Combo Amps : Is it possible?

[Godspeed64]

I've been wondering for a while.

Is it possible to disconnect as in "disattach" the speakers from the amplifier?
So that it is now considered a head and cab instead.

I mean, I like my amp.. But I wanna expand my tone, and I'm aiming for a particular head.

But I already have a combo amp with 2x12" speakers.. And if I were to sell it off, I'd get a cab with the similar speakers (hard to find to me), a head of the exact same amp, and that new head I'm referring to.. A lil costly to me..

So isn't it brilliant if a combo amp can be changed into a head+cab? Is it possible at all?

Thanks bros! :mrgreen::mrgreen::mrgreen:

 

[jdawg]

Definitely possible but will take some mods. My current setup is exactly like this.

What can be done is, if the speakers are "hardwired" to the output transformer, you can unsolder this and solder it to a 1/4" female jack. Then take the leads coming out of the output transformer and solder this to another 1/4" female jack. This way, effectively you can let the "amp" of the combo amp drive other cabs by connecting the 1/4" "amp" jack to a cab. Inversely, you use another head and play it through your combo's speakers by connecting the head to the "speaker" jack you installed on the combo amp. If you want to use back the internal speaker, just connect both jacks with a speaker cable.

 

[wasabe19]

VERY possible homie hahaha

 

[jdawg]

Forgot to mention - always make sure that the amp and cab impedances are always matched. Also, don't run an amp with no load, especially a tube amp!

 

[Godspeed64]

I know nuts about technical stuffs dude.. Well at least not about amps..
How do I know if it is "hardwired"?
Or if the impedence is matched?

Alamak.. How much must I be willing to spend for this mod bro?
If it helps, I'm using a Randall RG100SC from the older G2 series (before they even named it G2)..

 

[jdawg]

To simplify:

1) Mount two 1/4" female jacks to the back of the amp (requires drilling)
2) Solder speaker wires from the combo amp's speaker terminals to one of the 1/4" jacks -- this now acts as an input jack to the combo amp's internal speaker
3) Solder the wires that were originally hooked up to the speakers to the other 1/4" jack -- this now acts as a speaker out jack, which you can connect to the other 1/4" jack via a short speaker cable for normal combo amp operation, or connect a longer speaker cable to to an external cab. You with me so far?

Amps operate with a specified load or impedance. Check the back of your amp or check the spec of the speaker. If it's a single speaker with an impedance of say, 8 ohms, then the external cabinet you connect the amp to must also be 8 ohms. Else you risk damaging the amp.

How much will depend a lot on who's doing the mod. It's actually a pretty simple and personally I wouldn't pay more than 50 bucks for it to be done.

Hope this helps.

 

[Godspeed64]

Wow.. Thanks for your help man.. Did you do it yourself?

Man for 50 bucks I wouldn't mind paying you to do it.. :mrgreen: