Just purchased a Mesa 800+ amp and tried to hook it up to my ampeg 2x12 , but there is not 1/4 jack on the Mesa . Anybody know what the hell I should do? Thanks bass world
Yes, you need to use a Speak-On cable with all Mesa Subway amps. There is not a 1/4" speaker jack on the Subway amps because they carries full dual international safety certification, which requires touch-proof connectors due to the voltage present and the fact that it is BTL topology. The output can swing over 100V, grabbing the shell of the connector if the amp is playing will get your complete and undivided attention. Buying a SpeakOn cable isn't difficult or the end of the world, in fact it's a smart, safe upgrade.
Would a speakon adapter be sufficient? Or a speakon to a 1/4 jack? I always thought it was lame that a new ampeg 2x12 didn’t have speakon jacks. I guess that’s why they are on the ropes . Thanks for the response !
Adapters don't prevent you from inadvertent disconnect and at the high wattage the 800+ puts out you could face some serious damage, so they don't really save much money. Go Speakon-to-Speakon for the win, and make sure they have genuine Neutrik connectors. Not the cheap stuff from Monoprice. You will have peace of mind and it really isn't that big an expenditure.
I would recommend a cable that was SpeakOn on one end, 1/4" plug with heat shrink sleeve over the barrel on the other end, real Neutrik SpeakOn plug and a name brand 1/4" plug.
Better yet, put a Speakon connector in the ampeg cabinet and use a standard Speakon to Speakon cable. Make sure to use real Neutrk brand connectors
Thanks very much for the advice!! This bass community really is the best. It is killing me to have a new piece of gear in the house and not be able to use it. I will pick up a cable tomorrow and maybe take a look at the Mesa cabinets.....
I took all my monitors (five, IIRC) to my local mom-and-pop music store, and they removed the 1/4" jacks altogether and mounted a pair of Speakons to each cab. That was 7-8 years ago. Not had a problem with the cabs nor the cables in all those years. Cost me about $35 each.
Ampeg may be a lot of things, but you better catch up on yer reading. Ampeg is most certainly not on the ropes
Adding Speakon connections to cabinets is a given [if not already installed] and well worth the small investment.
Speakon addition seems very reasonable. As for ampeg, I’ve been with them for my whole bass career and am super pumped to see what they come out with next. Yamaha should be a good support system for them.
The cab was released with reissue of the v-4B, somewhere around 2014. It’s a great sounding cab, but lack of speakon is kind of crazy .
Also make sure to disconnect the speakon cable when you’re using headphones. If I forget my daughter in the next room reminds me that my Mesa Diesel 1x15 still packs a punch.
This is what you'll need. My SVT810 has both 1/4" and Speakon, but my head is only 1/4", so this is what I'll be getting or making at some point. https://www.amazon.com/GLS-Audio-Sp...5424295&sprefix=speakon+to+1/,aps,230&sr=8-15
As AH has said, that is pretty much what you don't want for a Speakon to jack cable. The jack body is metal, and would be live when used with many modern amplifiers. It needs to be covered with shrink wrap, or failing that tape. It surprises me that Neutrik don't seem to make a jack with an insulated body, but maybe there are regulatory/standards reasons.