Small guitar amp into cab?

Sweetloaf · 5 Jul 2008 at 18:16

Just got myself a little Fender Vibro Champ and I bloody well love its sound, I'm thinking of trying out a few different small valve or hybrid amps in the coming months, Champion 600, Epi Valve Junior and a few oddments I can get hold of.

My question is:

What happens if you plug a 5 watt combo/head in a cab, say a 2x12 or 4x10 if I can find one.

I'm curious because I'd love to hear these little amps over a drum kit, they sound superb to me.

I know this seems like backtracking from the spec me a quiet amp thread but I love experimenting. I'm talking about £200 max for the cab so nothing OTT.

I've never used a cab before (that was mine) so what's all this 4, 8, 16 OHM business about?

Cheers!

m3csl2004 · 5 Jul 2008 at 18:29

I have a Harley Benton valve junior rip off - at 5w. through my Framus 2x12 with v30s its bloody loud, loud enough to be heard with a drummer, all though I wouldn't say it could out power one.

sounds very good when cranked

All though since I got my (amazing) mark II, the word loud has been redefined.

edit: the ohmic rating its the cabinets impedance, you will find the that your amp with have a similar rating on its power output, match them, 8 to 8, 4 to 4, 16 to 16. you can get away with having the cabinet at a higher rating then your amp. IE 4 ohm amp output to 8 ohm cabinet - makes it quieter.

Sweetloaf · 5 Jul 2008 at 18:48

Cheers, is the Harley Benton any good, it seems rude not to try it at £70-£80 quid.

How good are the low level Marshall Cabs?

http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/76156

I could happily use a 4 or 8 ohm output amp into that and get a good volume boost then? Obviously I'll have to try it before I buy but I just want to know that I'm not barking up the wrong tree here

Have you ever tried the Orange Tiny Terror?

Sweetloaf · 5 Jul 2008 at 23:24

Any ideas on what the hell this is?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320267787793&_trksid=p2759.l1259

It's just aroung the corner from me, I want a 2x12 or a 4x10 simply because that's what I always favour in Guitar Rig

m3csl2004 · 6 Jul 2008 at 12:49

its a marshall head (with a valve in the pre amp) and a 4x10 cab - not amazing, but good for the money they go for.

the tiny terror is amazing - proper single channel tube overdrive

the harley benton is basically a valve junior. they do clean to break up very well, very little in the way of overdrive until they crancked to 7+ though. at which point there loud. i think theres a 15w version now.

the more speakers the louder it will be. and tbh the impedance is just something I would match up for now - the loudness of the amp is more effected by speaker real estate and wattage.

have a google for:

BLACKHEART HANDSOME DEVIL HEAD BH15H

15w tube through a 4x12 or a 2x12 will be easily loud enough with a drummer.

Sweetloaf · 6 Jul 2008 at 16:27

Cheers, that Marshall Cab is apparently 8Ohms, is it worth waiting for one that handles 16, 8 or 4 do you think?

I Think The Orange TT outputs at 8 or 16, I assume that anything 16Ohms will knacker an 8 Ohm Cab? Sorry for all the questions but I really don't have a clue about these things...as you can probably tell

m3csl2004 · 6 Jul 2008 at 16:34

No - its the amp that suffers.

basically - any head will have a set of outputs, or 1 output with a switch. just match them, ie use the 8 ohm output if you have an 8ohm cab and 16 is you have a 16 etc etc

do not use a higher output from the amp then a cabs rating, ie, 16 ohm output on a 8 ohm cab, you can damage your amp.

Sweetloaf · 12 Jul 2008 at 09:18

Ok I've narrowed things down to a couple of 4Ohm cabs but can't try them locally, I'm trying to decide between:

http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~Marshall-MC212~ID~5716.asp

and

http://www.thomann.de/gb/fender_fm412sl.htm

I'm going to Grab a 15watt Blackheart HD head which also has a 4Ohm output and about £100 cheaper than a Tiny Terror, any opinions on which is the better cab?

m3csl2004 · 12 Jul 2008 at 09:46

Not sure - I assume you want a 4 ohm cab so you can use your vibro champ?

a 4x12 is going to be very loud....

Sweetloaf · 12 Jul 2008 at 09:55

m3csl2004 said:
Not sure - I assume you want a 4 ohm cab so you can use your vibro champ?

a 4x12 is going to be very loud....

Yep, the Vibro and the Blackheart can output at 4Ohms mono. Again, not sure quite how it works but if The Vibro Champ pushes 5watts then through 4 speakers does that equate to 5watts through each speaker giving an effective 20watts or does it just seem louder because the cab is pushing more air. If so then the Blackheart is a little ott through a 4x12 but I want the presence and drive control that it has.

m3csl2004 · 13 Jul 2008 at 12:35

5 watts is 5 watts (all though it will probably do more when pushed) it's just the sheer amount of speaker.

you'll be fine on volume, it's controllable with my 5 watt head. whereas my mesa goes from off to **** me between 0-1. should be a nice sounding set up for blues/classic rock

Sweetloaf · 13 Jul 2008 at 13:32

m3csl2004 said:
should be a nice sounding set up for blues/classic rock

That's exactly the plan, cheers again :cool:

Sweetloaf · 13 Jul 2008 at 14:42

Oh and wouldn't it be rude to not grab one of these?

http://www.andertons.co.uk/acatalog/info_EPAIEMJRH.html?utm_source=Froogle&utm_medium=Froogle

Such a decent price

m3csl2004 · 13 Jul 2008 at 14:53

I wouldn't bother tbh

My harley benton just sits in my cubard unused.

I fancy the blackheart though, so I want in depth reviews

Sweetloaf · 13 Jul 2008 at 19:52

m3csl2004 said:
I wouldn't bother tbh

My harley benton just sits in my cubard unused.

I fancy the blackheart though, so I want in depth reviews

I'm not sure that the Blackheart 15watter has actually hit these shores yet so I need something new to play with plus it's moddable so I may have a muck about with it