Ohms Question?(Using a Tiny Terror with an Ashdown Bass Cab)

Pickups, pedals, amps, cabs, combos

Moderated By: mods

User avatar
Boab
.
.
Posts: 779
Joined: Fri Jun 06, 2008 8:27 pm
Location: Carluke, Near Glasgow, Scotland

Ohms Question?(Using a Tiny Terror with an Ashdown Bass Cab)

Post by Boab »

Alright.

Realise you get these queries all the time, but if I'm using my Tiny Terror head with an Ashdown MAG 1x15 Bass Cab, which Ohms connection thingy on the back should I plug the cable into on the TT? It's THIS specific cab here. Looking on the internet it seems to be 8 ohms, but the seller said at the time it was 16?

I'm crap for these sorta things!

Cheers
PLEASE!!!... Tell Me About the Fuckin' Golf Shoes!
User avatar
laterallateral
Traynor or Death
Posts: 5950
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:15 am
Location: Montery Howl

Post by laterallateral »

Unless the previous owner replaced the driver, it should be 8 ohms. However:
Ashdown wrote:Ashdown reserves the right to alter specifications without notice.
So best thing to do is to check the speaker itself. It should have an impedance rating printed on the label.

Edited my og post to reflect the fact that this is a single driver cab. :oops:
Last edited by laterallateral on Fri Sep 19, 2014 3:05 pm; edited 115,726 times in total
User avatar
Boab
.
.
Posts: 779
Joined: Fri Jun 06, 2008 8:27 pm
Location: Carluke, Near Glasgow, Scotland

Post by Boab »

Cheers. Probably just best to use the head at 8ohms, since even if the cab is 16ohms, it's ok to have a head with lower ohms anyway? Cab is probably 8ohms to be honest.

I'm only using the bass cab for our rehearsal space (a garage :) ) anyway, just to avoid having to lug mine back and forth.
PLEASE!!!... Tell Me About the Fuckin' Golf Shoes!
User avatar
blacktaxi
.
.
Posts: 537
Joined: Thu Oct 02, 2008 11:58 am
Location: Kyiv, Ukraine

Post by blacktaxi »

Boab wrote:Cheers. Probably just best to use the head at 8ohms, since even if the cab is 16ohms, it's ok to have a head with lower ohms anyway?
that is interesting question.
i like chocolate, i like fudge
if i can't make any, i won't budge
User avatar
laterallateral
Traynor or Death
Posts: 5950
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:15 am
Location: Montery Howl

Post by laterallateral »

blacktaxi wrote:
Boab wrote:Cheers. Probably just best to use the head at 8ohms, since even if the cab is 16ohms, it's ok to have a head with lower ohms anyway?
that is interesting question.
It is and it's a somewhat debated one.
One thing is certain, mismatching loads is never the best idea. My understanding of it is like this:

Having a speaker load present more resistance than the output transformer expects to see can be bad for your power tubes because the transformer might try to have them draw more current than they can. Most modern output transformers have failsafes against that and all that you can expect to happen is a performance reduction.

The opposite can cause damage to your output transformer because the excess in current could be reflected back into the output transformer, cause it to overheat to the point where the thin copper coiling inside might fuse. Kinda like running your amp under no load, only less so...

All of this will vary based on amp circuit design, components used, operating class, solid state Vs. tube power, blabbity, blabbity, bla...

Best thing to do, to get the most out of your amp and to avoid any damage is to unscrew that panel, check the speaker load and adjust the OT impedance accordingly. What is it? 5 minute's worth of boring screwdrivering?

Play it safe, bro.
Last edited by laterallateral on Fri Sep 19, 2014 3:05 pm; edited 115,726 times in total
User avatar
Haze
.
.
Posts: 4924
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:27 am
Location: Tulsa, OK
Contact:

Post by Haze »

multimeter! all of your ohmage problems will be solved