SVT-4Pro & SWR Goliath II/III questions

Hey guys, I'm considering buying an SVT-4PRO from a buddy and I had a couple questions. I've been searching high and low for specific answers here and elsewhere, but I'm kind of slow on the uptake when it comes to amps/cabs/power handling, so thanks in advance for your patience and help!

My buddy has had this head for 9ish years. Reports no problems with it, and has offered it to me for what I consider a reasonable price.

I play in a 3 piece instrumental metal/rock band. Tonally, I like to think we're kinda like if Karma to Burn and Mastodon had a baby. Currently, I'm running a Hartke HA3500 through an 8 ohm Goliath II and it's got decent output. When I have a second cab, it's better, but still not really as purely LOUD as I'd like it to be.

I took it to band practice last week and plugged it into the the GII and blew the fuse to the horn instantly. I replaced the bulb and now I'm ready to give it another shot. I feel like the output wasn't anywhere near what it should have been to blow the bulb, but maybe the signal was clipping since I was running it pretty high from just one of the power amp outputs.

I read up on the various ways to hook this thing up and it seems like my best bet is to make a cable to use with the mono bridge output.

What I'm looking for most is an increase in overall clean power as well as some more tonal options. I feel like I'm pushing my Hartke way too hard and I'm going to melt/destroy it eventually.

FWIW I ALSO have an 8 ohm Goliath III, but I'm waiting for one of the drivers to be re-coned.

My questions are as follows:

If I run the 4PRO into the GII in mono bridge, can I get the clarity I'm looking for with the massive increase in headroom, along with a bump in output without completely destroying the cab?

When the GIII is ready to get back in the game, can I run the cabs both from the mono bridge output? Is it now running at 4 ohms?

Am I crazy and/or stupid? Should I just sell both the cabs I own, get a fridge and stop trying to outsmart my counterparts in other local metal bands?

Sorry for the novel-length post. Thanks again, any help/insight is appreciated!

 

Thanks! I used it at practice last night and holy crap... what a difference that output/cable combo make. I'm now under the impression that my buddy has been using a two conductor speakon this whole time and has never realized the full potential (at least volume-wise) of this amp.