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Post by flem on Aug 25, 2005 15:21:36 GMT -7
Something I keep hearing in local music stores is that you can change the tone slightly by matching different impeadance, i.e. 4:4 vs 8:8 vs 16:16 ohms.
Anyone have any experince with this?
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Post by kruzty on Aug 26, 2005 6:42:28 GMT -7
You can change things a little by MIS-matching, but you have to be careful with that. You can damage the amp (especially tube amps). I believe your cab can have a higher impedance, but not lower, than the amps output. For example, if your amp has an 8 ohm output, you can use a 16 ohm cab, but NOT a 4 ohm cab. The main thing I've noticed doing this is lower volume (which may be obvious since you're using a higher impedance), but I don't know about much of a tone change. Before you try this, can someone confirm or deny what I've said?
Andy
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Post by billyguitar on Aug 27, 2005 16:30:14 GMT -7
Fender amps can handle a 100% mismatch okay but not Marshalls or Vox, from what I've read. Mismatching up in impedance (8 ohm tap on the amp to a 16 ohm cab for instance) won't hurt anything but I suspect you won't like the sound as well. In think it takes away some highs and is a little less volume. Theoretically the higher impedance taps on the transformer use the whole transformer and the lower impedance taps use proportionally less. It's accepted that the higher impedance tap sounds better because of that reasoning but I've always thought the amps sound fine on the 8 ohm tap. Note: I have no electrical engineering education but this is what I've read and heard myself when experimenting. So, I could be totally wrong but I'm a dancin' fool! (quoting Frank Zappa)
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Post by G'OlPeachPhan on Aug 29, 2005 15:52:13 GMT -7
Actually, it's the other way around on the tube v. SS amp comment... You can get away with a mismatch in one direction or the other on MOST tube amps (running an 8 ohm tap at either 4 or 16 ohms for example, but you should absolutely NOT mismatch a SS amp!
Running a tube amp with an 8 ohm output into a 4 ohm load will make it break up earlier, make it punchier, etc. I actually really like the results of this mismatch with the Ghia... Adds extra character to the sound and feel from my experience... but that might also be because to get to 4 ohms, I'm running a second 2x12 8 ohm cab in parallel with the first 8 ohm cab.
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Post by cheycaster on Oct 6, 2005 10:56:25 GMT -7
OK, I'm totally lost here now but .......I have two original marshall 4x12 Cabs made in 68' with the original greenbacks in them both ;D, so can I run both of my Maz Juniors into them? They are 16 ohm cabs and as you all know the Maz's only have 4 and 8 ohm outputs. I would only run the marshall cabs alone without the Maz's 10's........Thanks!! Cheycaster
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Post by Laroosco!! on Oct 6, 2005 12:21:09 GMT -7
OK, I'm totally lost here now but .......I have two original marshall 4x12 Cabs made in 68' with the original greenbacks in them both ;D, so can I run both of my Maz Juniors into them? They are 16 ohm cabs and as you all know the Maz's only have 4 and 8 ohm outputs. I would only run the marshall cabs alone without the Maz's 10's........Thanks!! Cheycaster Should be fine.
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Post by cheycaster on Oct 6, 2005 14:44:37 GMT -7
Thanks, I'll giv them a try. How do you get to be a "junior" member etc?? Cheycaster
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