Underpowering Orange terror bass

[Motown_Phenom]

hey guys, I may have the opportunity to get my hands on an Orange terror bass 500. The only issue I have is that I've recently learned or underpowering an amp. I currently have a 2x12 800 watt 4ohm speaker. My question is do you think I would have any possibility of damaging either the speaker or the head from underpowering the setup? Any help would be appreciated, thanks guys!

 

[bholder]

Should be fine.

 

[blubass]

There is no such thing as underpowering. Lots of guitar amps have variable power attenuators, and every amp has a volume knob, which also reduces power to a speaker.

Now, overpowering a speaker... that's a thing

 

[Plastalmonus]

Whoever made up underpowering deserves to be publicly flogged.

 

[Wisebass]

Hi Motown_Phenom

any possibility of damaging either the speaker or the head from underpowering the setup?

No!

Whoever made up underpowering deserves to be publicly flogged.

Yep! Just play loud enough!

Wise(b)ass

 

[Downunderwonder]

hey guys, I may have the opportunity to get my hands on an Orange terror bass 500. The only issue I have is that I've recently learned or underpowering an amp. I currently have a 2x12 800 watt 4ohm speaker. My question is do you think I would have any possibility of damaging either the speaker or the head from underpowering the setup? Any help would be appreciated, thanks guys!

It is 4 ohm so there is a pretty reasonable chance you could OVERpower it with low end eq. That 800w rating will likely be at 1kHz for some minutes. If you give it a maximum wallop of low E with the bass maxed you could launch the cones into the grill. Don't do that.

 

[mouthmw]

You haven't learned all about "underpowering". You haven't learned the part where there's no such thing.

 

[lug]

I recently underpowered my amp (by foolishly turning down the "volume" knob) and my cat died the very same day. I wouldn't risk it!


(note: I don't really own/have never owned a cat)

 

[knumbskull]

ah, this old chestnut! takes me back.

just make sure the ohm rating matches exactly and the amp's wattage is within the range that the cab can handle.

 

[knumbskull]

I recently underpowered my amp (by foolishly turning down the "volume" knob) and my cat died the very same day. I wouldn't risk it!


(note: I don't really own/have never owned a cat)

I underpowered my amp, later that day i bought a hat – it didn't suit me.

 

[Plastalmonus]

Also just so OP @Motown_Phenom knows, we are taking the piss out of the idea of underpowering, not them for posting their question.

Hopefully you enjoy your Terror

 

[lz4005]

hey guys, I may have the opportunity to get my hands on an Orange terror bass 500. The only issue I have is that I've recently learned or underpowering an amp. I currently have a 2x12 800 watt 4ohm speaker. My question is do you think I would have any possibility of damaging either the speaker or the head from underpowering the setup? Any help would be appreciated, thanks guys!

What exactly do you think underpowering is?

 

[Warpeg]

hey guys, I may have the opportunity to get my hands on an Orange terror bass 500. The only issue I have is that I've recently learned or underpowering an amp. I currently have a 2x12 800 watt 4ohm speaker. My question is do you think I would have any possibility of damaging either the speaker or the head from underpowering the setup? Any help would be appreciated, thanks guys!

Next steps:
1.) Identify the person or entity that taught you about 'underpowering'
2.) Correct them on their ignorance and avoid them
3.) Learn about correct amplifier and cabinet matching from the fine folks here on Talkbass

 

[higain617]

You can't under-power a speaker cabinet. Slap whoever told you that.

 

[erigod23]

Couldn't resist.

 

[chaosMK]

I underpowered my cab once, wasnt loud enough

 

[KickingBass]

We’re not upset with you for asking OP, we’re upset with the person who probably ignorantly told you that and mislead you. Now where is he? We’d like to talk to him...

 

[MattZilla]

@erigod23 def oughtta change Robin's line to something like "you might underpower your cab, and that might damage your amp". It's those folks who could use a good ol Robert Mitchum across the temple, not the ones to whom they've spread the fear.

 

[Greyvagabond]

IIRC, isn't "underpowering" basically driving a crappy, low-watt amp into serious hard clipping, and the resulting square-wave signal to the speakers being "bad?" I don't remember that actual rational.
Either way, pretty sure any amp these days has some sort of limiter/compressor to prevent anything bad from happening.

 

[erigod23]

@erigod23 def oughtta change Robin's line to something like "you might underpower your cab, and that might damage your amp". It's those folks who could use a good ol Robert Mitchum across the temple, not the ones to whom they've spread the fear.

Yeah, I thought that too after I made it.
Oh well, it's all in good fun....