Need an amp recomendation

[pbman1953]

I know this may be the wrong forum subject for this area, but I wanted to ask guy that know.


I know someone that wants to buy a SS head or an SS head with a tube pre-amp.


She hosts jams and wants something reliable> She needs a 8 ohm rating because the speaker is a JBL E series 140 in a Cabaret cabinet.


Her budget is from $200- $350, max of 400


Thanks

[sluckey]

Old black Peavey. Speaker impedance not a factor with ss amps. They usually just have a MINIMUM impedance specification.

[pbman1953]

When you say old, what years? I don't know Peavey that well.


Thanks for helping!

[sluckey]

'70s

[66Strat]

Lab Series L5 Guitar Combo Amp. Not a head, but it requires an 8 ohm minimum speaker load. The amp has an 8 ohm speaker jack that the two 12 speakers are plugged into. The JBL cab could be plugged in place instead of the two twelves. Really great sounding amp.

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/In-Store-Vintage/Vintage-Vintage-1980s-Lab-Series-L5-Guitar-Combo-Amp.gc?cntry=us&source=4WWRWXGP&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzfTMmeCj2wIVQxuBCh0C4grGEAQYAiABEgKsnfD_BwE&kwid=productads-adid^221074893837-device^c-plaid^359652442545-sku^114236596@ADL4GC-adType^PLA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzR54nKKtJQ

[pbman1953]

I should of mentioned that she needs a Bass head.

[sluckey]

I should of mentioned that she needs a Bass head.

Yeah, that's pretty important.

[jjasilli]

I should of mentioned that she needs a Bass head.

Yes, that helps.  I would consider something like this:  https://www.parts-express.com/peavey-minimax-500w-mini-bass-amp-head-with-pre-post-di-out-and-tuner--248-9544


It seems your jam leader wants something simple, and dependable that will be accepted by the musicians. Older eq is past its useful life & will be out of warranty.  At jams, to my dismay, the players go for the newer amps & shy away from vintage eq no matter how venerable it is. 

[pbman1953]

'70s

This one?


http://thesnowfields.com/manuals/Peavey-thebass-400.pdf




200 at 2 ohm and I can still use it for an 8?

[pbman1953]

or this-




https://assets.peavey.com/literature/manuals/80370383.pdf

[sluckey]

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2060353.m570.l1312.R1.TR0.TRC1.A0.H0.TRS5.TSS5&_nkw=peavey+bass+head&_sacat=0

[pbman1953]

130 watts at 4 ohm.


Please explain how this will be enough at 8 ohm? Plus with a full band.

[sluckey]

130W @ 4Ω would be 65W @ 8Ω. That's enough to blow the paper out of that JBL. But you never specified a power rating 'til now. Why don't you give us all your specifications at one time rather than dribble out one clue at a time? Or better yet, go talk to the knowledgeable people down at Guitar Center. Shouldn't take more than 15 minutes to find your perfect amp if you write down all your specs and expectations. Take your friend so she can test drive.

[dude]

Best solid state amp I ever heard is the old Acoustic amps, late seventies early eighties. They're not cheap if you can find them, they sound like a tube amp and very reliable. Not talking about an "acoustic guitar amp" but these were made for electric guitar.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Acoustic-Guitar-Amplifier-Model-G60-212/152855084110?hash=item2396df7c4e:g:9vcAAOSwObhaUBiM

[pbman1953]

Ok Here's what you need .I was assuming maybe you'd know the series-



http://www.jblproservice.com/pdf/Cabaret%20Series/4621A.pdf




 I was totally off. I thought it was a E140, but in reality its a E130, better suited for keys or guitar, I think. But, she likes it and she owns it now.


Thanks

[sluckey]

Wow! That's an awesome speaker... But it ain't suited for a bass rig.

[shooter]

I have a pair of these if she wants more power 

http://www.jblproservice.com/pdf/Discrete%20Sales%20Models/2035HPL.pdf

[PRR]

Manual says E-140.

I have done LARGE concerts in the park with a few E-130. You don't need, and don't really want, megapower. The E-140 is stronger below 100Hz and "weaker" above 100Hz, but still a LOUDspeaker, and perfectly tuned for bass.

These speakers (in D- model) were once rated at 25W, then 75W. While newer glues and test-specs give 400W ratings, 75 Watts is really enough for almost anything. Especially indoors, in a crowd that does not justify >$350.

The E-130 used as a bass instrument amp will get slappy with much past 75W. It gave up excursion to get more coil IN the gap and more midband efficiency.

[pbman1953]

Manual says E-140.

I have done LARGE concerts in the park with a few E-130. You don't need, and don't really want, megapower. The E-140 is stronger below 100Hz and "weaker" above 100Hz, but still a LOUDspeaker, and perfectly tuned for bass.

These speakers (in D- model) were once rated at 25W, then 75W. While newer glues and test-specs give 400W ratings, 75 Watts is really enough for almost anything. Especially indoors, in a crowd that does not justify >$350.

The E-130 used as a bass instrument amp will get slappy with much past 75W. It gave up excursion to get more coil IN the gap and more midband efficiency.

Great info, so do you have a SS amp head suggestion?

[PRR]

I liked 150W Bogen tube amps, two E-130 on each channel (75W per speaker). Maybe 1/ch (150W) for bluegrass (low bass).

But that's not something to even wish for today.

[pbman1953]

There's only 1 cab- a single e140

[pbman1953]

Also , I'd love nothing but tube but I think the desire is SS to be maintenance free.


Any other suggestions?


Thanks

[jjasilli]

130W @ 4Ω would be 65W @ 8Ω. That's enough to blow the paper out of that JBL. But you never specified a power rating 'til now. Why don't you give us all your specifications at one time rather than dribble out one clue at a time? Or better yet, go talk to the knowledgeable people down at Guitar Center. Shouldn't take more than 15 minutes to find your perfect amp if you write down all your specs and expectations. Take your friend so she can test drive.

Ditto.  At this point I'm totally confused.  I have no idea what speaker we're trying to drive; or if it's suitable for bass.

Ok Here's what you need .I was assuming maybe you'd know the series-
http://www.jblproservice.com/pdf/Cabaret%20Series/4621A.pdf

 I was totally off. I thought it was a E140, but in reality its a E130, better suited for keys or guitar, I think. But, she likes it and she owns it now.
Thanks

The pdf you quote says 140-8; but your words say E130.  Que passa?

[pbman1953]

I did an edit but didn't change the post to show the correct spec sheet.


Here's the proper JBL spec sheet-


http://www.jblproservice.com/pdf/Cabaret%20Series/4621A.pdf


It's an E130 @ 8 ohm. It should be fine but not optimum for bass. The 140 series was better suited for bass but she's staying with the 130.

[jjasilli]

Ok!  It will do in a pinch. I stand by my earlier Peavey SS amp recommendation, or something cheaper but similar.  See:  https://www.google.com/search?q=100w+bass+amp+head&oq=100w+bass+amp+head&aqs=chrome..69i57.4070j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8


But:  it's good for 300W but down only to 50Hz.  IMHO this is really inadequate for bass.  You really want down to 40 Hz, maybe lower for subharmonics.   


There's plenty of solid state bass combo's that are cheaper than heads, and presumably have more appropriate frequency response.
See: https://www.google.com/search?q=100w+bass+amp&oq=100w+bass+amp&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.3334j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8