• 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.

Two heads, one cab.

#21
I guess I must not know how something like the THD Hotplate works. I was under the assumption that you can use a low powered tube head and crank it to the sweet spot, while the THD then splits that load off into a line level that you can run into another amp, an efx loop or a selection for a line level to a power amp.

I guess that made me believe that it took a post tube signal, which would have the livelyness of the tubes.

Thanks again, Greenboy.

Peace

-Benny
 
#22
So if I am hearing this correctly I have four options.

1) My original idea, but if I use two 50 watt heads I might as well hook one 100 watt (YBA-1a) head to my cab, so that's out. I could buy two 100 watt heads but I can't afford that. Then there is the possibility of phase issues.

2) Use a "dummy load" with the Traynor and run it into a solid-state power amp - I'm sure my Eden WT-600 would work for that. But then, I lose the tube output stage.

3) Buy a YBA-200, which is the easiest and possibly cheapest thing to do, so I really hope I find a similar tone in them when I go to the city to test drive one.

4) Find a YBA-3 or YBA-3a (Custom Special or Super Custom Special, respectively). That would be a gamble since I do not know if they sound anything at all like the YBA-1. They are definitely loud enough. But alas they are hard to find anyway.
 
#23
Saetia said:
I guess I must not know how something like the THD Hotplate works. I was under the assumption that you can use a low powered tube head and crank it to the sweet spot, while the THD then splits that load off into a line level that you can run into another amp, an efx loop or a selection for a line level to a power amp.

I guess that made me believe that it took a post tube signal, which would have the livelyness of the tubes.

Thanks again, Greenboy.

Peace

-Benny
Click to expand...
Adjustable Line Out
THD Hot Plates® also feature a Line Out, which is adjustable by its own volume control giving it a wide range of applications. At higher settings, it can provide enough signal to drive the input of a separate power amp for slaving. The middle range of settings is useful for most rack mount effects. And turned most of the way down, the Hot Plate's® Line Out will drive the instrument input of another guitar amplifier for extra power and volume.


So if I just use it as a dummy load and not an attenuator, and line out to my WT-600's power amp in, sounds like it would work.
 
#25
You can use your original 50 watter, and a hundred watter on the other one, if you want, and that won't be a problem in and of itself.

I don't know how easy it is to come by slaves, but I see some stereo tube power amps made for guitarists from time to time on eBay, and at least some of them are bridgeable. You could have a lot more power on tap this way.
 
#27
ModestCargo said:
So if I am hearing this correctly I have four options.

1) My original idea, but if I use two 50 watt heads I might as well hook one 100 watt (YBA-1a) head to my cab, so that's out. I could buy two 100 watt heads but I can't afford that. Then there is the possibility of phase issues.

2) Use a "dummy load" with the Traynor and run it into a solid-state power amp - I'm sure my Eden WT-600 would work for that. But then, I lose the tube output stage.

3) Buy a YBA-200, which is the easiest and possibly cheapest thing to do, so I really hope I find a similar tone in them when I go to the city to test drive one.

4) Find a YBA-3 or YBA-3a (Custom Special or Super Custom Special, respectively). That would be a gamble since I do not know if they sound anything at all like the YBA-1. They are definitely loud enough. But alas they are hard to find anyway.
Click to expand...
#1 might give you what you need but it may not as well. #2 again may or may not give you what you are looking for. #3? I doubt it. I played a yba-1 and yba-3 back in the 70's and now own a yba200. The yba200 is a whole different animal with 6550's or KT88's in the power section and a pre-amp designed to overdrive easily. #4 has the best chance of working for because the yba-1 and yba-3 have the same pre-amp tubes and they both use 6ca7's in the power section. So I think the yba-3 is a more powerful yba-1 which is what you are looking for.
 
#28
ModestCargo said:
So you're saying if I was running one driver at more volume than the other it would not cause any issues?
Click to expand...

Not particularly, not if the speaker is up to it. That's only at most a 3 dB difference. Look at the clean rig/dirty rig scenario - a lot of times there's a big disparity in SPL there, but if you like the blend, it's fine. This is a little different. But needn't be.

Also note that the 100 watt one needn't be turned up as far if you want closer to matched output, and then will have a headroom advantage.
 
