I know this subject has been threaded before, but here is my issue. I have recently purchased a Reeves 225 tube amp and gigged out with it this weekend. I ran it thru my current speaker cabs, (Eden 212 and Eden 210), both 8ohms into amp set at 4 ohm load. This amp is top of the line amp as we all know, but there is so much boomy bottom coming out of my current speakers. I tried different settings but could not get that tight blooming tube sound that I know this amp can produce. When I did some slap style playing I thought I was going to blow my speakers. This is my first tube amp as I am used to solid state power amps. Reading some posts on TB forums got me thinking my ported speaker cabs might not be the best choice for my new amp, as the sealed cabs might be a better choice (ex. Bergantino HD112 or HD212) to get the best sound out of this amp. As for the slap style playing, I know tube amps aren't the best choice for that, but my band does do some songs that require it. Any suggestions would be helpful........thanks TBers
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Speaker Cab Upgrade For All Tube Amp
- Thread starter countrybassman
- Start date
Berg NV cabs are sealed not HD IIRC.
The new NV115 would be fantastic. I use a NV412 & a couple of PF115HE cabs with Eminence 3015 drivers for superb sealed cab sounds with my Fender Super Bassman.
The new NV115 would be fantastic. I use a NV412 & a couple of PF115HE cabs with Eminence 3015 drivers for superb sealed cab sounds with my Fender Super Bassman.
You are on the right track thinking about the ported cabs, but this might just save you the trouble https://sites.google.com/site/hpftechllc/home/hpf-pre. With the HPF you will have less worry about damping. Tube amps work fine for slap but sealed cabs would be a must without a HPF (High Pass Filter).
The HPF will tighten up your low end and save any speaker from the over-extension that slap produces.
The HPF will tighten up your low end and save any speaker from the over-extension that slap produces.
Tube amps are fine for slap. I do it all the time.
As for "boomy" toone, I'm going to ask the obvious question. Did you turn down the bass section of your EQ? You can't be one of those guys who looks at the numbers on the dials and says "The bass EQ is SUPPOSED to be on 5". Just use your ears. I can't imagine NOT being able to dial back boomy tone no matter what cab(s) you were using.
I have no idea what your experience level is so don't be offended by the question if you are an old pro. I just figured that is the first thing to look at when your tone is too boomy....... the EQ on your amp.
As for "boomy" toone, I'm going to ask the obvious question. Did you turn down the bass section of your EQ? You can't be one of those guys who looks at the numbers on the dials and says "The bass EQ is SUPPOSED to be on 5". Just use your ears. I can't imagine NOT being able to dial back boomy tone no matter what cab(s) you were using.
I have no idea what your experience level is so don't be offended by the question if you are an old pro. I just figured that is the first thing to look at when your tone is too boomy....... the EQ on your amp.
Were you able to get the tone you wanted previously with your current cabs?
I wouldnt worry about blowing your cabs, but you may just be running out of head room with your amp.
I would take your amp and bass down and go play through as many cabs as possible. Maybe you dont like the ones you currently have. Dont rule out ported cabs, but try some sealed ones.
Might be you just dont like your amp, and thats ok too.
I wouldnt worry about blowing your cabs, but you may just be running out of head room with your amp.
I would take your amp and bass down and go play through as many cabs as possible. Maybe you dont like the ones you currently have. Dont rule out ported cabs, but try some sealed ones.
Might be you just dont like your amp, and thats ok too.
edwinhurwitz
Supporting Member
I've been playing with a '67 Showman and a Sunn 200S and found that I have to have the bass control between 2.5 and 3 to keep the low end under control. Plenty of boom. I wonder if the EQ is setup like the classic Fender tone stack where 2-10-2 is actually the closest to flat?
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If you look at the article on the Reeves 225 starting on page 71, they do a frequency sweep of it, and it's got a pretty sizable lows hump starting around 40 hz, and a very sizable mid scoop. Maybe you'll be able to get something out of that article that can help you.
If you look at the article on the Reeves 225 starting on page 71, they do a frequency sweep of it, and it's got a pretty sizable lows hump starting around 40 hz, and a very sizable mid scoop. Maybe you'll be able to get something out of that article that can help you.
Sometimes Zmax (Ohm) of the cab don't fits well to the tube power amp design.
Although the nominal Ohm matching is fine but, there is a very different animal of Ohm on cabs which are capable to draw down the lows very well.
Junky sound is your friend if a high tech cab design don't fits to a tube power amp stage in particular.
Most of the time critical ohm mismatching at the frequency low band s probably done with speakers which provide an extended low band and extended Xmax and extended power handling.
Although the nominal Ohm matching is fine but, there is a very different animal of Ohm on cabs which are capable to draw down the lows very well.
Junky sound is your friend if a high tech cab design don't fits to a tube power amp stage in particular.
Most of the time critical ohm mismatching at the frequency low band s probably done with speakers which provide an extended low band and extended Xmax and extended power handling.
May be it is not boomy but rather a washy and undifferentiated sounding at the lows which causes the problem.
KT88 tubes provide a little bit more bass bottom then 6550.
Whereas 6550 tubes do a little bit more focus at the midrange band especially at higher levels at the edge of max. output power.
Regarding to the Ohm matching, sealed cabs tend to fit better to tube amps because Zmax at cabs system resonance is sweet-tempered. Whereas a lot of vented cabs are pushing a significant high Zmax at system resonance.
May be that a "nominal" ohm mismatching can help to moderate such a problem.
Sealed cabs provide a better step response at the lows then vented. So vented cabs in general demand an improved controlling by the amplifier output stage which some tube amps can't provide in adequate way.
Tube amps like the SVT come with a sufficient strongly closed-loop gain which allows this amp to work well even on some "critical" vented cabs, whereas tube amps like the bassman very probably demand some detailed considerations which cab should be used.
I would contact Revees regarding to the possibilities of:
1) 6550 instead of KT88
2) cab selection (damping and Zmax)
3) Nominal Ohm mismatching
