geofreesun
New member
would running a 100w head into a 90w cab do damage to either of them?
quick wattage question
- Thread starter geofreesun
- Start date
marvar
New member
Re: quick wattage question
It depends on how much you wind up the amp-
most speakers are underrated by as much a 10-20% the speaker mfg, like to cover their butt.
I've been running 2x25 watt greenbacks for years with my 60 watt Marshall, and have had no problems. However, I've never had to turn it up past 7, so I've never put too large of signal into them.
Is your amp tube, or SS, what kind of speakers are you wanting to use?
It depends on how much you wind up the amp-
most speakers are underrated by as much a 10-20% the speaker mfg, like to cover their butt.
I've been running 2x25 watt greenbacks for years with my 60 watt Marshall, and have had no problems. However, I've never had to turn it up past 7, so I've never put too large of signal into them.
Is your amp tube, or SS, what kind of speakers are you wanting to use?
Stuntman Jim
New member
Re: quick wattage question
It´s all up to you. You could damage a 100w cab with a 30w amp if you play loud for a long time. The coils in the speakers get too hot if you push it too far too long. You can drive 50w speakers with 1000w amps and play loud if you know you´re not going too loud.
/Jimmy
It´s all up to you. You could damage a 100w cab with a 30w amp if you play loud for a long time. The coils in the speakers get too hot if you push it too far too long. You can drive 50w speakers with 1000w amps and play loud if you know you´re not going too loud.
/Jimmy
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: quick wattage question
In short, if you don't want to blow those speakers don't do it...
In short, if you don't want to blow those speakers don't do it...
geofreesun
New member
Re: quick wattage question
nice~ thx for the response.
yes i mean a tube head. so technically i can run a 100w tube head into a 90 w cab as long as i do not turn up the volume too much (to kill my neighbors) :scratchch
nice~ thx for the response.
yes i mean a tube head. so technically i can run a 100w tube head into a 90 w cab as long as i do not turn up the volume too much (to kill my neighbors) :scratchch
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: quick wattage question
You can run a 100 watt head into a cab rated for 90 watts and if you don't crank it you should be ok but no matter what you are taking a chance...
I have seen guys blow 50 watt speakers with 20 watt amps...
You can run a 100 watt head into a cab rated for 90 watts and if you don't crank it you should be ok but no matter what you are taking a chance...
I have seen guys blow 50 watt speakers with 20 watt amps...
geofreesun
New member
Re: quick wattage question
this only happens if you crank it all the way right?
this only happens if you crank it all the way right?
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: quick wattage question
There are too many variables...
Read this, from South Bay Amp Works/Scumback Speakers:
Please understand one thing. Most amps are rated for their advertised RMS wattage at clean signals. On most amps that's going to be at 2 on the volume knob. So your 100 watt Marshall puts out 100 watts at 2. You like to play it at 7, and if your amp is healthy, that's when it puts out 150-180 watts (or more). The guys at Marshall knew what they were doing when they put the "100" logo in the corner of the cabs, but that still meant that you needed two of them to handle a 100 watt amp that put out 180 watts at the levels you set the amp! Get your amp tested for it's real output wattage, no one likes the smell of a melted speaker, OK? Always figure you need twice your RMS wattage in speaker power handling to safely run your amp on 10.
If you get two 30 watt speakers to run with your 50 watt amp, and dime it, they'll be good to go for awhile. I don't know what timeframe "awhile" is. I've safely done it for 2 hours straight, without issues. I have not done that for extended periods, so you want to take that into consideration with all the OD pedals, clean boosts, and so forth that push speakers to raise your level for solos. Use your good old common sense here. Sure, your old small block sounded great and was running awesome at 8000 rpm for "awhile", then the crank, piston, or connecting rod broke, and you weren't mobile anymore. Use the same common sense judgment with choosing your speaker wattage.
There are too many variables...
Read this, from South Bay Amp Works/Scumback Speakers:
Please understand one thing. Most amps are rated for their advertised RMS wattage at clean signals. On most amps that's going to be at 2 on the volume knob. So your 100 watt Marshall puts out 100 watts at 2. You like to play it at 7, and if your amp is healthy, that's when it puts out 150-180 watts (or more). The guys at Marshall knew what they were doing when they put the "100" logo in the corner of the cabs, but that still meant that you needed two of them to handle a 100 watt amp that put out 180 watts at the levels you set the amp! Get your amp tested for it's real output wattage, no one likes the smell of a melted speaker, OK? Always figure you need twice your RMS wattage in speaker power handling to safely run your amp on 10.
If you get two 30 watt speakers to run with your 50 watt amp, and dime it, they'll be good to go for awhile. I don't know what timeframe "awhile" is. I've safely done it for 2 hours straight, without issues. I have not done that for extended periods, so you want to take that into consideration with all the OD pedals, clean boosts, and so forth that push speakers to raise your level for solos. Use your good old common sense here. Sure, your old small block sounded great and was running awesome at 8000 rpm for "awhile", then the crank, piston, or connecting rod broke, and you weren't mobile anymore. Use the same common sense judgment with choosing your speaker wattage.
geofreesun
New member
Re: quick wattage question
that helped a lot! thanks!
that helped a lot! thanks!
James Rock
New member
Re: quick wattage question
Sorta similar but how does it work with VOX/Celestion Blue's. They are rated at 15w's each and I remember at least the reissues and vintage VOX AC30's being rated at 33W. And VOX's are usually way louder then you think (AC15's kick the fender pro junior's butt in loudness and clean headroom). Is this due to a heavier and sturdier magnet?
Sorta similar but how does it work with VOX/Celestion Blue's. They are rated at 15w's each and I remember at least the reissues and vintage VOX AC30's being rated at 33W. And VOX's are usually way louder then you think (AC15's kick the fender pro junior's butt in loudness and clean headroom). Is this due to a heavier and sturdier magnet?
SlowGroove
New member
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: quick wattage question
Your probably fine if your not running a Plexi or a Hiwatt. I've run a rather cranked 50 watt amp through a 60 watt speaker on gig after gig in the past.
Your probably fine if your not running a Plexi or a Hiwatt. I've run a rather cranked 50 watt amp through a 60 watt speaker on gig after gig in the past.
GuitarGuy503
New member
Re: quick wattage question
IMO as long as you don't crank it it would probably be ok. It wouldn't be a bad idea to call or email a few amp companies to get a few opinions though.
IMO as long as you don't crank it it would probably be ok. It wouldn't be a bad idea to call or email a few amp companies to get a few opinions though.
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