Help me, new member with amp and cab questions.

[Redneck_Bassist]

One other thing to consider if you're planning on buying an older amp thst isn't the newer Class D and that's available repair parts. "Agedhorse" is an engineer and Amp Designer for Mesa and he will confirm this is an ongoing problem with older amps.

When I said old I didn't mean like late 60s-90s amps, I meant like late 2000s or 2010's, so older, but not too old like my peavey 240 standard.

 

[agedhorse]

The picture you posted shows 3 new speakers plus one different speaker. I can guarantee that they are nowhere near the same in the specifications that matter. the foam surround speakers (that's what the new speakers look like from the photo) are nothing like what's used in bass cabinets, and will be by far wildly different in performance. If that's what he recommended for bass guitar, he's not a professional in any way.

How would you even know what parts need to be replaced, and why would you think this is a good idea based on your obvious knowledge level. Capacitors generally last between 40 and 100 years. This is a good way to reduce a working amp to an non-working amp though (yes, I do see this).

The impedance of the cabinet is based on the wiring... there are 3 options: parallel, series and series-parallel (or parallel-series). Each wiring method will result in a different cabinet impedance. This applies to all 410 cabinets.

You are questioning the answers from folks here who have decades of professional experience. From your responses, I am going to make the assumption that you are young? You have a lot to learn, so maybe take a class in basic (entry level) electronics as a start. Avoid hobbiest or DIY sites because often the advice you receive are from people with no more real experience than you have, but pretend to know more than they do. It's a bad way to try to learn because all you learn is incorrect things.

Also, don't state things (such as opinions) as fact when you don't know what the facts are. You may believe things to be fact, yet they can be wrong (as some of what you have previously posted). There is a difference.

Once you understand this, things will be much easier for you, and you will find that the help you receive will make a lot more sense.

Also, in post 40 you stated that you replaced the 3 blown drivers with 8 ohm and kept the remaining 8 ohm driver yet in post 15 & 16 you stated that the one good driver is 4 ohm. Which is it???

 

[SJan3]

I get what your saying with the combo and extension cab, but im not a big fan of big combo amps, mostly because all the big combo amps I've seen have gone for alot for not very much actual cab size, which I got the whole setup I have now for less than half of a used and broken rumble 500 I saw sell for and for what I need, it's either all out or barely in in terms of output, you also can't beat the reliability of the older stuff, especially peavey gear, which for me is essential because this stuff is going to get pretty beat with me owning it.

I'm not sure how, as someone who's played less than 1 year, you can opine on the reliability of old gear from decades ago. And It appears that you're more interested in the visual effect of an amp as opposed to it's performance. What you want in separates is not available for your budget unless you buy inferior gear again. You joined talkbass for help and people are trying to do just that for you. But you shoot down every legitimate recommendation.
I'm not sure there's a solution for you.

 

[Pep]

The only thing I'd like to add is most everyone on this website will offer help. In most cases, if they don't know the answers they will let someone else answer the questions or address the problems.
Don't fight this experience, learn from it.
I would also stay away from that "professional sound engineer". He's obviously overstating his qualifications and has thrown a wrench into your dilemma.

Good luck in your search to replace your equipment.

 

[shoot-r]

It appears that you're more interested in the visual effect of an amp as opposed to it's performance. What you want in separates is not available for your budget unless you buy inferior gear again.

This, ^^^^^.

And O.P., we're not picking on you, we're all guilty of choosing musical equipment with our eyes and not our ears.
It can get to be a very expensive lesson till we learn it...(Ask me how I know. )

 

[S-Bigbottom]

Live sound is a different field than home audio.

That one different speakers in a shared space is NOT working with the other three, close is not good enough. Speakers need to be exact matches when they are together in a shared space or you get cancellation (not as loud as should be in some or all frequencies) impedance swing (does not matter that they are all 8 Ohms when the juice is flowing, they have different parameters that are not met together) and the push pull that can be canceling as mentioned previously can and will eventually blow a speaker.

Wattage printed on a magnet also does not matter when placed in the cab if the parameters are not met. A box and/or port too big or too small and your 250 watt speaker turns into a 75 watt speaker. The cab and speakers work together in the Bass amplification world.

Your cab is a car driving with three wheels going forward and one going in reverse.
Four men carrying a table, three have lifted at each corner and one is pushing down.... and so on.

You need your speakers and cabs to work as a team.

 

[Hoochie Coochie Man]

I would like to say that one thing I got out of reading this thread is that if I ever decide to add a signature to my posts, it will read:

"I play solo in a large open area/stadium with tons of people cheering and yelling which is why I need tons of volume."

(With. your permission, Mr. Redneck_Bassist).

 

[rodak]

I share your affinity for old gear. I'm partial to the tuck&roll Kustoms from the 60s(I own several), but I can certainly appreciate an old Peavey as well. HOWEVER, if I were to be in a situation where I was gigging regularly, I wouldn't waste my time on old amps/speakers, but would be searching for much newer (and louder and LIGHTER) gear. You've gotten a lot of good suggestions here so far. Some might be a bit over your budget right now, but I bet you can stretch the budget upward and the gear cost downward (after much further research) until they meet. Try to visit a music store or two and try out some of the currently-available amps, you may be pleasantly surprised!

 

[Redneck_Bassist]

This, ^^^^^.

