Archive for the ‘music’ tag
fender bassman cab
Help with Bass Amp Setup? Cabinet, head with xlr output?
I currently have a Fender bassman100. I am currently looking to upgrade to a bigger amp as my band is starting to gig. I was wondering if I could use my Fender combo amp (the bassman) as a head for another simple bass cabinet. That way I wouldn’t have to buy a head and cabinet ( save money). The only thing is, my fender amp only has an xlr output in the back. it has an output volume control and everything but it’s only xlr. If you can even use combo amps in series with cabs could I possibly run an xlr-1/4″ cable into the new cabinet? That’s the only way I can think of for connecting the two, again if it’s even possible. If anyone can answer these questions and give some tips/advice that’d be great!
Hi. The XLR is not a speaker connection. I am certain this is a direct out, meant for recording and hooking up to a PA.
If there was a speaker out extension, then it is a 1/4 inch, regular jack, most of the times. A select few of the larger amps may also come with a dedicated (locking type) speakon connector – the same used on PA cabinets these days.
If there is no connector in the back for extension cabinet or a plug in for the existing speakers, then you will have to manually link the speaker wires to a new cabinet.
What ever, you do, be dead certain you know what you’re doing in order to match the amp load (in ohms) and that you do not play the amp without speakers connected. This is a tube amp (?) and you risk blowing the output transformer – very, very expensive.
I would take the issue up with a qualified repairer/tech or a large instrument retailer to hear what they have to say.
Or possibly … if this is one of these cheap, tiny combo things – not the larger tube thingy? Then you can more or less forget to use it with a gigging band. Way, way, way under-powered and an extension cab will not solve anything at all – just raise the cost without doing anything about the volume you will need.
A 100 watt tube amp may potentially have been adequate. Most players use 250 – 400 watts and up on a bass in order to A. Be heard, and B. play clean without ripping their speakers apart.
There is far more watts needed on a bass amp than say a guitar amp. If you look at a PA, then, the majority of power is used at the bass bins for the same reason. Takes more powers to get those low frequencies across properly 
Rivera KR100 Demo with Fender Bassman Cabinet Impulse Response
