Amp Head Decision Dilemma

[ancientbones]

I really want a new amp head. I found a guy in Michigan who makes Thiele design cabs and I got him to make me 2 1x15s loaded with Eminence Delta Pro 15a's, but I'm torn trying to find the right amp head for me.

I'm hoping I can find something that'll run 2 outputs at 4 ohms total since each cab will be 8 ohms each. Also kind of hoping to find something that isn't wider than 24 inches, but I could deal with something bigger.

I'm also not sure if I really want to commit to a 100w head or just go with 50w. I don't need a ton of clean headroom and I mostly just want some crunch. Master volume might be handy though. If I need more I could just turn on my rat.

$500 would be my max without shipping.

My first thought was something like a Sovtek MIG, but I'd have to completely rewire the cabs so they can run in series which I'd rather not do so that option is kind of tossed aside in my mind.

My second thought was maybe a Traynor YBA-1 or YBA-1a, but I'm not sure if they handle 4 ohms very well. The manual says they run at 8 ohms and with a speaker extension 4 ohms, but is that going to kill tubes faster at all or have it run quieter? I don't really know. I've seen quite a few with master volume mods to the back so that'd help in the crunch-at-any-volume department.

Lastly I've been looking at the Carvin X100B. This seems like an alright option, but I've heard the overdrive on them isn't really great. I found an older X60 model that's in a smaller headshell than the usual X100B (looks more like a fender or mesa head rather than a marshall style box). Still has the EQ and I think the circuit is the same as the X100B, at least the 80s ones.

Do you guys have any other cheap suggestions? I guess I'm mostly torn between going for a Traynor or going for this weird Carvin.

[Iommic Pope]

I would say you're going to need 100w to push all that adequately.
Have you considered older solid state stuff intended sort of but not really for bass and/or guitar?

[frigid midget]

I have no clue wich amps out there can do 2x4 ohm, I just know that I've been told not to use anything but an 8 ohm load for my YBA-1

Awesome amp imo, which, when properly serviced/biased, needs some sort of mod or just a pedal, no NOT sound clean, even at higher volumes. I haven't tried yet, but I would think that an attenuator could do the trick if you dime the volume. But that would take a decent atenuator, and probably a new set of tubes every couple months

[MEC]

If you're patient, you might be able to find an Ampeg V-4 for around that price.
I ran a 4ohm 215 for bass and it was perfect for my needs.

[odontophobia]

Where are you at in Michigan?

I have an X100B. Wasn't really looking to sell it but I do have an abundance of amps right now. :shrug:

That said. I agree, I think you're going to need 100w to push 4-15" speakers.

[braaandooon]

Finding a proper high wattage head under 24" wide may be tough. I'm all about aesthetics to a point and hate when a head is too big for a cab.

V4 will be to big at 27" wide, but a V2 at 24" wide may be the ticket. It's what I run with my verticle Emperor 2x12. The V2 will also handle your pair of cabs aswell. It's also a very loud 60 watts, or can be a loud 80 watts w/ KT-88's. The V2 runs nearly 600 volts on the plates and screens so either NOS 7027's or KT-88's would be all I would recommend for that amp.

I run a Traynor YRM-1 at 4 ohms at times, but can't speak for reliability over the long haul.

[ancientbones]

Where are you at in Michigan?

I have an X100B. Wasn't really looking to sell it but I do have an abundance of amps right now. :shrug:

That said. I agree, I think you're going to need 100w to push 4-15" speakers.

I'm near Detroit. Also I think I made a mistake, it's only 2 15" speakers.

[ancientbones]

I would say you're going to need 100w to push all that adequately.
Have you considered older solid state stuff intended sort of but not really for bass and/or guitar?

I have, but I haven't found anything I really like. Old peaveys are alright, but that's what I was running before so I'm looking for something different. I was looking into a Traynor Monoblock B but the guy wouldn't ship it to me even though I offered to pay the shipping!! A Sunn Beta Bass or Beta Lead would definitely be ideal for this sort of thing but they're so inflated in price that I'm avoiding them.

[ancientbones]

Finding a proper high wattage head under 24" wide may be tough. I'm all about aesthetics to a point and hate when a head is too big for a cab.

V4 will be to big at 27" wide, but a V2 at 24" wide may be the ticket. It's what I run with my verticle Emperor 2x12. The V2 will also handle your pair of cabs aswell. It's also a very loud 60 watts, or can be a loud 80 watts w/ KT-88's. The V2 runs nearly 600 volts on the plates and screens so either NOS 7027's or KT-88's would be all I would recommend for that amp.

I run a Traynor YRM-1 at 4 ohms at times, but can't speak for reliability over the long haul.

Yeah the V4 will definitely be too big. I don't think I've ever seen a V2 before. Are they hard on tubes? I've heard V4s can sometimes be a pain in the ass when it comes to reliability, but I don't know if that's just a rumor or what.

I think I looked into the YRM-1 a little too and it's the same deal as the YBA-1 where it's "supposed" to be ran at 8 ohms.

[resincum]

I have an X100B and think it's an amazing amp for what it is been running that fucker into the ground for the past year or so and it's still cranking. the 25/50/100, 4/8/16 ohms comes in real handy. it's true the gain channel isn't so balls to the wall, but it doesn't sound bad at all and the clean channel is perfect for pedals. oh and it's super light..

[ancientbones]

I have an X100B and think it's an amazing amp for what it is been running that fucker into the ground for the past year or so and it's still cranking. the 25/50/100, 4/8/16 ohms comes in real handy. it's true the gain channel isn't so balls to the wall, but it doesn't sound bad at all and the clean channel is perfect for pedals. oh and it's super light..

Do you think the X100b would pull off a decent oldschool marshall-esque crunch sound? That's mainly what I'm looking for in an amp head.

I was also looking into the Yamaha T100 but I couldn't find anyone willing to ship one to me. I did find one guy that was willing but he modded it so it only takes 1 speaker out at 8 ohms so I would've had to find a tech to mod it back to stock AND pay shipping so that was out of the question. They're such cool amps but so hard to find for a decent price. 7 preamp tubes seems a little insane anyway.