#29
GreyBeard said:
#1 might give you what you need but it may not as well. #2 again may or may not give you what you are looking for. #3? I doubt it. I played a yba-1 and yba-3 back in the 70's and now own a yba200. The yba200 is a whole different animal with 6550's or KT88's in the power section and a pre-amp designed to overdrive easily. #4 has the best chance of working for because the yba-1 and yba-3 have the same pre-amp tubes and they both use 6ca7's in the power section. So I think the yba-3 is a more powerful yba-1 which is what you are looking for.
Click to expand...
How was your YBA-1 volume wise? Did/could you ever gig with it?
 
#32
ModestCargo said:
Was the Super run clean or cranked right up?
Click to expand...
Now we're talking 1970's so I might be a little fuzzy. I think he used some sort of fuzz box pedal. We had a Shure Vocal Master PA. No monitors and we played a lot of Cream. I just cranked it up and let her rip. I ended up getting the yba-3 and 8x10 cause I got tired of getting buried after the beer started flowing. The yba-3 would cut like nothing else in its' day. The Acoustics were as loud if not louder but they just didn't have the same cut.
 
#33
GreyBeard said:
Now we're talking 1970's so I might be a little fuzzy. I think he used some sort of fuzz box pedal. We had a Shure Vocal Master PA. No monitors and we played a lot of Cream. I just cranked it up and let her rip. I ended up getting the yba-3 and 8x10 cause I got tired of getting buried after the beer started flowing. The yba-3 would cut like nothing else in its' day. The Acoustics were as loud if not louder but they just didn't have the same cut.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I've heard that about the Acoustic amps not cutting.

I think I'm just going to wait and get a YBA-3 - right now I'm gigging with my bass in places that I'm sure the YBA-1 will do.

No monitors? Ouch, I wouldn't be able to sing like that!
 
#34
I miss the Shure Vocal Masters. For a light-medium duty PA system, I'll bet you could take a pair of them, load them with hi-wattage drivers, run a sub with them, and blow the doors off any current full-range trapezoid box out there. Been so long since I heard them I don't know for sure, but with vertical line arrays being the thing now, I'll bet that would be a system to rock the house. Too bad they're so big that nobody would ever stand for it anymore ;)
 
#36
JimmyM said:
I miss the Shure Vocal Masters. For a light-medium duty PA system, I'll bet you could take a pair of them, load them with hi-wattage drivers, run a sub with them, and blow the doors off any current full-range trapezoid box out there. Been so long since I heard them I don't know for sure, but with vertical line arrays being the thing now, I'll bet that would be a system to rock the house. Too bad they're so big that nobody would ever stand for it anymore ;)
Click to expand...
The day of the PA column may be on its' way back. Everything else has come full circle since I've been playing. P-basses, Les Pauls, Fender Twins, SVT's etc., etc.
 
#37
ModestCargo said:
So if I am hearing this correctly I have four options.

1) My original idea, but if I use two 50 watt heads I might as well hook one 100 watt (YBA-1a) head to my cab, so that's out. I could buy two 100 watt heads but I can't afford that. Then there is the possibility of phase issues.

2) Use a "dummy load" with the Traynor and run it into a solid-state power amp - I'm sure my Eden WT-600 would work for that. But then, I lose the tube output stage.

3) Buy a YBA-200, which is the easiest and possibly cheapest thing to do, so I really hope I find a similar tone in them when I go to the city to test drive one.

4) Find a YBA-3 or YBA-3a (Custom Special or Super Custom Special, respectively). That would be a gamble since I do not know if they sound anything at all like the YBA-1. They are definitely loud enough. But alas they are hard to find anyway.
Click to expand...

5) Buy an Ampeg V-4BH 100 watt tube head from another TB'er ;)
 
#38
greenboy said:
Why use the original head to just produce heat, but no noise? The OP's idea doesn't do that ; }

Also, even if the two speakers share a common chamber but are wired to separate heads which are getting essentially the same signal at levels not too far apart, there's nothing wrong or dangerous about that.

I'd look around for a tube slave or an all-tube power amp instead of using an SS amp for one or both loads since that sound or something very similar is what's desired. A tube output section doesn't sound that much like an SS one...
Click to expand...

I agree wholeheartedly, but some want "that tube sound". I was offering a suggestion to solve the OPs' problem and keep his tube sound.

Paul
 
#39
If it has pre amp outs, why not just yank out the power tubes? Then nothing will hit the output trans. If you don't have the pre amp out, try wrapping the drummers set in plastic wrap! He won't like it, but I bet he will play it quieter. :hiding:

No, really, I hear you, some times you just have to bite the bullet and go try some new gear. I have "red necked" setups before and while it works ok most of the time, but the truth is you can not redneck pro gear. It will fail you at the worst possible time.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back