Jazzneck Posted October 29, 2015 Posted October 29, 2015 (edited) I've just spent a pleasant hour annoying the neighbours playing my '53P alike through my 1973 Ampeg B15N Portaflex. The tone is superb old school blues / rock'n'roll but the volume is quite low before the EV speaker starts farting out. It occurred to me that I could maybe put the Ampeg B15 head through the Barefaced like I did with my Elgen 100W head. Has anyone tried this trick? Will I get more volume or is it the amp that is the limiting factor? I'll need to make a special lead to try it, the Ampeg has one of those funny 4 prong jobbies, if I'm to isolate the EV speaker / cab. The extension speaker out on the Ampeg is 8ohms so I'll have to find out what the EV connection ohmage is, won't I. Edited October 29, 2015 by Jazzneck Quote
discreet Posted October 29, 2015 Posted October 29, 2015 I'm no expert but I think you may perceive more volume as the Retro will be more efficient? Quote
Beer of the Bass Posted October 29, 2015 Posted October 29, 2015 Aren't the old EV drivers known for being pretty efficient themselves? I'd still be inclined to try it with the Barefaced though, just to hear how it sounded. The B15n may behave a bit differently with a 4-ohm cab than with the intended 8 ohms. Quote
Jazzneck Posted October 29, 2015 Author Posted October 29, 2015 (edited) [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1446121195' post='2897037'] I'm no expert but I think you may perceive more volume as the Retro will be more efficient? [/quote] Yup, that's my thinking. The Portaflex experts over in the US say that the output impedance to the EV in the cabinet is 8 ohms but it's OK to run to a 4 ohm cab. but to watch out for an overheating transformer on the amp. The 4 prong to Speakon connection is going to take a bit of working out though. Edited October 29, 2015 by Jazzneck Quote
JTUK Posted October 29, 2015 Posted October 29, 2015 You could put it thru anything but I wouldn't pay out for anything extra. Low powered amp so you aren't going to get any volume out of it, IMO. Quote
mazdah Posted October 29, 2015 Posted October 29, 2015 [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1446138160' post='2897269'] You could put it thru anything but I wouldn't pay out for anything extra. Low powered amp so you aren't going to get any volume out of it, IMO. [/quote] I wouldn't use the word "any", I regularly gig my 30-watter with great results. We play rock music and I use amp as a monitor on stage, and used Ashdown Little Bastard on gigs with audiences from 60 to ~3000 people. Quote
JTUK Posted October 29, 2015 Posted October 29, 2015 Good luck then.. I wouldn't take it anywhere near a gig tbh. Quote
Merton Posted October 29, 2015 Posted October 29, 2015 Depends on your tonal goals. I also gig a 30W valve amp and its glorious but completely overdriven the whole time. If you want clean, avoid it Quote
IanA Posted October 29, 2015 Posted October 29, 2015 Maybe you are just pushing it into overdrive and there is nothing wrong with cab Quote
Beedster Posted October 30, 2015 Posted October 30, 2015 With obvious exceptions you can pretty much put anything through anything. Part of the mojo of the B-15 tone is however the cab. Perhaps try it the other way around, that is put another head through the B-15 cab, and you might see what I mean. Volume/power is one thing, and is easily achieved, mojo on the other hand is a little more elusive Quote
Jazzneck Posted October 30, 2015 Author Posted October 30, 2015 Thanks to you all. I tried it last night with the result that the clean volume increased but not massively. There was an increase in low frequencies for the same tone settings through the Barefaced over the B15N cab. The B15N amp still reached "clipping distortion" at the 12 o'clock setting on the volume control, both channels, through the Barefaced. Conclusions. 1) Leave the B15N well alone and use it, as is, for recording and low volume gigs. 2) Use the TB500 or the Elgen100W head with the Barefaced for all other situations. 3) [size=4]Use the Sansamp [font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]VT Bass DI in the circuit to the PA as and when required.[/font][/size] [font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]4) Continue to learn to play bass properly.[/font] [size=4][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Does all that make sense?[/font][/size] Quote
