2x10 plus 2x12 question

[msgdman]

I have a Blackface Fender Bassman 4 Ohm head and I sometimes play it through a 2x12 at 4 Ohm and other times a 2x10 at 4 Ohms. Is it possible to chain the 2 cabinets and run the head through all 4 speakers? What does this do to the Ohms I am running? Thanks in advance.

 

[GIBSON67]

If you plug in both cabs into your amp's speaker jacks, then you'll be running a 2 ohm load. I always match impedances on my Marshalls, but Fenders I am unsure if this mismatch will be fine. MAybe some Fender guys will chime in...

 

[Ghostman]

Tube amps, regardless of manufacturer, you need to match the load to the output setting. Two 4ohm cabs plugged in would be a 2ohm load. I've never run across a tube amp that has a 2ohm load setting. You could rewire the cabs to give an 8ohm series load but it would be a special custom cable for that.

 

[GIBSON67]

I believe all Tweed Bassmans and Super Reverbs have a 2 ohm load that is required.

 

[alhayesmusic]

The series box is $35. It is better than a series cable. I always opt to run higher impedances.

 

[msgdman]

If you plug in both cabs into your amp's speaker jacks, then you'll be running a 2 ohm load. I always match impedances on my Marshalls, but Fenders I am unsure if this mismatch will be fine. MAybe some Fender guys will chime in...

Would this be the same if I chained them i.e. head into cab, then that cab into next cab, as opposed to both cabs plugged into head?

 

[msgdman]

I guess I could rewire the 2 cabs at 16 OHM each, and then when hooked up the load would be 8 OHMs making it safer for the 4 OHM head than the 2 OHM load (am I even remotely accurate !)

 

[GIBSON67]

Would this be the same if I chained them i.e. head into cab, then that cab into next cab, as opposed to both cabs plugged into head?

Yes, you will still get 2 ohms by daisy chaining the cabs together in parallel.

And yes, you could rewire each cab to 16 ohms and then run an 8 ohm load. I do not know if that is safer for your bassman or not.