Sort of dumb PA questions

[moth_baller]

I've been digging out all my gear from when I used to play before I quit.

I have a 100 watt PA system that hasn't been powered on in 7 years or maybe a bit longer. Didn't power on, the fuses are missing. I forgot I yanked them to use on a Xmas display (don't ask).

I have a sick peavy 5150 that take 3 amp fuses. PA takes 4 amp fuses. Seen threads Where people stick lower amp fuses in and it's alright. Can't get 4 amp fuses locally. Can get 3 amp to test the peavy. Just want to see if the PA will power on. Is it alright to use a slightly lower amp fuse to test the PA? If it saves me a few bucks then cool. I'll order the right ones after the fact. PA was my clean tones since the 5150 isn't great for cleans. If the PA is trash then I know I can get rid of it. PA was cheap (sounds good) so no biggie.

Next up is cables to connect the speakers to PA head. The cables I had didn't make it in the cross country move. They were cobbled together monster rca cables with 1/4 inch adapters and worked well. Went to just order a couple short guitar cables and a suggested video came up saying don't do that.

Ordered 10 neutrik connectors to fix my pedal cables and main line for the axe. I have a good amount of heavy gauge speaker wire. Since I have spare connectors is it cool to solder those on the wire I have to run the PA assuming it works? I don't know if those will handle the current.

I'm shaking off the cobwebs after a long time off and was never good. Just looking for reasonable sound to pick up where I left off and use what I have at hand.

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Sort of dumb PA questions

Honestly, for the price of them (what, $3 for 5?), just order some. Yes, you can stick lower amp fuses in there (if the voltages are good), but I do not recommend that at all. Bigger chance it will blow then you need to replace those on top of buying the correct ones. Go with something that rates properly for the voltage and current.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Sort of dumb PA questions

I agree with just ordering the right fuses. They will be at your house in a few days, and will alleviate any frustration with lower-rated ones blowing.

 

[VinceT]

Re: Sort of dumb PA questions

You'll need to use speaker cables to connect PA head to speakers, not instrument cables.


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[SlyFoxx]

Re: Sort of dumb PA questions

1/4" plugs will work just fine for speaker connections provided the wire isn't so thick that the covers can't be screwed back on. And remember to put the covers over the wire BEFORE you solder the plugs. I think just about anybody who has rolled their own cables has forgotten that at least once.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Sort of dumb PA questions

Yes to all of the above.

3A fuses will be fine for just checking out the PA. You can always substitute a lower value fuse in place of a higher one without risk of damage to the equipment, but they're more likely to blow when the unit is working hard. So order the correct value for actual use situations.

Do not use guitar cords as speaker cables. That does represent a danger to your equipment, and the resulting damage can be serious & expensive. For speaker connections big is generally better so use the heavy duty wire you have on hand to make your own. (If you only needed to make sure an amp was working, you could probably get away with using an instrument cable for a few minutes at low volume. But I recommend against it- they're designed for tiny amounts of juice and if it shorts out, the consequences will be immediate and drastic.)

EDIT: No worries about the speaker wire you've got. The regular size zip cord attached to a table lamp can handle far more current than your 100W PA will ever put out.

 

[moth_baller]

Re: Sort of dumb PA questions

Cool. Thanks for the info. I'm glad I caught that about the speaker cable. The cables that came with the PA were really crappy so I had it in my head to just use short patch cables.

 

[moth_baller]

Re: Sort of dumb PA questions

Went to use the fuses I picked up to trouble shoot the 5150 and they were too long. PA uses the 5x20 size fuses. Had to order them.

Threw the fuses in the PA and hellz yeah it works. Plugged my Takamine in and played for a while. Some of the knobs are scratchy but still sounds good.

That I gave it a think, I got it for like 90 bucks when Mars music went out of business. Logos say audio choice by sound tech. 4 channels, reverb, an effects loop and foot switch inputs. It's super light weight package. Easy to transport. Only ever ran mics through it. Still wish I could have got a group of guys that wanted to play music and jam. Thing has a stigma of being the reason I never want to be in a band or try to start one.

Going to give it a good cleaning.

 

[Securb]

Re: Sort of dumb PA questions

Some of the knobs are scratchy but still sounds good. Going to give it a good cleaning.

Get in there with some electronic cleaner and clean the pots up. Sometimes just rolling them back and forth for a bit will also clean them up if you are not comfortable opening up the amp.

 

[moth_baller]

Re: Sort of dumb PA questions

I think I have a can of it. If not I'll be picking some up next time I'm out and about.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Sort of dumb PA questions

I've seen some small PA heads like that at open jams. They are perfect for small rooms, open mics/jams, rehearsal with a quiet band, or a volume-conscious band that doesn't mic the instruments in a small room.

 

[Securb]

Re: Sort of dumb PA questions

I've seen some small PA heads like that at open jams. They are perfect for small rooms, open mics/jams, rehearsal with a quiet band, or a volume-conscious band that doesn't mic the instruments in a small room.

I have played through a few smaller PA combos like my Peavy PA 100 with great results. I know it is a different animal, but a lot of guys, including Jimi were using the Marshall P.A. heads for guitar back in the day. PAs are very neutral the tone is very easy to shape with the right pedals.

 

[VinceT]

Re: Sort of dumb PA questions

And, if you do get into a jam/practice situation that needs more PA oomph, you could use the small head for monitoring.


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[ehdwuld]

Re: Sort of dumb PA questions

As with any electronic endevor
Be careful with stored voltages on caps and such

Unplug and let sit overnight before opening the case
And still be careful not to touch caps

 

[6stringerguy]

Re: Sort of dumb PA questions

What guitar is that specifically?


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[moth_baller]

Re: Sort of dumb PA questions

It's a takamine ge-400 kt. Made in the 80's. Had it like 15 years picked it up at a pawn shop in Denver.

 

[moth_baller]

Re: Sort of dumb PA questions

As with any electronic endevor
Be careful with stored voltages on caps and such

Unplug and let sit overnight before opening the case
And still be careful not to touch caps

Yeah I've done a handful of electrical repairs. I was careful. It hadn't been powered on in a decade before I put the fuses in.

 

[moth_baller]

Re: Sort of dumb PA questions

And, if you do get into a jam/practice situation that needs more PA oomph, you could use the small head for monitoring.


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I used it for running a couple mics a few times jamming. But that's it. I used it for a stereo system more than anything.

 

[moth_baller]

Re: Sort of dumb PA questions

I didn't know marshall made stuff like that. I've been digging how my Tak sounds out of it. Actually has a decent reverb. Currently just running one speaker. Plenty loud for my bedroom.

 

[moth_baller]

Re: Sort of dumb PA questions

I've seen some small PA heads like that at open jams. They are perfect for small rooms, open mics/jams, rehearsal with a quiet band, or a volume-conscious band that doesn't mic the instruments in a small room.

I wish I would have put it to more use over the years. Surprised it actually turned on for it being pretty bottom of the barrel.