Help matching the right cab with a low watt tube amp

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metalj

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So i bought a nice 20 watt Tube amp. Hughs and Kettner 1x12 combo. The best amp i have heard for me and my playing.

I know why would you buy a 20 watt tube amp then want to hook an additional cab up to it? good question. But it does have a speaker extention jack and i just want to explore my options. my 4x12 cabs that i use with my heads are like 300-400 watt monsters and when i hook them up to the jack, it changes the tone of the amp, and is actually not as loud as the combo by itself. I have the correct impedance hooked up so it is not that.

my question is, do i need a special cab that is rated for lower watts to keep the original tone?? or in theory should any cab with the right impedance work even if its rated at a much higher power rating?

thanks
 
Cabs are really a matter of personal preference. Impedance matching is a concern for keeping the amp healthy but after that, it's all about the sound.

I'm a born again believer in low power tube amps but 20 watts is still a respectable amp volume wise. Power handling/matching/efficiency should be part of the equation for sure in that if you get a high power speaker in front of a low power amp, it will sound limp. Low power amps don't always drive speakers as hard as they were designed to work...mixing the speakers up can round out your sound if you're planning to play in a quieter studio /practice environment. There are some detailed specs for the speakers not usually published with the cabs. Find out what speakers are really in the cabs and check out the manufacturer's website for the nitty gritty. There's a bit of science to the speaker magnet size, coil efficiency -n- stuff like that.

I can tell you I played several combinations before settling on a 2x12 (1 celestion VIN30 and G12H30). The Vintage 30 has the mid brittle 80's rock sound while the G12H30 has a nice full bottom end. I'm still experimenting with recording this speaker cab but I've already found that I can record one speaker or the other or both which give up some nice flexibility.

I'm a fan of partial open backs for small venue work. If you're trying to make a small amp sound bigger from the stage, a closed back will give a little something in the way of projection. For strict recording applications, I also prefer the closed back but overall universal applications the partial open back is my preference.

You're going to have to play some cabs...the folks at Avatar Speakers will let you try out their speaker cabs and return/exchange them if you don't like them...they were very helpful when I jumped into the low power tour. You'll pay for the return shipping but that's the price you'll pay. Some of the other big chains have a 45 day return policy which might give you a chance to try a few before you settle.

I feel your pain...good luck.
 
Yeah, ill have to just start trying them out, always the best.

thanks
 
I have an original 68 Deluxe Reverb (22w) and use it both with the original 1x12" ... and an old (72 or so) Marshall 4x12 cab.

The original speaker sounds louder, more "in your face", although the amp cab'd sounds more relaxed - and bigger - as it pushes more air.

If you use the cab out jack - make sure you disconnect (if it doesnt automatically) the internal speaker - you dont want to drive the internall and 4 external speakers in parallel

cheers
alfred
 
You might want to check into which other companies manufacture low-wattage tube amps. I know a couple of the nicer brands make low-wattage heads and matching cabs.

Soldano makes a 20-watt head called the Astroverb and pairs it with a 2-12 cab. You might see if the impedance on those cabs matches that on your amp.

THD also makes a 20-watt head. Try to find out what they recommend as far as cabs are concerned.

That's my two cents.

~Brent
 
Budda's got a 2x12 cab that you can match with their 18 watter.
 
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