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Getting SO lost...

K

kjvanek

Mar 12, 2014
8
0
#1
I've been a bassist for a while and have always had combos. My favorite was my Fender Rumble 100 1x15. Unfortunately, it's recently broken. Specifically the electronics/"head" part. The cab/speaker are still perfectly fine, so I essentially have a 1x15 150w 4 ohm cab (as far as I can tell, based on interwebz research) sitting in my basement.

So I figured I'd leave the "combo" world and try the "head+cab" route. I've done nonstop research for the past few days on how to power this thing, and I just can't figure it out. From what I can tell, I'd need a 100w 4 ohm head? But these don't seem to exist, except in tube form - but those watts are different? Idk.

So how do I get this guy running? Or is it a lost cause? Or am I missing something obvious?

Thanks in advance.

Context: I play at church and at home. Church has it's own amp, and I'm discouraged from bringing my own, so this repurposed cab would really only be a "home" thing. So it can look as frankensteiny as it needs to. I realize I could just CL a combo, but DIY-Ing this sounds like fun, assuming I can get my head around it.

Also, idk if this helps, but I play an Ibanez SR375. So it has an active preamp.
 
#3
Combo speaker sections tend to be a compromise between Engineering and Marketing. IOW not that good a design. If the cable to the cabinet has a standard plug you can simply plug it into an amplifier. Be wary of the drivers 4Ω rating as most SS amps will output their maximum power into that impedance.
 
#4
BassmanPaul said:
Combo speaker sections tend to be a compromise between Engineering and Marketing. IOW not that good a design. If the cable to the cabinet has a standard plug you can simply plug it into an amplifier. Be wary of the drivers 4Ω rating as most SS amps will output their maximum power into that impedance.
Click to expand...

So wait - currently it's just got the speaker wires - I'm assuming I'll have to connect those to a jack I can plug into an amp?

And what's there to be wary about re: 4 ohms, if my speaker is also 4 ohms?
 
#5
I'd ditch it. It's probably not a great cab to begin with so there's not much value in it once the head is dead. Picking up something used instead will give you a much better cab in the end.

Plus, I'm not sure where you're expecting to plug in a new head. Surely the speaker doesn't have an external input jack of any kind. You'd be looking at wiring one up yourself. Too much work.

Haunt the local music store and look for a used 2x10 or 1x15 or even a high quality 1x12. Then pick yourself up a head to power it with. These cabs will almost certainly be 8 ohm. So if you bought, say, my amp...the GK MB500... It has 500w @ 4 ohms and only about half that at 8 ohms. Which is all to the good because you could never really put 500w through a single 15.
 
#6
kjvanek said:
what's there to be wary about re: 4 ohms, if my speaker is also 4 ohms?
Click to expand...

You're just likely to wind up with an amp head that could--if you aren't careful with your volume knob--vastly overpower that single speaker.

There's really no danger if you are careful not to crank it up beyond what the speaker can handle.
 
#7
Ok I see, that makes sense. I'll probably follow your advice on this and go 'used' cab+head. I was just really hoping I could do something cool with a former-favorite... But it sounds like it'd just be too much square-peg round-hole, eh?
 
#8
kjvanek said:
Ok I see, that makes sense. I'll probably follow your advice on this and go 'used' cab+head. I was just really hoping I could do something cool with a former-favorite... But it sounds like it'd just be too much square-peg round-hole, eh?
Click to expand...

If you liked the tone of that cab and it provided adequate spl for your needs, don't give up just yet. Your idea was sound and pretty easy. Just pick up a GK MB200, TC Electronic BH250 or a Carvin BX-250. If you continue your current playing habits (style, volume, tone), which you were able to get from the built-in Fender 100w amp, you are very unlikely to overpower your speaker. You're going to need a short cable with connectors or you could just put a connector on the end of the speaker wire. Take the fender amp out and slip the new one in.
 
#12
kjvanek said:
This would be the correct approach to finishing the cab-job on my custom Rumble?

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1068679
Click to expand...

That's the idea. But don't mount the speaker jack that way. Put it on a square of masonite, and mount that behind a 2-3 inch round hole in the back panel. Much sturdier.

The Carvin BX250 is a remarkable product in this price range. Nice clean sound with very flexible EQ due to semi-parametric lo and hi mids. The GK and TC Electronic are also excellent heads in this price & power range. They have a little tone baked in that many like, and the TC has down-loadable models. The new Fender Rumble 200 head may soon (end of March?) be a formidable contender as well.
 
#13
So mount any old speaker jack on the cab, wire it to the speaker, and plug in a 3 ft 16 gauge 1/4" speaker cable, and I'll be ready for a head?

... ... ...And then just wait until I "accidentally" blow the cab and "have to" go out and get a new one (haha).

Starting to understand scottfeldstein's approach.
 
#17
kjvanek said:
So mount any old speaker jack on the cab, wire it to the speaker, and plug in a 3 ft 16 gauge 1/4" speaker cable, and I'll be ready for a head?

... ... ...And then just wait until I "accidentally" blow the cab and "have to" go out and get a new one (haha).

Starting to understand scottfeldstein's approach.
Click to expand...

Well, there is something to be said for just 'ditching' the Fender and getting something new/better. However, you won't come near the spl and sound quality of the Fender/Carvin (GK or TC) for the cost of the new head, a couple feet of 16 ga wire, and a couple connectors.

If you are intimidated by the prospect of making a speaker cable or making a hole in the back panel, this may not be for you. OTOH, if you are worried about the possibility of blowing the Fender speaker, consider if that would happen you could just put a better driver in the cab. Up and playing in no time. Or, just buy a nice new cab to go with one of those great heads.

Many ways forward - all fun.
 
#19
I think I'm up for soldering. And cutting and drilling. I've ordered a jack and a speakon cable, and I think I'm going to go with the tc electronic bh250. The fun factor's really getting to me. Any amp that involves an app and magical data transfer through my bass must be experienced.

I'm assuming that if I upgrade my current driver, since I already understand ohms, I'll have to make a decision about watts? Whiiiiiiiiiiich I gather based on other threads is a major can of worms?
 
#20
There are plenty of 15 inch drivers that will handle 250w, so the power handling is not really an issue. The field will be considerably smaller after you sort for drivers that will work in your cab. If you like low bass (if you usually or frequently boost the bass) you will need a driver that will handle the required excursion. That will narrow the field a little more, but there will still be a fair number of drivers to choose from. You may even want to consider a 12 inch driver…

Then again, that Fender 15 may last quite a while. :>)

Good luck!
 

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