And O.P., we're not picking on you, we're all guilty of choosing musical equipment with our eyes and not our ears.
It can get to be a very expensive lesson till we learn it...(Ask me how I know. )

Yeah, but hey it was cheap and big so I had to buy it.

 

[Hoochie Coochie Man]

"Yeah, but hey it was cheap and big so I had to buy it."

Redneck_Bassist.

I wonder how many times that statement has been uttered in the course of human history while having nothing to do with amps and speaker cabinets.

 

[Pep]

Your cab is a car driving with three wheels going forward and one going in reverse.
Four men carrying a table, three have lifted at each corner and one is pushing down.... and so on.

If in fact the 3 replacement speakers have foam surround, the cab is a car driving on one wheel going forward and three going in reverse.

 

[Pep]

Yeah, but hey it was cheap and big so I had to buy it.

I hear ya! Been there, done that. I'm old so I'll start this with: "Back in the day" I owned a Fender Showman bass amp and single 15" cab. I needed more coverage and decided to buy a JBL 15" ($110 - lots of money for back then) and build a cabinet. I knew nothing about impedance, wattage, porting, etc.
I built a cabinet and covered it. It was beautiful and quite impressive looking. I tried it at home at a very low volume and it sounded fine. I blew it at the gig, so I took it back. They gave me a new one and it happened again.
I gave up, traded all of it in on a Kustom 200 with a 3-15 cab.

Lesson learned the hard way. We're just trying to steer you away from making costly errors.

 

[rodak]

I gave up, traded all of it in on a Kustom 200 with a 3-15 cab.

Now you're talkin'!

 

[Redneck_Bassist]

I share your affinity for old gear. I'm partial to the tuck&roll Kustoms from the 60s(I own several), but I can certainly appreciate an old Peavey as well. HOWEVER, if I were to be in a situation where I was gigging regularly, I wouldn't waste my time on old amps/speakers, but would be searching for much newer (and louder and LIGHTER) gear. You've gotten a lot of good suggestions here so far. Some might be a bit over your budget right now, but I bet you can stretch the budget upward and the gear cost downward (after much further research) until they meet. Try to visit a music store or two and try out some of the currently-available amps, you may be pleasantly surprised!

Yeah, I usually don't have the time to go to music stores and try stuff but I will try to find time. I also don't really care about it being light or portable if anything i want the opposite because I like gear thats bulit like bricks so it can't break it very easily.

 

[Bass Jones]

If you don't mind old and heavy there are quite a few 410s that were top of the line back in the day and would do better than some of those lower powered old ones but aren't any more expensive now that they're all considered dinosaurs.

Here are just a few at GC. They're all pushing 80+ lbs so shipping is gonna add some $$. But any of these would handle quite a bit more than the Peavey or Laney. Shipped to your door and if anything's wrong with them GC will take them back and refund shipping charge.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Used Genz Benz XB Bass Cabinet | Guitar Center

For greater savings check out our Used Genz Benz XB Bass Cabinet and get a great deal today!

www.guitarcenter.com

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Pep]

Now you're talkin'!

. . . . and eventually sold it to buy a new Kustom 250 with two 2-15 cabs. One of those cabs had a 250 watt slave amp in it so I ended up with 500 watts.
I loved it and it lasted me for about 10 years before I went with a Peavey stack with a Black widow 18 on the bottom, a Black Widow15 stacked on it and powered by a Mark IV head.

 

[Pep]

Yeah, I usually don't have the time to go to music stores and try stuff but I will try to find time. I also don't really care about it being light or portable if anything i want the opposite because I like gear thats bulit like bricks so it can't break it very easily.

You really need to go places to try out stuff. If you have a Music-Go-Round near you thst would be a great place to start. They have loads of used amps and cabs with lots of older stuff. You don't need to buy there unless you want to because you can sometimes find it cheaper from an individual.

 

[Michedelic]

When I said old I didn't mean like late 60s-90s amps, I meant like late 2000s or 2010's, so older, but not too old like my peavey 240 standard.

Just curious, have you checked on what's in Branson or Joplin? Looked on CL? I saw where you mentioned you don't have time/wherewithal to go on a gear safari, but, if you do, how about a quick trip over to Tulsa or up to KC(my hometown; Music Gear, Bentley's, Big Dude's, and a Palen's on the Kansas side, then three GC's), plus Butler Music on the way there in Harrisonville. There's also some cool little stores just over the state line in Lawrence, KS(Richard's or Mass Street Music in particular).
If I were you, I'd just get rid of all that stuff and start over.

 

[6thplanet]

Of course he doesn't have time to check out stuff, the screaming fans await!!

 

[Redneck_Bassist]

If you don't mind old and heavy there are quite a few 410s that were top of the line back in the day and would do better than some of those lower powered old ones but aren't any more expensive now that they're all considered dinosaurs.

Here are just a few at GC. They're all pushing 80+ lbs so shipping is gonna add some $$. But any of these would handle quite a bit more than the Peavey or Laney. Shipped to your door and if anything's wrong with them GC will take them back and refund shipping charge.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Used Genz Benz XB Bass Cabinet | Guitar Center

For greater savings check out our Used Genz Benz XB Bass Cabinet and get a great deal today!

www.guitarcenter.com

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

That first one I could afford and it looks awesome but i found a matching 410 and 215 at gc that are pretty cheap, around the price of that first one, that fit what I want. Thanks for recommendations though!