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What cab to use with a 100W tube amp?

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Devo-lution

Jun 24, 2009
535
4
#1
Hi all

Last friday, I made the decission of buying me my very first full tube amp. It won't replace, but live next to my solid state rig.

Even though, the sound of this tube amp is really convincing and while I was originally planning to only use it mic'd up and for recording, I'm starting to get tempted to try and archieve this sound live (without a PA) and on rehearsals.

Shows I'm doing are either in small cafés or mic'd up so the only standard is that it should be able to compete with a drummer.

Possible option number one: The seller had a matching 115 cab that was built specially for this amp. He told me that I could get it with a serious discount. It's a ported design (been told this isn't ideal for tubers) but during a small test drive it sounded quite good to my ears. Not sure if it'll keep up in a band.

Possible option number two: ...

Well, that's why I'm starting this thread ;)

thanks y'all
Kim
 
#2
Devo-lution said:
Possible option number two: ...
Click to expand...
There are so many variables, it's almost impossible to recommend a certain cab seriously.
First of all, not all tube amps sound the same. In fact, tube amps vary much more than solid state amps, soundwise. Thus, the quest for the perfect cab for a tube amp takes a lot of time and work, testing, comparing of all sorts of cabs.

I'd say take the 115, if it's really designed especially for that amp. 1x15" should suffice in 99% cases.
 
#3
yeah, you're right. I'm quite sparse on information.

But since it's a customly made tube amp, it's impossible to tell someone how it sounds. I was told by others that it's somewhere in the same tonal universe as a Fender Bassman, but I'm not the one to confirm this as I never actually heard a Fender Bassman.

This 115 was designed by the same person that built the tube amp with the purpose of running it with that specific amp. Maybe I'd better make this simple and go for the 115. I can always contact the builder if I want a second one for volume reasons, since the amp also does 4 ohm.
 
#9
The right cab to use with a 100 watt tube amp is one with multiple speakers assuming you want volume.
A 1x15 with my old V4B had beautiful tone but not alot of volume.
A 2x15 or 4x10 worked much better.
Also, be mindful of amp and speaker impedance
 
#11
Not wishing to derail - but i guess im not as the OP got what he wanted - but im in a similar position too.

I just picked up my first valve amp:

IMG_0980.jpg


100w of british-made valve goodness

Untill i save up the dosh to get a Matamp GT200, this will likely be my main practice amp with one band and ideally my gigging amp with both bands im in.

It will only run 8 or 16 ohms. TaySte (who I bought the amp off) supplied me with a y-cable that should allow me to run 2 8-ohm cabs at 16ohms. Its a practical solution but just seems to be a bit messy and really I'd be happier with a single 8-ohm cab, also the cable is Two speakson jacks into one 1/4 inch, my new SWR is only 1/4inch.

I've taken the head to practice with one of my bands and put it through a Aggie GS112nt and the tone was great but it looked really silly and was pretty much shooting valvey goodness all over my feet (urm, sorry, that was crude). The Aggie is a keeper and lives at my practice room where it is about to be joined by my Ampeg Micro VR.

So I got hold of the SWR 2x12 you can see in the pic. so far, so good. so now i've got 2 12inch speakers pumping out bass as opposed to one but im still curious:

I've seen alot of people with lower-powered tube amps go for 2x15s. My only main concern is that come that 'big gig' situation, that I wont really hear my amp and dont want to run it at full tilt for a whole gig coz its stocked full of the Brimars and Mullards that it was built with and dont want to red-line the damn thing just for the sake of being heard.

At the practice session mentioned above I was only runnin one channel (you can daisy chain them) and only into a single 12incher, but volume and master at about 7 each. It was over driven without being super-distorted but really I just wanted some opinions as to whether a 2x15 would project more volume?

sorry if these are n00b questions, i'm just startin to venture to the amps forum now my effects GAS has largely died.
 
#12
It would be louder because you had more speaker area, assuming equal or better sensitivity to your current cab. I think a lot of people are traditional and like to pair 15" drivers with tube amps and 1x15" won't go too far by itself. (It's about the equivalent of a 2x10",) That whole "they're warmer,and deeper" rumor crap doesn't help either.
 
#13
yeah, a friend of mine had a 2x15 + a 100 watt and used it in a LOUD band. It did what it needed to do.

I did some informing and if I'd go for the 115 (which is 8 ohm), I can always have a second one built. The amp can do 4 ohm. Sounds like the most wise decissions regarding tone and value, als it sounded really good with one of these 115's.

So what's the deal with this vented vs sealed cab situation? I hear lots of people (builders, experts, ...) say that tube amps are at their best with sealed cabs, yet I see lots of people using tube amps with ported cabs. I'm not claiming to have any expertise as I never actually played a sealed cab.
 
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