Is this a dumb idea?

alanolynn

alanolynn

Aug 19, 2012
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#1
*Pulls tab on can of worms and throws*

So, I own a TC Electronic BQ500 ($249) head and a Hartke 112B ($299) cabinet. I enjoy them. The small package, the sound, the price, all of it....except for the volume restriction, which is to be expected at this price level.

I can't just pick up another matching cab, since it's only available in a 4 ohm configuration. And I can't just get a different head to power the cab due it's own limitations.

My idea is.....purchase a matching setup. Like, the same exact thing I have, just double. It would cost the same, if not less, than buying a different set of cabs, or a larger, louder setup. Then, I just run a "bi-amped" setup. I have no desire to make it a true 1-high 1-low set up though. I just want to move more air for a decent price.

The BQ head hardly feels like 500 watts, which I can understand since it's class D. But this HAS to at least help some.

Amy I crazy? Is it a bad idea? Am I wasting your time making you read this?

Thanks.
 
#4
However, you might also consider the $550 investment, plus whatever used value your current rig has, and putting that into a single rig that will work for you.

Looks like the Hartke HD112 is switchable between 8 ohms and 4 ohms. Sell your 112B and put your full budget into two HD112s. Use one at 4 ohms for smaller gigs, or switch to 8 ohms and use both for larger gigs. Just a suggestion... I'm not really familiar with TC Electronic or Harke at all.
 
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#7
Not so crazy. Y connect the inputs together (if two inputs per channel simply jumper the inputs with an instrument cable), like people such as Hendrix and Clapton did in the 60's

Jimi-Hendrix-Guitar-Rig.jpg
 
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#8
alanolynn said:
The BQ head hardly feels like 500 watts, which I can understand since it's class D.
Click to expand...

Not how it works. Watts are watts. The output architecture is totally irrelevant. The first "class D" amps were tube, built for radio transmission back in the 1930s. "D" was the next letter on the list so that's what they called it.

There's plenty of micro SMPS amps - not all class D, the older Markbass stuff is class A/B, the "micro" part is a result of using an SMPS power supply - out there that will blow out your window glass or crack your drywall. Just to cite amps I've actually played with, the Quilter Bass Block, the GK MB500 or 800, Markbass 800, Mesa 800 series. All class D. There are no doubt plenty of others.

The reason why the BQ doesn't feel like 500 watts is because it isn't. They even tell you so in the documentation (I know this because I have one, and will be gig testing it in a few hours and then will drop a review here this weekend). It's 500 watts PEAK. The conversion on that is PEAK * .707 = RMS, so my trusty calculator is telling me that's 353.5 watts RMS. At 4 ohms. The way most of these power modules work, that should equate to about 175-200 watts RMS at 8 ohms. But TC made their own module for this amp and haven't released specs on it...so we have to guess.

It sounds good and reasonably loud in the music room, but the acid test is a gig. Which I have this evening. The room it will be in is a bear for bass under any circumstances, so it's a good test. One which my MB500 passes every time.

Your idea isn't dumb. You need two cabs at least. But it is complicated; the only line out on the BQ500 is an XLR feed. The splitter cable thing posted above is less than ideal, you need something buffered so that you don't lose any output from your bass. Plenty of decent A/B/Y adapters out there. I'd get one were I trying to do what you are. Add that to your total cost. Probably about 80 bucks. Best of luck.

If this amp is reliable, a 350 watt bass head for $199 will be a legit game changer.
 
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#11
You can get a radial A/B/Y pedal. .it can split between either of two heads or run both together. Canadian made , cheap price, built like a tank. I use it with a WD-800 and a Subway 800 + ( Good luck and I hope you find a solution)
 
#17
beans-on-toast said:
Not so crazy. Y connect the inputs together (if two inputs per channel simply jumper the inputs with an instrument cable), like people such as Hendrix and Clapton did in the 60's

View attachment 3418600
Click to expand...

I’ve had exactly those effects and half the amplification for bass. 1971. But my point if I had that again now I wouldn’t be typing on TB right now and you could hear me playing. :):)
 
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#18
alanolynn said:
*Pulls tab on can of worms and throws*

So, I own a TC Electronic BQ500 ($249) head and a Hartke 112B ($299) cabinet. I enjoy them. The small package, the sound, the price, all of it....except for the volume restriction, which is to be expected at this price level.

The BQ head hardly feels like 500 watts...
Thanks.
Click to expand...

Just checked Hartke's site. The 112B is 4 ohms and rated at 300 watts. Seems like you've got a bit of a mismatch between your amp and cab?
 
#19
ProdigalBassman said:
Just checked Hartke's site. The 112B is 4 ohms and rated at 300 watts. Seems like you've got a bit of a mismatch between your amp and cab?
Click to expand...

Still, that 500 is PEAK power. Which means, it could push 500 watts if its going downhill, on fire, with a tail wind...for about 20 seconds.

Since this post, I've updated the cab to a more "gig-worthy" SWR Henry 8x8. This has changed everything, and now, I've got plenty of sound to blanket the floor. I've also added a Boss LMB3 and an MXR M80 DI to the mix, which helps with the poorly designed input and EQ of the BQ.
 
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