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SVT ohms???

Ripper75

Ripper75

Aug 8, 2005
489
78
The Sticks, Vermont
#1
This is all new to me and I am trying to understand what ohms means and what I should set my amp to. I have an SVT II and a 8x10" speaker cab. I have been playing this @ 4 ohms, which has been working good. But I recently added an 18" to try and get some bottom end since I am playing with two guitarists. I'm not sure what the ohm setting for the speaker is since it was a project a friend did a couple years ago. Anyway, the guys in the band suggested changing the amp to 2 ohm, but I have a feeling this is wrong because I just read that you can fry your amp on 2 ohms. Any help or clarification would help. Thanks.
 
#3
First, you need to find out what the impedance of the other cab is, if the 1x18 is 4ohms, you are ok, if its 8ohms its tricky

I use a very similar setup (see sig pic), the SVT-II can work at 4ohms or 2ohms, you need to select which one depending on what the speakers load is.

Ohms is a rating of Impedance, this is basically resistance (i said basically before anyone jumps down my throat). When you have a 4ohm speaker cabinet, you plug in into the amp head speaker out, and switch it to 4ohms

If you have two 4ohm speaker cabinets, you plug one into one of the speaker outputs, and one into the other speaker output, and the switch it to 2ohms.


I suggest you read up some basic physics and goggle "Ohms Law" and Impedances.

Also, im trying to figure out why in the name of anything you are finding you arent getting enough bottom, sure, 8x10s dont typically have a huge really low, low end, but they have a HUGE low-mid, especially with the SVT-II.

How have you EQ'd your SVT-II? If you dont mind my asking.

SVT-IIcontrols.jpg


Thats how i have mine setup, and i was using it at that volume for a gig, and at that gig it was too loud! (this was a medium-large sized hall, only with one guitarists tho, definatly no lack of low end either.

You cant fry this amp if you are running a 2ohm load and its switched to 2ohms. You can only damage it if your speaker load is lower than the setting its at, or if its higher than the setting its at
 
#4
I have it set similar to yours, but I will take a closer look tonight. Would that speaker say ohm setting if I take it out of Cab? I am just trying different things now and thought the 18" would give me some extra low end, so far so good, just want to play it safe and not fry my amp.
 
#5
Wow, I get plenty of lows with my SVT II's and 8x10's. If you're talking about projection to the hall rather than lows, you should be going through the PA. Also be aware that the SVT II is around 300 watts and if you have additional cabs they will be power hungry. The low mids with old SVTs are their specialty IMO.
 
#9
Honestly, it sounds like a band dynamics problem rather than an equipment issue.

Really good bands mix themselves well on stage. That said, it is one of the hardest things to do and something I constantly struggle with, even with the acts I spend a lot of time playing with.

If the guitars are getting good solo tone but they are taking away from the overall band mix, it is a lose-lose situation for a band and problem something equipment cannot fix.

Just my opinion, but the reason I first purchased a SVT/810 rig was when I was first in a band that had a really loud guitarist. I tried to fix a problem with gear and it did not work.

That said, I loved that rig, but it was too much to haul around. Without a roadie, I would not even consider more than an 810 cabinet.

All of the above is just my opinion, based on some similar experience. Your situation may vary greatly from mine.
 

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