Loss of volume or Stupidity?

[WhackJob]

Hey Gang!

Ok so I recently upgraded my current bass cab from a 400w Hartke 4x10 xl series to my new 500w Ampeg Heritage 4x10HLF. I'm currently running an Agulier AG500WSC head. Both cab and Head are rated at 4 ohms. Tone is better and much more full, exactly what I was looking for. The only issue is when I was dialing it in at practice last night, I was really low in the mix...even with volume pushed. My guitarist was even only running 1/2 of his amps when he normally runs a stereo set-up. Could it have something to do with loosing that 100w head room? I don't really have an understanding on how headroom really plays a factor. Alls I know is I was pushing my amp to the point where my clip light was always on yet was still awfully quite. I plan on upgrading my head at a later time but I feel like it should be doing the job for now.

Let me know your guys opinions...am i missing something?

 

[two fingers]

Two possibilities come to mind.

1) Weird room acoustics. That head and that cab should be able to knock down walls. But sometimes physics get in the way. Move the cab around and stand in different positions relative to the cab. It may be loud as crap to others but not you where you're standing.

2) Mids. You gotta have then to cut through. If your favorite tone is scooped (meaning you bring up the lows and highs and/or dial out the mids), you can't cut through a mix. You simply have to destroy and overpower the mix to be heard. Dial up some mids and you should be fine.... and loud.

But barring any technical issues with either your head or cab, that rig should be able to break rocks.

Wait!!!!

A third possibility just jumped into my head!!!!!

Are you using a SPEAKER cable and not a SIGNAL cable to go from your head to your cab???? That would drastically reduce your volume, and could eventually cause problems with your amp.

 

[Coolhandjjl]

That HLF cab often is too low for most folks. As mentioned, you may be getting some boundary cancellation you never had to worry about before. Mids are where it’s at and it sounds like your previous cab was doing it right.

 

[agedhorse]

Check your new cabinet to be sure all the speakers are working properly and there is no mis-wiring or defective drivers.

Look up battery test here on TB.

 

[WhackJob]

Two possibilities come to mind.

1) Weird room acoustics. That head and that cab should be able to knock down walls. But sometimes physics get in the way. Move the cab around and stand in different positions relative to the cab. It may be loud as crap to others but not you where you're standing.

2) Mids. You gotta have then to cut through. If your favorite tone is scooped (meaning you bring up the lows and highs and/or dial out the mids), you can't cut through a mix. You simply have to destroy and overpower the mix to be heard. Dial up some mids and you should be fine.... and loud.

But barring any technical issues with either your head or cab, that rig should be able to break rocks.

Wait!!!!

A third possibility just jumped into my head!!!!!

Are you using a SPEAKER cable and not a SIGNAL cable to go from your head to your cab???? That would drastically reduce your volume, and could eventually cause problems with your amp.

 

[WhackJob]

Good info...my high mids are at about 3 o'clock but I do have my low mid and bass turned down quite a bit. Yes, I am using a speaker cable and not a instrument 1/4". Appreciate the response and will mess more with mids and reposition the cab more. May need to elevate it in some way.

Thanks for the reply

 

[agedhorse]

Verify that your new cabinet is working properly...