Combinations on heads and cabs

JTN

JTN

Supporting Member
Nov 24, 2019
22
31
2,551
Holliston, Massachusetts
#1
I know there are many thread on this which I've read some. I'm posting to ask about some specific combinations that may be less common to get feedback. Here's gear I have access to (don't own it all some in rehearsal space, at local blues jam). I'd like to share what's worked for me and get input if it's recommended or not (e.g. safe for gear, sound quality etc). Some combination just because I'm curious, not necessarily practical. This is a blend of old school (Accoustic), 90s (Eden), 2000s (HTs) and modern (Genzler, Arkham, Sumo, Aguilar) and mix and match. And yes I feel very fortunate to have this first world problem of "what plugs into what" ;-)

Eden WT550 head - goes down to 2 ohms
Genzler MG800 head - goes down to 2 ohms (with a switch)
Acoustic 370 (not mine but should it be? I love this head-) - I believe this not only goes to 2ohm it excels at 2 (though have never tried).
Arkham Oracle Tube pre + Sumo Class D [Ark/Sumo] 1000 watts [not mine]
Acoustic 150b [not mine] haven't tried yet but will

For a standard reference we'll assume a 2000 USA Fender Jazz Deluxe with pups stock active pups replace with Seymour Duncan Jazz Antiquity II's (in the style of Jaco). Though I also use a 2018 4003 Ric with neck pup replaced with Nordenbocker and AVRI 63 p-bass. Style is Chicago Blues, Jazz funk and walking bassline and Rock (Dead, Zep, Beatles, Petty etc).


David Eden 410XLT 700w @40hms cab - adjustable tweeter (a million pounds maybe 7
Two Genzler 2x10 slant cabs 8ohm 500W each - array of 2inch speakers for "tweeters" 36lbs (each)
Two Bergantino HT-112 - adjustable tweeter 38lbs
PJB compact 2 (2 5inch speakers, no tweeter) 8ohm 200W 16lbs
Mesa 2x10 cab (unknown specs, not mine at rehearsal space let's assume 8ohm 300 watts for sake of argument - will post picture if you know let me know). I don't believe it has a tweeter.
Bergantino 2x12 4ohm (not mine at Blues jam)

First the classics that I know work and don't expect much discussion:

2 and 4 and 6 10s:
WT550 - 410XLT - made to work together sounds amazing flat.
MG800 - Two Genzler 210 slant cabs - make to work together sounds amazing flat.
MG800 - Eden 4x10 - I need to boost the bass a little but sounds amazing.
[First choice for gigs as total weight is 80lbs] MG800 - Genzler 2x10 - sounds great, though I was blown away by how the two 2x10 cabs are more than the sum of there parts. Question is part of this now that I'm running at 4ohms?
[First choice to rehearsal e.g. it doesn't move] MG800 410XLT + Mesa 6x10 heaven. Not for volume but for extra tone or something. Question should I switch the MB800 to 2 ohms for this? Is OK to run to 4ohmn 4x10 and 8ohm (assume Mesa)? I haven't tried the WT550 is it enough to power this? Is it recommended?

1 and 2 12s:
WT550 - HT-112 - same era, a match made in heaven. I also love the tiny footprint as I my specialty is playing in small spaces (e.g. my favorite is playing in front of a bathroom and moving so people can pass by my while playing to poo). I find this has more low end and power than a single 2x10.
Genzler HT-112 - old school heavy wood and magnet with new school light head. Works like a charm and sounds great even flat.
WT550 with two HT112 - my combo of choice. Roughly same weight as Two Genzler 2x10 slant cabs (36lbs each vs 38 for HT112) but much smaller footprint. I like the build in compressor and how the input breaks up and there's a little something about pre neo cabs.
MG800 + two HT112s - Old and new and sounds great together. If I want more dirt the Genzler delivers with the OD channel. In both cases I turn one tweater to zero as this was recommended by the seller (who said Jim B. suggested this as they cancel each other out otherwise).
360 + Aguilar 2x12 + Fender Jazz. Quite possibly the best tone I've ever had and got compliments from a number of folks who have toured and recorded. Have not compared to Bergs.
Ark/Sumo + Aguilar 2x12. Modern and vintage. Only did one night so still absorbing this one.
Question what about three 12s? Would say 3 HT-112s with MG-800 or WT550 or Agg212 + HT112?