Merton Posted October 30, 2015 Posted October 30, 2015 All except point 4. Not sure I understand this "properly" of which you speak? Quote
discreet Posted October 30, 2015 Posted October 30, 2015 (edited) [quote name='Jazzneck' timestamp='1446196466' post='2897585'] [size=4][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Does all that make sense?[/font][/size] [/quote] Yep. Edited October 30, 2015 by discreet Quote
Jazzneck Posted October 30, 2015 Author Posted October 30, 2015 [quote name='Merton' timestamp='1446197426' post='2897592'] All except point 4. Not sure I understand this "properly" of which you speak? [/quote] A term used by my 21 yo nephew who attended BIMM for a few years studying bass. Apparently I do not hold my fretting hand "properly" and that I would fail Grade 1 because of this. The fact that I have played bass in bands for nearly as long as he has lived, that he suffers from RSI in his left wrist and thumb and he has the highest grade possible leads me to believe I am missing something and I should continue to learn so I can be like him. Quote
discreet Posted October 30, 2015 Posted October 30, 2015 I never fail to be amused by young people who imagine themselves to be intelligent by virtue of the fact they spent a few years at University. Ha, ha, ha! A piece of paper does not impart the secrets of groove or how to be a useful member of a rhythm section. Quote
Beer of the Bass Posted October 30, 2015 Posted October 30, 2015 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1446199624' post='2897612'] A piece of paper does not impart the secrets of groove or how to be a useful member of a rhythm section. [/quote] Ooh, Jeff Berlin would be frothing at you for that one! Though TBH I'm pretty sure I'd have more fun going to see your band than his... Quote
MoonBassAlpha Posted October 30, 2015 Posted October 30, 2015 Maybe the nephew spends a huge amount more time playing? Quote
JTUK Posted October 30, 2015 Posted October 30, 2015 LIke him or not, Berlin is a monster player who can indeed hold a groove. Whilst he may not be known as a groove player... you only have to listen a tad to know he has that as well. He was well known and well used in the NY session scene and you don't do that if all you have is pyro Quote
Beer of the Bass Posted October 30, 2015 Posted October 30, 2015 [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1446210700' post='2897757'] LIke him or not, Berlin is a monster player who can indeed hold a groove. Whilst he may not be known as a groove player... you only have to listen a tad to know he has that as well. He was well known and well used in the NY session scene and you don't do that if all you have is pyro [/quote] Absolutely, but he does like to rant about the tendency to focus on "groove", and that's what I was semi-jokingly referring to. He's a monster player and his approach and dedication to education deserves respect, even if his music is rarely my cup of tea. Best forget I brought it up... Quote
Jazzneck Posted October 30, 2015 Author Posted October 30, 2015 [quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1446208680' post='2897720'] Maybe the nephew spends a huge amount more time playing? [/quote] That's what like I thought like. But, no is the answer to that one but he does sit in his bedroom playing and recording whilst I stand up playing most of the time with a band. I did suggest "99, change hands" but he acted ignorant. Nevermind, I'll play on..... Quote
MoonBassAlpha Posted November 1, 2015 Posted November 1, 2015 You may have a good point there, even if he is fretting "correctly" technically, the seated posture may indeed do that style a disservice if the neck is too low and the wrist is too bent upwards. +1 to the change hands at 99 Quote
discreet Posted November 1, 2015 Posted November 1, 2015 [quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1446379729' post='2898863'] +1 to the change hands at 99 [/quote] More like 9... just sayin'... Quote
lo-freq Posted November 21, 2015 Posted November 21, 2015 [1st post to basschat - I'm mainly here because I'm interested in the Barefaced cabs.] If your band or the venue has a decent PA, mic the cabinet. A Super Twin II or Big Twin II would be a tad bit more efficient than the Two10, so you might have to mic that as well. The original cab will be a major contributing factor to the tone, but I suspect just about any of Alex's cabs would sound great with that head. Quote
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