• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Seeking Help/Guidance for a more powerful head..

DanBass

DanBass

Supporting Member
Jan 27, 2003
1,676
1,750
Gainesville, FL
#1
I am in need some more power than my PF500 is offering... Well, it is great for most rooms, but for some, I need to push more air.

With my current band, I do not have the luxury of going direct.. it is all me. (competing w/ two guitars.. general rock, pop, etc) Actually, I am still kicking myself for selling my Carvin head. :( but bills called and my band activity was stagnant at the time. In desperation, I pretty much gave that sucker away. Oh well. :crying:

So I was looking at the Bugera "2000w" amp, and read the mountains of threads here, so I am set straight there. LOL So, moving on. Seemed too good to be true, and alas.. haha God bless the TB forums.. has saved me more headaches and $$ than I can count.

So, I have roughly $300 to spend. (doable for a 800-1000w unit?) Of course, I could sell my PF500, but 1) I LOVE it and 2) it is always smart to have that backup option.. sadly, I learned that the HARD way a few years ago. I have a few 4x10's (seldom run at the same time) and a 2x10 (the latter is 8ohms)

(Note - I had a Hartke LH500 for a spell and it wasn't my cup of tea, so the LH1000 isn't really of interest to me, despite the kick up in power..)

Any insight as always would be appreciated!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dean N
#3
Funny, maybe I am over-thinking the whole thing. I am a tad hard of hearing, so that could be the issue. I am praised for the sound that the PF500 is kicking with the one 4 x 10... I would think/hope that for larger gigs, there should be a PA that I could go direct into..

There is a Peavey Headliner 1000w that is for sale locally, but the price is too rich (I think they are asking too much, but given the circumstances of the sale, I am hesitant to haggle... the previous owner passed and I am thinking the price is more personal than anything..) Having dealt with loss, I get that.

I am also seeing a Carvin R600.. but that is only 100 extra watts, so I am not sure that is even worth it.
 
Last edited:
#5
Paulabass said:
Doubling you power will barely be noticeable. Double your speakers with the same head.
Click to expand...

Excellent, thanks for that! The thoughts of lugging a second Peavey 4 x 10 are staggering, but there is an Eden 4x10 that is local and MUCH lighter. :) I wish the 2x10 wasn't 8 ohms.. would love to pair that with the 4x10 but I know that is a no-no. (saw that thread mountain as well.. LOL)
 
#7
lfmn16 said:
What @Paulabass said. You should be able to buy an 8X10 cabinet cheap. Match that with your PF500 and if it's not loud enough you need a new band.
Click to expand...

LOL So it IS me. I don't want my own ignorance to cost me.. :D That's awesome. So in lieu of a 8x10... So I have the TX410 (actually two.. fuggers are HEAVY).. but that definitely helps.

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
#8
DanBass said:
LOL So it IS me. I don't want my own ignorance to cost me.. :D That's awesome. So in lieu of a 8x10... So I have the TX410 (actually two.. fuggers are HEAVY).. but that definitely helps.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
You can do 2 4X10 cabinets, but an 8X10, although heavier, is easier to move in many situations. As an example, you can tilt it into the car, you don't need to pick it up.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mattbass6945, Aqualung60 and DanBass
#11
S-Bigbottom said:
To prove this more speaker theory hook up both 4x10's to that amp and play. You will feel and hear it. :thumbsup:
IF BOTH CABS ARE 8 OHMS THIS IS SAFE TO DO, YOUR HEAD IS 4 OHMS MINIMUM. DO NOT TRY THIS IF YOUR 4x10 CABS ARE 4 OHMS EACH.
Click to expand...

Of course my run of crappy luck continues. The 4x10's are both 4 ohms. My 2x10 is an 8 ohm.

Color me confused.. (here i though the 2 x 4 ohm enclosures were a match made in heaven. Sigh.

Yes, I know there are THOUSANDS of threads here on this.. I don't want top inconvenicne anyone concerning topics that have been visited ad nauseum.
 
