Solid State --> cabinet

alex1fly

Well-known member
Is 30 watts of solid state amp enough to drive a 2x12 8 ohm cab? I'm looking at smaller practice/backup solid state amps, and still want to be able to use my 2x12 cab. Thanks!
 
Re: Solid State --> cabinet

You just have to make sure the cab can handle more than 30w and the amp's speaker output doesn't have more than 8 ohms impedence.
 
Re: Solid State --> cabinet

Should be, yeah, just make sure your impedence matches up properly and all that. Heck, you can drive a 4x12 with half a watt - the Zvex nano head.

SS/tube "watts difference" is more about perceived loudness, pleasant clipping, etc. than it is about ability to drive a cab.
 
Re: Solid State --> cabinet

As the others said, as long as the amp can handle 8 ohms (or lower). Most solid state heads can.

Out of curiosity: what amp are you looking at?
 
Re: Solid State --> cabinet

I'm looking at the Kustom HV30 and other tube emulation amps. Finding one for less than 300 dollars that has a speaker out really limits the options; the Kustom HV30, Behringer V-ampire series, and the Behringer GMX212 are really the only ones that have speaker outs that I've found. Now I'm leaning towards the new Spider III, because I've heard them live and they sound great. A 30 watt goes for 200 bucks and I probably won't be playing any gigs where I can't mic the amp or run into the board.
 
Re: Solid State --> cabinet

Kustom's solid state amps are some of the best nowadays, but why do you want such low power in a SS amp?

I hate that Line 6 stuff, but hey, just one guy's ear.
 
Re: Solid State --> cabinet

Well I'm just looking for a practice/backup amp, because my Roadster puts out all the volume I'll ever need and its really time to get something smaller and more portable than a 100 watt tube head and a 2x12 cab. One thing I like about the Line 6 stuff is that 2 of the modes are modelled after the Mesa Dual Rec; so if I do need to use it live as a backup amp then it will sound comparable and similar to my main amp.
 
Re: Solid State --> cabinet

i used my little Berhenger Vintager thru a Marshall 150 watt 1x12.... it didn't sound bad but i could not get it loud enough as the amps own speaker crapped out real early....

you may concider a used small tube combo like a C30 and a few pedals.... i used that as a band practice set up for ages and saved my 5150 set up for gigs....

a set up i enjoy sometimes as well is a Fender Stage 100 DSP head i bought new for $250 as the store just wanted to get rid of it.. It had been there for years... It sounds awful thru the clean channel but thru the distortion channel i love the big 80's distortion sound with a little delay... it offers only the one great tone saddly but it's fune to play with the FX's too... i used it last night a jam thru my Marshall 1x12....
 
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Re: Solid State --> cabinet

I'm interested in the newer Valvetronix XL series - they're supposed to be more geared towards modern tones. I wasn't impressed with the 30 watt Valvetronix combo I got last year; the distortion sounded like cheap Boss pedal distortion. I think I'm going to be deciding between the Kustom HV30 and the Line 6 Spider III. Both are tube emulation combos, but the Kustom has an external speaker out and the Line 6 doesn't. The Line 6 however models 2 of its 4 channels after the Dual Rec, so I could for sure get tones like my amp out of it. Plus I've played on Line 6 stuff, I like it, and I've heard it sound pretty darn good live. I need to find one of the Kustoms to play on, but its hard being an hour from two "major" cities who sport just a Guitar Center apiece and a handful of smaller music stores that seem to specialize in Yamaha guitars, orchestral instruments and other sorts of off-brand type music gear.
 
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