guitar guys -- i need help

[einride]

this is an inappropriate forum to post the question probably, but i don't post on any other forums... so

i have a new amp, it's got 4, 8 and 16 ohm outputs. i have a crappy cab that i'm borrowing and nowhere on it does it say what impedance it is, so what should i try? i mean, what is the "safest" way? right now i think i have it connected to the 8 ohm out but would 4 be safer? is there a volume difference? thanx for info

 

[dorian gray]

Can you get your hands on an ohmmeter? Anyone you might know who does construction/electrical/home repair work would have one.

 

[einride]

yeah, i know. not sure i know anyone with an ohm meter, which is strange when i think about it

there are some manly-type things i should own because i keep wanting to do things that require them: a multimeter, real screwdrivers, and a big bottle of rubbing alcohol. i do not own any of these things and i'm not sure why. i finally did get myself a working soldering iron though

 

[dorian gray]

I found soldering to be alot more difficult than I thought.

 

[Conspicuously Absent]

Soldering is an art form, but a few hundred tries and then its like riding a bicycle blind-folded with a raging monkey on your back... still difficult, but easier somehow

 

[einride]

i mainly just fix guitar and mic cables and things like that and it is not really rocket science

but none of this is helping with my problem!!!

 

[grisvald]

i mainly just fix guitar and mic cables and things like that and it is not really rocket science

but none of this is helping with my problem!!!

just ask the german?

 

[EricT]

Multimeter would be ideal, of course. If you can take a look at the back of the speakers by pulling them out of the cab, you could find out from there what you're working with. Granted, if you're working with a solid state amp (which I'm guessing) 4 (EDITING HERE BECAUSE I WAS BEING A DIPSHITTY CUNT) your amp may be pushing out more wattage (very extremely likely the case) which, not knowing what the speakers limits are, could be a disaster for the speakers.

Then again, if your amp didn't start smoking and the speakers didn't scream after a bit of a play session, chances are you should be good at 8.

Edit: Lemme try to clarify this whole shit a bit,

At 8 ohms output, your amp is outputting less wattage (not being sure what your amp is or the outputs can't say by how much) to the cabinet. At 4ohms, you're going to push out more wattage... but if you're running into a 4 ohm cabinet with an 8 ohm output, resistances fire shit electrical aids.

Edit #323:

Really, multimeter or open that cab up and identify for safest bet on both the cab and the amps future

 

[Krigloch the Furious]

dont know a damn thing about ohms. I just plug and play. screw the rest

 

[einride]

hey thanx for the help. i now use another cab tho so i solved the problem by just not using this awful mystery speaker. but naw my amp isnt ss it is a 15w all tube head

oh and not even the back of the elements say shit, this beast is from the 70's and really weird

 

[Demilich]

dont know a damn thing about ohms. I just plug and play. screw the rest

me too!

i don't know a damn thing about guitars, i can barely change the strings properly

 

[dorian gray]

I broke a low E restringing my guitar the other day. Fortunately I bought a 3-pack haha.

 

[KILL TULLY]

I broke a low E restringing my guitar the other day. Fortunately I bought a 3-pack haha.

You shouldn't resort to drinking when faced with hardship pal.

 

[einride]

I broke a low E restringing my guitar the other day.

i fail to see how this is physically possible, and i break strings with the best of em

 

[dorian gray]

lol @ Tully

@Erik: haha, yeah, I couldn't believe it. Next time I'll get it on video

 

[swizzlenuts]

i fail to see how this is physically possible, and i break strings with the best of em

haha I break my low e the most.

 

[einride]

haha I break my low e the most.

yeah but while restringing

 

[swizzlenuts]

whoops. didn't see that part of the post. Not while restringing.

 

[Krigloch the Furious]

I NEVER break strings.
Cant even remember the last time I did.

 

[Demilich]

Pretty sure the only time I've ever broken a low E was while restringing