Bass amplifier question

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 3:01 pm

It used to be that a bass amp was designed to handle either 8 or 4 ohms. 4 being the minimum.

Lately ( the last year or two ), I've been noticing that 2 ohms has become more and more common. Is this recommended? I'll use Ampegs B5R as an example.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 5:01 pm

Ampeg is one of the only bass amps I have run across (I'm sure there are others, though) that allow you to run at 2 ohms. They've been doing that for a while now...Most only suggest running at 4 ohms. (2) 8ohm cabs is what I run.

beatlefreak · Post by **beatlefreak** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 5:02 pm

It all depends on how it's designed. If it's a tube amp, it has to have the proper output transformer winding for 2 ohms. Even solid state amps can be designed to handle a 2 ohm load. Peavey amps have been designed this way for years.

jps · Post by **jps** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 7:08 pm

Personally, I think running a solid state amp at 2 Ohms is asking for trouble. Sure, the manufacturers of such amps do this to show impressive power output figures, but to run a SS amp for an extended period of time at that low a load can overtax the output stage and cause a failure eventually. Stick to 4 Ohms and be happy.

soundmasterg · Post by **soundmasterg** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:50 am

If the thing is designed to run at a 2 ohm load, then it will run fine there. A 2 ohm load is much closer to a dead short than a 4 ohm load however. A transistor amp will make more power as it gets closer to zero, but there is less margin for error there, so thermal runaway could happen a lot quicker in one of these amps than something that runs at 4 ohms. A tube amp makes the same amount of power at 2 ohms as at 4 ohms, 8 ohms, 16 ohms, etc. as long as the transformer is wound in such a way that it is the proper load for it to get max power.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 10:08 am

Peavy also makes some that run at 2 ohms ... for the most part you are safe with a 4 or 8 speaker load on pretty much any amp ...

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 11:51 pm

GOOGLE

bitzerguy · Post by **bitzerguy** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 3:53 am

Our bass player uses an old Traynor SS 300W amp head from 1978 or 1979. It is designed to work with a 2,4,8, 16 ohm loads. Oddly enough, it has more power at 4 ohm load setting than at the 2 ohm setting. Works just fine for hours on either, adn has been since 1978 or 1979!

...Dean

86kubicki · Post by **86kubicki** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 3:59 am

Vintage Traynor gear is basically indestuctible, (as well as great sounding).

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 5:55 am

And made in Canada too!
I don't know about the current Yorkville stuff.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 6:29 am

I love my Yorkville BassMaster 200 combo! It rocks!!

loendmaestro · Post by **loendmaestro** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 10:20 am

I love my Yorkville XS400 head!

kcole4001 · Post by **kcole4001** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 12:26 pm

Is Yorkville Canadian made?

loendmaestro · Post by **loendmaestro** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 5:54 pm

All Toronto, Canada baby....

byu · Post by **byu** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 6:48 pm

Amps running at 2 Ohms typically aren't supposed to sound as good as they do running at 4 or 8, weather they're designed to or not. Sure, you get more power but at a loss of tone. 4 Ohms seems to be a sweet spot.