Amp and Cab settings! HALF STACK HELP!

[HeavyMetal4Ever]

Originally Posted by Weezel

Wow, you really are a moron!!(<--my younger brother) These people are telling you the same thing I did!! Just use the damn 16ohm on amp and 16ohm on cab. Nuff said lil buddy!

Your younger brother huh? Whatever gets you through the day mate

Rock on!

[racerevlon]

Originally Posted by Draco

I've read on several message boards (from people who seem to know what they're talking about) that for a TUBE amp, a safer mismatch is to plug into a lower rated cab (i.e. 16 ohm output of the amp into 8 ohm cab). For solid state, the safer mismatch would be how you explained it. I'm far from an expert in these matters, but I've read people explaining this on more than one occasion.

Those people are incorrect. It won't happen immediately, but the output transformer on the head will fry. It'll work, albeit badly, right up to the point of failure.

Running an 8-ohm cabinet off the 16-ohm tap in EITHER a tube or solid-state amp will fry the output transformer. The values on the taps are MINIMUMS. So, on the 16-ohm tap, you need a MINIMUM 16-ohm load. Last time I checked 8 < 16 .

If you want to be as absolutely safe as possible, run off the 4-ohm tap. Unless you have some weird 2-ohm cabinet (usually reserved for stereo equipment and such) you'll be safe.

Cheers,

Race

[blackspy]

Originally Posted by racerevlon

Those people are incorrect. It won't happen immediately, but the output transformer on the head will fry. It'll work, albeit badly, right up to the point of failure.

Running an 8-ohm cabinet off the 16-ohm tap in EITHER a tube or solid-state amp will fry the output transformer. The values on the taps are MINIMUMS. So, on the 16-ohm tap, you need a MINIMUM 16-ohm load. Last time I checked 8 < 16 .

If you want to be as absolutely safe as possible, run off the 4-ohm tap. Unless you have some weird 2-ohm cabinet (usually reserved for stereo equipment and such) you'll be safe.

Cheers,

Race

^^ This

[Draco]

Originally Posted by racerevlon

Those people are incorrect. It won't happen immediately, but the output transformer on the head will fry. It'll work, albeit badly, right up to the point of failure.

Running an 8-ohm cabinet off the 16-ohm tap in EITHER a tube or solid-state amp will fry the output transformer. The values on the taps are MINIMUMS. So, on the 16-ohm tap, you need a MINIMUM 16-ohm load. Last time I checked 8 < 16 .

If you want to be as absolutely safe as possible, run off the 4-ohm tap. Unless you have some weird 2-ohm cabinet (usually reserved for stereo equipment and such) you'll be safe.

Cheers,

Race

I was always under the impression that the safe mismatches were how you originally stated them, but like I said, I started reading differently. Coincidentally, I was on the Dr. Z amplifier message board last night and this same issue popped up - the man who owns the company and designs the amps stated that the safe mismatch is how you stated it. I think I'll just stick with matching 8 to 8 and 16 to 16...less for me to worry about!

[racerevlon]

Good call--your tubes will appreciate it and reward you by lasting longer.

Cheers,

Race