Silly Solid State Amplifier Question.....

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Now I know this is a cardinal sin in regards to Tube Amp's but can you safely run a Solid State Amp without a speaker connected??? The reason I'm asking is because I've got a old S.S. Fender Princeton Chorus 2X10 that I don't use anymore & I've found myself in need of a cabinet for my Blackheart LIL GIANT 5W head.

Instead of buying a new cabinet to stick under it I figure I'll just wire the two 10in speakers in the Princeton in series converting it into a a 16ohm 2X10 speaker cabinet for the cost of a jack & a little wire? Now originally I had planned on pulling the chassis, reverb tank, Etc. out completely & then filling the leftover gap with some painted plywood.

After giving it some thought, leaving the Princeton chassis in the cabinet & using it solely for a headphone amplifier would be pretty flipping great in the middle of the night!!! Plus it would allow me to put in storage an entirely separate amplifier that I currently use solely as a headphone amplifier & save some space.

So, can I safely run this amplifier without having any speaker hooked up??? I mean in the end I guess I'm not too terribly worried about that amp anyway? If it blows it blows, & I wouldn't loose any sleep over it. However if I can avoid trashing a perfectly good starter/backup amplifier that someone else might get some use out of, or if doing this could be dangerous to myself or my family, I'll just go with the 2X10 cabinet. The chassis can just go into a box until I get something else to put under that head or find someone deserving to give it to.....

THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!!!!

 

[stratguy23]

Re: Silly Solid State Amplifier Question.....

I Google searched this question recently and got the general impression of "most solid state amps don't need a speaker load for safe operation, but check with the manufacturer to be sure".

You might want to shoot Fender an email asking about the Princeton Chorus.

 

[devastone]

Re: Silly Solid State Amplifier Question.....

99.9% sure it will be fine.

 

[skyydogg01]

Re: Silly Solid State Amplifier Question.....

Yeah, solid state doesn't care if it sees a load. And, more than likely if it did, your headphones will suffice.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Silly Solid State Amplifier Question.....

A regular guitar amp running into headphones might sound weird without cabinet emulation. But then again, it might sound fine.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Silly Solid State Amplifier Question.....

You'll be safe but headphone speakers and guitar speakers sure don't sound the same... Might not sound good at all but you won't be sure until you try.

 

[Securb]

Re: Silly Solid State Amplifier Question.....

When you are using the speakers the amp won't be on because you will be using the Blackheart. When you are using the amp you will be using headphones so the speaker output will not be active. So it doesn't matter anyway! Jam in good health my freind.

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: Silly Solid State Amplifier Question.....

Thanks guys, that's what I figured....

The headphone jack of that amp actually doesn't sound bad. Obviously it sounds nothing like the amp does while running through its cabinet but for middle of the night jamming it will do nicely!!!

BTW, I just finished wiring that 2X10 cabinet up & it sounds bloody fantastic with the little Blackheart pushing it!!!

 

[Jacew]

Re: Silly Solid State Amplifier Question.....

A regular guitar amp running into headphones might sound weird without cabinet emulation. But then again, it might sound fine.

I found these for practically free (4 €) from a local flea market:



Philips SBC3155 Headphones with Mylar Domes.

Fender Mustang I have sounded rather bad through couple of Hi-Fi headphones I tried it with. With these, I was blown away how good it was. Tight, little honking middle heavy tone they have just sounds brilliant for guitar!

Haven't tried them with non modeling amp though...

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Silly Solid State Amplifier Question.....

Not a silly question at all–I had never thought of that before and didn't know the answer. Good question!

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Silly Solid State Amplifier Question.....

I found these for practically free (4 €) from a local flea market:

View attachment 81742

Philips SBC3155 Headphones with Mylar Domes.

Fender Mustang I have sounded rather bad through couple of Hi-Fi headphones I tried it with. With these, I was blown away how good it was. Tight, little honking middle heavy tone they have just sounds brilliant for guitar!

Haven't tried them with non modeling amp though...

Trying different headphones with various guitar-related devices capable of driving them, the results are all over the place. Going from one headphone to another is often like closing your eyes and moving EQ sliders at random. Sometimes I buy headphones just to hear how they'll sound with guitar. The ones that sound best with completed music don't always sound best with raw guitar. It can be like trying a different pickup or pedal.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Silly Solid State Amplifier Question.....

Trying different headphones with various guitar-related devices capable of driving them, the results are all over the place. Going from one headphone to another is often like closing your eyes and moving EQ sliders at random. Sometimes I buy headphones just to hear how they'll sound with guitar. The ones that sound best with completed music don't always sound best with raw guitar. It can be like trying a different pickup or pedal.

Exactly!

 

[Securb]

Re: Silly Solid State Amplifier Question.....

Once in a while, I will plug computer speakers into the headphone jack to practice at bedroom volumes. Depending on the speakers it can sound great.