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I've got a head but no cab. Solutions?

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by bwah, Nov 25, 2005.

  1. Nov 25, 2005 #1
    bwah

    bwah Guest

    Nov 23, 2005
    Well, I probably should've had a bit more foresight, but I spent all of my money on a head, but I don't have a cabinet to play it through at home. It's an Ampeg B2RE, which doesn't have a headphone jack built into it. What I have been doing, even though I have this gut feeling it isn't a good idea, is running my headphones (which have a 1/4" converter) through the 1/4" speaker port in the back, and so far it's been doing ok that way, but the sound quality isn't that great. The B2RE does have a DI port in the back, though, and I was wondering if there's such a thing as a XLR-to-1/4" converter so I could run my headphones through that.

    Thanks in advance!


    PS: In case you were wondering why I'd go out and buy a $500 head if I didn't have cabs to run it through, the people who I play with have a decent cab system that I use during practices, and I just take my head home afterwards.
     
  2. Nov 25, 2005 #2
    mobax

    mobax

    Dec 31, 2002
    New Baltimore, MI
    If you can find $239 + $29 for shipping, an Avatar SB112 should work very well. You may even be able to incorporate it into a system for gigging later on.
     
  3. Nov 25, 2005 #3
    DWBass

    DWBass The Funkfather

    Jan 24, 2003
    Newport News, VA via NYC
  4. Nov 25, 2005 #4
    nasaldischarges

    nasaldischarges Guest

    Jun 11, 2005
    just a note...behringer (*gasp* ... yes i did utter that word) is the absolute cheapest brand you can buy from. if you scrap together around 200 dollars you can get either a 115 or a 210, though personally id go with a 115
     
  5. Nov 25, 2005 #5
    FunkyLemz

    FunkyLemz

    Oct 17, 2005
    Los Angeles, CA
    Look at craigslist.com in your area and maybe there will be a cheap used cab for sale. Bring your head and try it with the cab. As for now, sell your plasma, borrow money, get a loan, a job, and maybe you can pick up a nice used one.
    - My attempt at some help for you :meh:
     
  6. Nov 25, 2005 #6
    MuzikMan

    MuzikMan Guest

    Feb 21, 2004
    Bristol, Connecticut, USA
    Get any cab you can and be responsible with the volume control. I don't think the DI will provide a strong enough signal for your headphones. You would be better off plugging into your soundcard on your computer with the preamp-out on your head.
     
  7. Nov 25, 2005 #7
    bwah

    bwah Guest

    Nov 23, 2005
    Ohhh, good idea. Wouldn't the signal power be too strong, though?
     
  8. Nov 25, 2005 #8
    MuzikMan

    MuzikMan Guest

    Feb 21, 2004
    Bristol, Connecticut, USA
    The pre-out is a line level signal intended to plug in to a line in source. It will work fine. Please note I am not talking about the speaker outs! That would be BAD! :crying:
     
  9. Nov 25, 2005 #9
    bwah

    bwah Guest

    Nov 23, 2005
    Yeah, turn on the amp and you'd have a lovely computer bonfire.
     
  10. Nov 25, 2005 #10
    mobax

    mobax

    Dec 31, 2002
    New Baltimore, MI
    The computer is a good idea. Suggestion: make sure your amp can be used without a load if you are using it as a preamp.
     
  11. Nov 25, 2005 #11
    bwah

    bwah Guest

    Nov 23, 2005
    It has a preamp out port on the back of it, and I have a 1/4"-to-1/8" converter so I can use it with my soundcard. Does it matter if the cable running from the preamp out port to my computer is a speaker cable or not? All I have is one speaker cable and one instrument cable now. (the one I spent like $20 on died because of bad soldering on the connectors and yet the Fender cable I got with my Squire starter pack something like 5 years ago still works. Tch.)
     
  12. Nov 25, 2005 #12
    MuzikMan

    MuzikMan Guest

    Feb 21, 2004
    Bristol, Connecticut, USA
    The Ampeg B2-RE is a solid state head so it is safe to run it as a preamp without a speaker load. The ideal way to connect to your computer is with an instrument cable but a speaker cable will work. It might be noisy though. Give it a shot.
     
  13. Nov 25, 2005 #13
    bwah

    bwah Guest

    Nov 23, 2005
    Ok, well ran it as per instructed and it works, but it's distorted, almost like it's overdriven or something. I'm using Goldwave and as far as I know the amp is at a decent volume setting. Would this be because of the speaker cable?

    Also: it's really quiet.
     
  14. Nov 25, 2005 #14
    MuzikMan

    MuzikMan Guest

    Feb 21, 2004
    Bristol, Connecticut, USA
    I would start by turning the bass volume down and see if that helps. If you're running windows you can adjust the line in gain with the a right click on the volume control icon.
     
  15. Nov 25, 2005 #15
    i_got_a_mohawk

    i_got_a_mohawk Guest

    Feb 9, 2005
    Edinburgh & Dundee, Scotland
    second hand peavey cabs are cheap and very reliable and sound good :)
     
  16. Nov 25, 2005 #16
    bwah

    bwah Guest

    Nov 23, 2005
    Actually, I did a sort of weird workaround. I have a Laney R1 that I've been using as a practice amp for a few years, and I'm just running my bass through the Ampeg, then I run it from the preamp out port into the input on my Laney. Sounds great, and I've got me a heaphone jack!

    Thanks anyways, guys! And thanks doubly for telling me about Avatar. I like what I see!