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So I jammed in the new rehearsal space yesterday and finally got to push the Ampeg V2 and Sunn 1x15 cab. (I play bass with them btw)
I realized I need more headroom. Not sure if the tubes are getting old or if my amp is biased (or ''set'') to early have early breakup but I does starts to breakup at around 10 o'clock, maybe 9.
The breakup tone is amazing but I can barely play clean with my bandmates so I figure I'd like a bit more headroom.

So, anyone know if it's normal for these old Ampeg (this one is a Magnavox era, no master-volume) to breakup early, and if not.. what do I do ?
I know, ''get a V4'', thing is I'm pretty tight on money right now and these don't pop up often... I also love my amp tone I'd just like a bit more headroom.. :/
Another cab could be an option.. I could get like a 4x10 or 2x12 to but on top of the Sunn but cabs are a bit expensive and I bought so many things recently...
If I end up with another cab, what impedance should I be looking at and what wiring (series/parallel) ? The V2 has 2 speaker outputs and is switchable between 8,4 and 2 ohm so that's handy.
The Sunn is 8 ohms and only 1x15 so not sure what that means about the type of wiring I should be looking at on another cab...

HALP

Biasing it "cold" is the best without spending a lot of money or adding anything else, but that will change the overall sound of that amp =(

Going to a v4 won’t add much headroom. My v4 would clip around the same spot, just the nature of that amp. Clean headroom from a bass amp is going to be easiest with a solid state head or maybe a 300w tube head, and even then I could dig in on the sunn 300t and get it clipping without using the gain channel.

Free advise:
Put your amp on a crate/chair/table/flightcase/etc so you can hear it better.

Spending money advice:
Get another/bigger cab.

Another cab should make a big difference, in my experience 1x15 is never enough for bass in a rock band.

ognoy wrote:Free advise:
Put your amp on a crate/chair/table/flightcase.

Ime this never helps with bass. You just lose the hefty subsonics you feel in your feet and bones. Get the heaviest, most efficient cab you can find and get it down on the ground.

MechaGodzilla wrote:

ognoy wrote:Free advise:
Put your amp on a crate/chair/table/flightcase.

Ime this never helps with bass. You just lose the hefty subsonics you feel in your feet and bones. Get the heaviest, most efficient cab you can find and get it down on the ground.

Lay on the floor on front of the amp.

Yeah, get another cab. I'd say another 1x15", doesn't have to be a matching Sunn, although that would be nice. Any old, cheap and heavy Peavey (with Black Widow) will do.
That should help to stay in clean terrirory while being loud enough.

Just make sure it's 8 Ohm as well - to make it an even 4 Ohm for the amp, if you hook up both.

Haha yeah we definitely should jam laying down on the floor
I will most likely trade a pedal for an SWR Son of Bertha 1x15

Are these good cabs ? I'm not getting an SVT or Atlas or whatever $800 cab anyway so I guess it should be fine

Want a cheap 410? I’ve got a Carvin that I’m not using and originally got for cheap - and I’m going to be in MTL once or twice this month.

It’s heavy for it’s size, needs one of its handles replaced, and is generally unattractive. Provided I can unfuck my back and get it up the stairs, throw me $50? for gas and it’s yours.

Damn doomeow thanks for the offer ! But the thing is, I'm already kinda worrying about the space available for the SWR (if I do get it... the guy should come by on Friday) so I don't think a 4x10 would be a good choice here. My amp is kinda jammed in between the mixer and a drumkit, and it's already kind of a tight space to get to the drum..

Don't get a V4, in my opinion. Some people say that 100 tube watts is plenty for bass, in my experience if you are playing loud rock music then a lot more watts are needed. 300 watt tube amp or solid state head with hundreds of watts, and with lots of speakers.

You should accept the excellent offer on the Carvin cab, and make room in the practice space. The Carvin 4x10 will be louder than a Sunn 1x15. Bring the Sunn cab home, if there's no room. Maybe sell it and try to get a bigger amp head.

As many speakers as possible, as many watts as possible.

I wonder if you can slave a solid state power amp to your Ampeg, and use the Ampeg as a pre-amp? (Probably not, but you should look into it)

I don't think a single 1x15 is enough either. Why not scour Craigslist for a big ass Peavey cab, Mesa or Ampeg. I'd get at least a 4x10 and a 1x15. Stack them bitches. My Mesa Bass Prodigy gets loud as fuck with both cabs hooked up.

Make sure to double check your impedances before hook up. I've made that mistake before....

If I get the SWR it will do 2x15 (with the sunn)
That should be fine right ?