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Running Two bass heads

Tony Hanks

Tony Hanks

Guest
Nov 13, 2014
29
8
38
#1
I trying to find a way to run Two bass heads without running two full 4x10 cabs. as of right now i have a 2x10 200w and 4x10 300w. being that both heads are 400w i'm not really able to run either head into the 2x10 by itself safely. I tried running into the first heads input the out of the pre amp out into the input of the second head but after reading some forums its my understanding that when doing that you bypass the second amps preamps so the tone aren't blending.
 
#2
i run my Ampeg pf500 into its matching cab and i use the pre amp out strait into my Acoustic b200 combo for a very loud and clear 2 x15 set up...neither amp ever gets hot and absolutely no farting out of cabs and my volume is only at 10 oclock on both amps
 
#3
why?

Trying to get more watts into the stack with a double headed top and mismatched cabs?

Almost certainly be easier to get a single unit at the top of the rig pushing the watts [volts] you want and a matching set of cabs underneath to carry the load.

Craigslist will buy anything if you get you mind right on price = dump the humble pie and move on.

===

FWIW in my early efforts to build a satisfying rig I wasted stupid piles of blood and treasure mixing and matching the parts on hand trying to get em to work together = never worked out for me.
 
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#4
Use 'effects send' or 'tuner out' from the first amp to the second amp. Usually the tone controls on the first amp affect both amps. You may have to use the low-gain input on the second amp if it distorts. you may like a bit of overdrive sound on the second amp.
 
#7
twistd said:
Why are you trying to run two heads?
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The reason I'm wanting to run two heads is so i can set them differently and blend the tones.
Mr. Foxen said:
Use both, into one cab each, turn all the lows off to the one into the smaller cab, no power issue. Effects into the one with no bottom.
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I'll try that and see if the 2x10 can manage just the higher end tone with my distortions i would have tried it already if there wasn't 200w different in head vs cab. i know of alot of bass player that run their set up like this one amp for highs/distorted tone and one amp for the clean lower tone. which is really what im trying to do. but as i said earlier i really don't want to run two full 4x10 cabs mainly because i do play a lot of show where the sound guys just aren't equipped for it.
 
#12
One dirty, one dirtier.

DSCF2447_zpsa9ecfbce.jpg
 
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#13
friendlybass said:
I run two rigs if there's stage space and set one clean and one dirty. But just trying for more power seems a little overboard
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seems like a few people have replied about doing this for more power and in no way am i trying to use two heads for more power. only trying to run two head for tone only not power. but either way yea the main reason i want two head is to run one clean and one dirty or just to run both and blend the tones together.
 
#14
Blending tones without a bunch of effects doesn't work great with two rigs, as they don't blend as much as fight each other. Keep one out of the lows and the worst parts of them fighting is avoided. Basically, one dead scooped, and the other middly and dirty. Scooped one gives the bottom, and the clang (If you want the attack to not be swamped by distortion products) and the dirt to the mids gives the right to the face part of the sound.
 
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#15
You'll want to make sure everything's still in phase at the speakers. One amp design might flip the phase versus the other amp. Also some effects will flip phase.

Just an issue to be aware of. The dirty+clean amp set up works pretty well. Drawbacks are hauling the extra gear, and getting that sound to FOH. FOH is not a problem if you've got a cooperative sound tech. It takes micing both cabs; many sound techs are not gonna be thrilled about using 2 mics and 2 board channels for bass.
 
#16
Tony Hanks said:
I trying to find a way to run Two bass heads without running two full 4x10 cabs. as of right now i have a 2x10 200w and 4x10 300w. being that both heads are 400w i'm not really able to run either head into the 2x10 by itself safely. I tried running into the first heads input the out of the pre amp out into the input of the second head but after reading some forums its my understanding that when doing that you bypass the second amps preamps so the tone aren't blending.
Click to expand...

?????? I've run 500+ watt amplifiers into many configurations of speakers including a single 12 or single 10--- ok if you use your ears.
 
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#17
BruceWane said:
You'll want to make sure everything's still in phase at the speakers. One amp design might flip the phase versus the other amp. Also some effects will flip phase.

Just an issue to be aware of. The dirty+clean amp set up works pretty well. Drawbacks are hauling the extra gear, and getting that sound to FOH. FOH is not a problem if you've got a cooperative sound tech. It takes micing both cabs; many sound techs are not gonna be thrilled about using 2 mics and 2 board channels for bass.
Click to expand...


Never going to be entirely in phase, and having no lows from one takes care of the polarity issue. Sound engineer just needs to treat one rig ass guitar, the bottom one can be straight DI, since the mids is for character.
 

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