Micro rig (no drums with accoustic guitar or jazz ensemble)
MG-800 PJB - do I risk blowing this up? I need to boost the bass. It sounds very nice. Have not tried live not not sure how much this will carry and if I wish I had a 110. Great for home rehearsal.
MG-800 PJB + HT112 - could I do both? I suspect this is not advised as you won't hear the PJB or maybe it's like a array and turn off the tweater?

Thanks for humoring me,
Jason
 

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#4
What a playground you have at your disposal! I'm somewhat envious.
When doing such comparisons, you really need to be aware of how much power is supplied by the amp into a specific load (2, 4, 8 ohms).

Any time you connect two 8 ohms cabinets to the same amp (individually or daisy-chain) your resultant total load is 4 ohms. Connecting three 8 ohms cabinets (as you were asking about HT-112s) would result in a total load of 2.7 ohms. Pay attention to these combinations in order to prevent equipment damage. This is fundamental knowlege you should always be aware of.

If you're not sure about equipment power and load ratings, look it up, just like I do. A minute or two or research could remove potentially averse combinations.

The Bergantino HT-112s are 8 ohms at 300 watts each.
The Mesa Boogie cabinet is a Powerhouse 210, 8 ohms at 400 watts and it does have a tweeter with controls.
The Mesa Boogie 610 you snuck in is a Powerhouse 610, 4 ohms at 900 watts.
Yes, you are risking frying the PJBs with the MG-800, as they are only rated for 200 watts.
Yes, the Acoustic 370 is good down to 2 ohms, but not less.
https://mikesgig.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Acoustic-370-manual-410056.pdf
 
#7
I might have to come back and re-read the OP when I'm more fresh -- couldn't keep track of all of it at this hour. : - P I will say, since you mentioned a Jaco influence, that I got to play an Eden WT 550B through a Mesa Powerhouse 210 (friend's rig) and liked the synergy -- and bridge pickup harmonics popped like crazy. If the 610 is similarly voiced, I'd imagine a similarly happy pairing.

I haven't played an Arkham Oracle but I have played the Zephyr, which is, I think, essentially the same thing in a rack format and gotten good results with it live through a variety of cabs -- the Range control affects the voicing of the Treble and Bass controls which in turn affects how they interact with the mid and low boosts (switches). Lots to play with, there. Gain control affects the feel and the "thickness" of the mids, with the harmonic character. Try dialing that in first.

JTN said:
[First choice to rehearsal e.g. it doesn't move] MG800 410XLT + Mesa 6x10 heaven. Not for volume but for extra tone or something. Question should I switch the MB800 to 2 ohms for this? Is OK to run to 4ohmn 4x10 and 8ohm (assume Mesa)? I haven't tried the WT550 is it enough to power this? Is it recommended?
Click to expand...

Magellan 800 is rated for 2.7 Ohms minimum -- it won't like two 4 Ohm cabs (at least it's not recommended). That aside, a 410+610 is more than I'd likely attempt for a rehearsal rig, but you can always try it and see how they play together.

If you're combining an 8 Ohm and a 4 Ohm cab (Did I read that right? Is the 8 Ohm cab the Powerhouse 2x10?), be mindful not only of the resulting impedance (2.7 Ohms) but of how the power is distributed to each woofer. The 4 Ohm cab will get double the power of the 8 Ohm cab. In the case of a 4 Ohm 410 with an 8 Ohm 210, this works out well (equal power to each woofer), assuming the drivers are in the same ballpark, power-handling wise. How they'll play together sonically, I can't say -- you'd have to try and see.

Have fun (and -- as I'm sure you know -- don't blow out your hearing!).
 
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#8
MarkA said:
If you're combining an 8 Ohm and a 4 Ohm cab (Did I read that right? Is the 8 Ohm cab the Powerhouse 2x10?), be mindful not only of the resulting impedance (2.7 Ohms) but of how the power is distributed to each woofer. The 4 Ohm cab will get double the power of the 8 Ohm cab. In the case of a 4 Ohm 410 with an 8 Ohm 210, this works out well (equal power to each woofer), assuming the drivers are in the same ballpark, power-handling wise. How they'll play together sonically, I can't say -- you'd have to try and see.
Click to expand...

That's correct the Eden 410XLT is 4ohms and the Powerhouse 2x10 is 8ohms.
They do sound good together to my ears. The main takeaway is I should change the MG800 to 2.67 for this combination (it has a switch for this).
 
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