The real scoop on head+cab rating/Amp watts

[Umberhulk]

Hi everyone, I've lost count of the # of posts I've seen seeking help with amperage rating and cab/head pairing. What's more there are always some bass vets, or at least they call themselves that, spreading wrong or confusing info at odds with help provided by others. I just wanted to post this link from a respected amp manufacturer for anyone needing to make the right choice of gear.
PS I'm new here so if I didn't do this by the book let me know, thanks.
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[Raf Seibert]

Yes. This excellent source does outline the most common wirings likely to be encountered in connecting cabs to amps with a view to maintaining safe impedance throughout. Notice, this does not discuss watts. That topic is far trickier and subtle.

 

[RoketRdr]

Hi everyone, I've lost count of the # of posts I've seen seeking help with amperage rating and cab/head pairing. What's more there are always some bass vets, or at least they call themselves that, spreading wrong or confusing info at odds with help provided by others. I just wanted to post this link from a respected amp manufacturer for anyone needing to make the right choice of gear.
PS I'm new here so if I didn't do this by the book let me know, thanks.
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The Mesa Engineer (@agedhorse) that has designed their amps and cabs for umpteen years is a regular member here who provides a lot of help to members of this forum. There are many other industry experts, engineers and designers here as well from well known manufacturers. Not trying to be a jack ass but just saying that several of the industry leading engineers and designers are on this forum.

 

[basscooker]

Five years aint exactly newbie, OP!

And yes good link! There are FAQs at the top of the subforum too, but nonetheless the more of these "101" questions have answers right on page 1 the better!

 

[agedhorse]

Note that many of the statements and information in that paper are based on GUITAR applications, with tube power amplifiers and do not apply to most bass guitar amps other than all tube amps.

For example, using parallel and series boxes with modern solid state amps, especially those with bridged topologies, it is critical to insure that there are no connections to the box enclosures and that there is no chance of a ground contacting either the speaker + or speaker - terminals.

Also, you will notice 1/4" connections shown, this works for low powered ground referenced amps. Many bass amps do not fit this model and come equipped with SpeakOn connectors for this reason.

Also, the paper does not discuss amplifier and speaker power, how they are rated and how they might be matched. It's different in the guitar world where thermal ratings actually matter as much or more than mechanical ratings.

 

[Umberhulk]

I'm glad to get so many knowledgeable replies to this post, thanks y'all.
I was recently trying to learn about tube amps and their wattage ratings and I remembered years ago when I was trying to figure out how to pair gear, my internet research brought up too many threads purporting to answer my electrical questions but instead read like a Facebook feed, very few facts, no agreement and everyone's mother (and dad's cousin twice removed) acting like the expert. My hope is to just add another legitimate article for some kid to stumble upon that says 'this is how ohms work, and this is what that means for your amp'.
Also 5 years of membership takes me out of newbiedom but I've just been a fly on the TB wall until now. I believe this would be my first post