with the band on friday to see if its practical but I can foresee it being a pain in the can potentially