Grateful Dead Music Forum

I recently purchased a Peavey Classic 30--tube amp, unfortunately on Sunday when I jammed with a band for the first time, I had the damn thing on Volume 9, definately past the sweet spot for the speaker. My question is if I add an extension speaker will my overall volume be louder, at the same setting, or does the amp pass 1/2 the power to each speaker which I guess would give me the same volume with a less overdriven result.
I am also just thinking of mic(ing) the amp .
Any thoughts?

Also the other guitarist played a Phil Gawen Wolf replica, me with my lowly Alembic, next time we are gonna switch guitars, but didn't this last time.
Thanks

astroman99 wrote:My question is if I add an extension speaker will my overall volume be louder, at the same setting, or does the amp pass 1/2 the power to each speaker which I guess would give me the same volume with a less overdriven result.

Your volume will not increase but you will push more air. Fucked up sounding, I know. Basically, if you need just a bit more volume the "extra air" does the trick!

Now as to why nothing was happening that can be one of many factors:
- using 16 ohm speakers
- inefficient speaker
- bad cab design causing it to suck up more power but not delivering
- the least efficient speaker getting most of the power
- worn out poweramp tubes
- worn out OT

the list really goes on...

but my real question is why the multi-thousand dollar guitars with a $400 amp?

But if you change the load on the amp from 8 ohms to 4 ohms with a second speaker, it produces a little more wattage, too, no?

Strumminsix

Picked up the Alembic about 12 years ago for $900, Haven't really been in a band since then(well not an electric one anyway), I have always been happier to just play my Martin D19 and not think about the sound...which you guys obviously have been working on for years, it is indeed the weak link in my playing...
Also I had a daughter(well my girlfriend did the hard part) just about 3 years ago... no time
Just a note, my alembic is good few pounds heavier than the Gawan wolf replica.
thanks

playingdead wrote:But if you change the load on the amp from 8 ohms to 4 ohms with a second speaker, it produces a little more wattage, too, no?

If you have a 1x12 combo and you buy a second exact same speaker and put it in a similar cabinet (likely mostly open back) you will decrease the resistance therefore increase the overall watts but that gets split between 2 speakers hence not a huge boost in volume but alot more air moving. I'll see if I can find my notes from working with some electronics guru who did his best to explain it to me with 10 times the detail I gave above but really that's about all I understand. Kidding, sorta.

a99- what about the rest of the details?

SSix

What other details, it is a 16 ohm speaker, I play with a older Korg reverb unit and a couple of pedals, vintage MXR envelope Filter which I prefer over my Mini Qtron, , boss distortion, octave divider, , thats about it
As for the Alembic, it is a 1977 series II, active Pu's as we know
really pretty ...no horn at the bottom, I don't like those horns
on a side note , I played an Alembic that was owned by the guitarist for Harry Chapin, check out the video for taxi(I think it is shown).
.

astroman99 wrote:SSix
What other details

Amp details - output tran info? ext speaker jack? series? parallel? ohms of orig speaker? specs of cab?

the original speaker is 16 ohm and the extension would be a 16ohm, unless I can use a 4ohm or 8 ohm speaker?
Thanks

As a fan of the Peavey Classics I think if the band rehearses too loud to run a 30 Watt amp, trade up for the 50 watt version. That would also give you the option of a 2/12 or 4/10.

Crazy

It didn't even seem like we were that loud, I might have been too close to my amp...?

Tilt it back on the floor and point it at your head like a vocal monitor. Feel the power ...

Your guitar is getting lost in the general roar of a loud rehearsal. Make everyone else turn down. My 40 watt Vibrolux is stupid loud with the volume on 2 in a 20x20 room. I can't imagine the Peavey being that underpowered. 30 tube watts is probably more like 100 solid state watts.

playingdead wrote:Tilt it back on the floor and point it at your head like a vocal monitor. Feel the power ...

Your guitar is getting lost in the general roar of a loud rehearsal. Make everyone else turn down. My 40 watt Vibrolux is stupid loud with the volume on 2 in a 20x20 room. I can't imagine the Peavey being that underpowered. 30 tube watts is probably more like 100 solid state watts.

Gotta agree with the volume.

Also gotta agree with tilting it up! This is by far the best amp stand I have ever used:
http://www.gruven-stands.com/products/?ptag=amp

astroman99 wrote:the original speaker is 16 ohm and the extension would be a 16ohm, unless I can use a 4ohm or 8 ohm speaker?
Thanks

you can only use a 16ohm speaker for the extension. The amp is rated for a minimum of 8ohms, which is the internal 16ohm + the external 16ohm cabinet.

milkcrates are great to make an amp "kick back"

I have found that by being too CLOSE to the amp with it on the ground it might not sound that loud to me but across the room its wicked loud.
When the amp is right at your knees ; where you have NO ears by the way ....
Jamming in tight quarters is tough ; maybe this is part of the prob ?
You could also use the amp as a monitor and tilt it and also mic it thru the PA for the band mates .....

SWEET
I like to put my amp on 4 crates ....