#12
Why would you want a 4 ohm 210 for a 500 watt head? Do you need a heater on the stage?

Lol really though, 2x speaker area, same amp will be free, much more full, and put cones up higher.
 
#13
Oh snap, I missed that previous post there. 300 might get you a 2 ohm stable amp though. So switching gears it must be. Maybe try for a straight swap on CL your 4 ohm cab(s) for their 8 ohm. Who knows maybe you end up with a pair of Hartke 410xl cabs and no money spent.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DanBass
#14
The PF500 states - • Class-D power amplifier rated at 500 watts rms into 4 ohms [PF-500]

So don't I want 4 ohm cabinets? say I use two of em. I thought I was good with the 4 ohm cabs, but the 4 combined in any way with the 8 ohm was a NO NO.

(back under my rock) :rollno:

Please pardon my :confused:
 
#16
DanBass said:
The PF500 states - • Class-D power amplifier rated at 500 watts rms into 4 ohms [PF-500]

So don't I want 4 ohm cabinets? say I use two of em. I thought I was good with the 4 ohm cabs, but the 4 combined in any way with the 8 ohm was a NO NO.

(back under my rock) :rollno:

Please pardon my :confused:
Click to expand...
Hear is the math cheat sheet for you.

8 Ohms + 8 Ohms= 4 Ohms. Happy amp and you.

4 Ohms + 4 Ohms= 2 Ohms. A dead amp in your case.

4 Ohms + 8 Ohms= 2.67 Ohms also a dead amp in your case.

You can run one 8 Ohm cab.
Two 8 Ohms cabs. 8+8=4
Or one 4 Ohm cab safely with that head.
 
  • Like
Reactions: aproud1, Keger Jupit, Rip Van Dan and 2 others
#17
S-Bigbottom said:
Hear is the math cheat sheet for you.

8 Ohms + 8 Ohms= 4 Ohms. Happy amp and you.

4 Ohms + 4 Ohms= 2 Ohms. A dead amp in your case.

4 Ohms + 8 Ohms= 2.67 Ohms also a dead amp in your case.

You can run one 8 Ohm cab.
Two 8 Ohms cabs. 8+8=4
Or one 4 Ohm cab safely with that head.
Click to expand...

This is awesome, thanks so much!!! So ideally adding an 8 ohm 4 x 10 be perfect. Something to run with the 2 x 10 I already have... it would render my 4x10's useless.. Actually that would be a blessing, as they are HEAVY and my back ain't what it used to be.

Thanks again!
 
#18
This will work, but it will be kinda limited to the 2x10s capabilities. This could show little net output over a single 4 ohm 410.

Sensitivity is a big factor here too so depending on the 410 you land on its worth considering.
 
  • Like
Reactions: S-Bigbottom
#19
DanBass said:
So ideally adding an 8 ohm 4 x 10 be perfect. Something to run with the 2 x 10 I already have... it would render my 4x10's useless..
Click to expand...
It can work just be mindful that each cab will be seeing the that 500 watts split equally.

So the new 4x10 would get 250 watts spread out to the 4 speakers. = 62.5 watts to each individual speaker.

And the 2x10 would get the other 250 watts spread out to the two speakers. = 125 watts to each individual speaker.

In your case that can work ok but the 2x10 is your week link being that it can over power before your 4x10 wakes up with a higher powered head.

As back to what the first few have posted on here get an 8x10, your original problem is solved and withing your budget.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Omega Monkey, basscooker and DanBass
#20
DanBass said:
This is awesome, thanks so much!!! So ideally adding an 8 ohm 4 x 10 be perfect. Something to run with the 2 x 10 I already have... it would render my 4x10's useless.. Actually that would be a blessing, as they are HEAVY and my back ain't what it used to be.

Thanks again!
Click to expand...

You might be better off selling both your cabs and getting two 8 ohm cabs. There's a lot of good used stuff at reasonable prices.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TL23NC, Waltsdog, mikewalker and 2 others

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back