What can my speakers handle?

[Ace]

OK, right now my rig is running like this:

Various guitars tuned to C
VHT Valvulator line buffer/power supply
Ibanez TS-9
Electro Harmonix Octave Multiplexer
ADA MP-1
bbe Sonic Maximizer
VHT 2150
Mesa Boogie Halfback 4X12 with 90W Celestions on top, 200W EV's in the bottom

OK, now when I play sometimes I turn the "blend" knob on the Octave Multiplexor up high, which gives me 100%(I don't know if "wet" is the right word here) of the two octaves below what I am playing. So when I hit my low C string, it gives me a blend of the two lower octaves of C, one of which would be where a bass guitar tuned to C would be if it were accompanying me, and then another an octave below even that. It makes for a really earth shaking organic sort of organ-like tone, which I really love. The only concern I have is that I'm gonna blow something up. On the other hand, the VHT is a REALLY powerful power amp, and I NEVER have to turn it up past half way, and my speaker cabinet is rated at a collective 580W, which is way more power than even the VHT can dish out. I know people have used 4X12's and VHT 2150's in bass rigs before, but I'm going an octave BELOW that, so that is my only concern. Any comments?
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[markD]

Re: What can my speakers handle?

well, it may flub a bit with those extra low C's. i am pretty sure you won't blow the speakers, it's just a matter of how tight you want it. if it flubs or distorts on the low end, just try the wet signal ratio at 80% and see if it tightens up.

[Ace]

Re: What can my speakers handle?

At 100% you can hear it breathing, and of course it isn't too tight sounding, but the drone is what I like about it.

[Chuckracer]

Re: What can my speakers handle?

The EV's will take it, but the Celestions are gonna go.

[OnlineStageGear]

Re: What can my speakers handle?

When you are talking about notes that low, all wattage ratings on speakers are out the window.

Matt

[Twisteramps]

Re: What can my speakers handle?

what Matt said. You're dealing with speaker excursion. I'd recommend getting a bass cab and put some crossovers on your guitar cab... there's a reason why bass players don't crank it up through guitar cabs.

Pete

[metallicarocks]

Re: What can my speakers handle?

I've never heard of it done, but you may try getting a crossover going to a bass amplifier. I'd seperate the signals at about 50hz on down to the bass amp, and anything above 50hz going to a guitar amp. That way, you could have a good, clean signal, keep your sound, and have even more flexibilty on your mixing.

Or... If you have a lower budget than that, you might try building a custom cabinet. You'd still need a crossover to make it work right. I'd put in two high wattage speakers with a frequency range of somewhere around 50-60hz up to about the 15khz region, then throw in some lower frequency speakers (from about 20hz up to 50-60hz). You'll still need a crossover to make it work though.

HTH

[Twisteramps]

Re: What can my speakers handle?

btw, cut and pasted from a deja.com search:

Message 4 in threadFrom: Steve Manes ([email protected])
Subject: Re: Blowin' Guitar amps.. (was re:12" vs 15")  
View this article onlyNewsgroups: rec.music.makers.bass
Date: 1993-10-06 13:37:35 PST

Alex Gottschalk ([email protected]) wrote:
: In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] (Sanjay
: Srivastava) said:
: >
: > Be careful about driving bass through a guitar cabinet. Most guitar
: >speakers aren't built to handle the low frequencies of a bass, and there's a
: >good chance you'll blow your speakers or at least damage your cones if you
: >try it.
: I have never blown out a guitar cabinet by playing bass through it, and I
: have never met anyone who has. I'm not flaming you or anything, I just have
: never heard of this happening (although I have heard that it *can* happen).
: Has anyone ever blown a guitar amp by playing a bass through it?

Me. Twice, as a matter of fact. Back in the Dark Ages, before ten-inch
speakers were available in off-the-rack bass amps, my favorite "bass" amp
for small, coffee house-type clubs was the Fender Super Reverb. I didn't
actually own one because I knew I would fry it but when I got a gig in the
pit of an off-Broadway show and our amps were supplied by a rental outfit, I
asked for the Super. I blew the speakers out on two of them before the
company refused to give me another one.

[metallicarocks]

Re: What can my speakers handle?

Happened here too, mostly practice amps though. We have blown one in our Jazz band though. It was a Crate GX series, that was probably the problem right there!

[OnlineStageGear]

Re: What can my speakers handle?

I should have took a pic of this but oh well. Back about maybe 8 years ago, damn I am getting old, we put a mic on the bass drum of my drummers rig and completely shattered the paper in a 400 watt rms woofer which was probably 800 peak. It was done with one side of a 300 Watt amp so basicly 150 watts.

Matt