Using one combo as an extension for another

[solo4652]

Hi,

I already have an SWR LA15 100w combo. Here's the technical spec.

[url="http://www.bandland.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1969"]http://www.bandland.co.uk/catalog/product_...roducts_id=1969[/url]

It's a great practice amp, but it's not loud enough for pub gigs, so I'll have to upgrade. I don't really want to sell the SWR since it's vrtually new, and it's a good, portable practice amp.

So - is there a way I could link the SWR to give me, say, 300W?

If I bought this Marshall combo:

[url="http://www.imusician.co.uk/acatalog/info_00061838.html?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=00061838"]http://www.imusician.co.uk/acatalog/info_0...m_term=00061838[/url]

and use it for gigs, is there any way I could use the SWR as an extension speaker for the Marshall if ever I needed more than the Marshall's 300W?

Is this possible? Sensible? I'm trying to save costs here, and in some way use the SWR that I have already.

All advice gratefully received. Please don't get too technical - I'm not in any way an engineer!

Thanks,

Steve

[Deep Thought]

[quote name='solo4652' post='319531' date='Nov 1 2008, 11:15 AM']Hi,

I already have an SWR LA15 100w combo. Here's the technical spec.

[url="http://www.bandland.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1969"]http://www.bandland.co.uk/catalog/product_...roducts_id=1969[/url]

It's a great practice amp, but it's not loud enough for pub gigs, so I'll have to upgrade. I don't really want to sell the SWR since it's vrtually new, and it's a good, portable practice amp.

So - is there a way I could link the SWR to give me, say, 300W?

If I bought this Marshall combo:

[url="http://www.imusician.co.uk/acatalog/info_00061838.html?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=00061838"]http://www.imusician.co.uk/acatalog/info_0...m_term=00061838[/url]

and use it for gigs, is there any way I could use the SWR as an extension speaker for the Marshall if ever I needed more than the Marshall's 300W?

Is this possible? Sensible? I'm trying to save costs here, and in some way use the SWR that I have already.

All advice gratefully received. Please don't get too technical - I'm not in any way an engineer!

Thanks,

Steve[/quote]

Yes, you can do it-just don't do what I did.....

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=7833&hl=prize%20prat&st=0"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...20prat&st=0[/url]

[Machines]

I expect the little combo will be wired to the internal speaker internally, so you can't just unplug the speaker and have it get power from another source. Might be a bit of a DIY jobby but I can see it being fairly straight forward.

That said - the Marshall would rip it to pieces since it's 450w 2ohm with ext cab - and the poor little combo wouldn't cope.

[Delberthot]

I've not looked at the specs but wouldn't it be possible to take a feed from the effects loop send of one amp into the input of another?

[MacDaddy]

what about an effect pedal with stereo outs, one in to each amp?

Edited November 1, 2008 by MacDaddy

[Deep Thought]

[quote name='Machines' post='319644' date='Nov 1 2008, 03:00 PM']I expect the little combo will be wired to the internal speaker internally, so you can't just unplug the speaker and have it get power from another source. Might be a bit of a DIY jobby but I can see it being fairly straight forward.

That said - the Marshall would rip it to pieces since it's 450w 2ohm with ext cab - and the poor little combo wouldn't cope. [/quote]

Note to self-pay attention to original post. My mistake above involved two 300watt combos-this is a slightly different kettle of [i]poisson[/i]. Depends on what size gigs you're playing, but I'd say you're better off getting the Marshall or similar, if that's what floats your boat, and pick up an extension cab if you need one-they seem to be going fairly cheap second hand at the moment, going by recent ones I've seen and been tempted by. I'd have thought using the SWR as an extension was a more trouble than it's worth, but I defer to those with more expertise than me.

[BassBod]

Years ago I used two combos, not really worth the hassle. A more powerful combo with an extension cab option works much better - or just a DI into the PA. The only problem as such is the possible earth loop/hum you often get when linking two mains powered items.

BB

[xgsjx]

Like is already said, use either a splitter of some sort (stereo fx pedal etc) or go from a line or DI out of either combo to the input of other one.
That is if you wanna try the 2 together & see how they sound.

I would either sell the SWR & try get as much as poss as it's fairly new & get the ext cab for the Marshall, or keep the SWR & still buy the ext cab.

Those Marshall combos seem to be very good for the money. Haven't tried one but nearly went for the 4x10 combo (the weight put me off) as they're cheap as hell.

[dannybuoy]

You should first of all try patching them together using the fx loop out of the SWR to the fx loop return of the new amp. This would bypass the tone shaping preamp stage of the 2nd amp meaning and make it just amplify the SWR tone. This might not work though if the SWR FX loop is wired up in series.

Another alternative is to take a lead from the tuner out of one amp into the input of the other.

What I would do though is get a Boss CEB-3 Bass Chorus pedal, and using a very subtle setting hook each side of the stereo output to a different amp, and put each amp on the opposite side of the stage. It will sound phat!

[solo4652]

Thanks for all these helpful comments.

Since I'm useless with anything remotely technical, I think I'll heed the warnings here and stay away from cobbling things together in some sort of heath-robinson lash-up. If it can go BANG, it will do if I'm around.

The Marshall is very enticing at that price. Will somebody please buy my SWR, (make me an offer around £180) so I can go and buy the Marshall?

Steve

[dannybuoy]

Put it in the for sale forum. Stuff seems to be moving very slowly at the moment though due to everybody being skint!