Question about 8 ohm head into 16 ohm cab

[biaxident82]

Hi:

I am thinking of picking up a Suhr Badger 18 head which is rated at 8 ohms but the only cab I have is a Marshall 1960AC 4X12 loaded with greenbacks rated at 16 ohms.

I was wondering if running the badger into the 16 ohm cab is safe for the amp or would I need to replace my cab for one that is wired for 8 ohms?

Thanks for the help.

Mike

 

[Vrad]

Yep, it's fine.
It's not safe the other way around... 16 ohm head 8 ohm cab.

 

[Ventura]

Not ideal, but not entirely detrimental either.

Definitely NOT the other way around... What about re-wiring the cab?

Mo

 

[biaxident82]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the help.

I thought about having the cab rewired but may just downsize to a 1X12 or 2X12 anyway. I just don't want to buy everything at once. As long as I can run the amp temporarily through my 4X12 until I am able to sell it and change the cab, then I guess I am OK. Just wanted to make sure I wouldn't cause any harm to the amp.

Thanks. You guys rock

 

[petejt]

The other guys are right-it's fine to go 8 ohms into 16 ohm load, NOT 16 ohms into 8 ohm load.

And yet strangely the reverse is still recommended on some other particular music forums...


I run my amp at 8 ohms into a 16 ohm speaker load and it works fine.

 

[troublehead]

You will be fine. It will also roll of the highs and give you a fuller sound most likely.....at least it does with most old Marshalls.

 

[Suhr]

Hi:

I am thinking of picking up a Suhr Badger 18 head which is rated at 8 ohms but the only cab I have is a Marshall 1960AC 4X12 loaded with greenbacks rated at 16 ohms.

I was wondering if running the badger into the 16 ohm cab is safe for the amp or would I need to replace my cab for one that is wired for 8 ohms?

Thanks for the help.

Mike

It is OK but won't sound very good.
Rewire the 4x12 to 4 ohms

 

[verderacer]

Hi:

I am thinking of picking up a Suhr Badger 18 head which is rated at 8 ohms but the only cab I have is a Marshall 1960AC 4X12 loaded with greenbacks rated at 16 ohms.

I was wondering if running the badger into the 16 ohm cab is safe for the amp or would I need to replace my cab for one that is wired for 8 ohms?

Thanks for the help.

Mike

It is OK but won't sound very good.
Rewire the 4x12 to 4 ohms

I agree... Its relatively easy to rewire.

http://www.colomar.com/Shavano/4x12wiring.html

 

[rottingcorpse]

if he rewires the cab to 4 ohms, and only has an 8 ohm output on the head......

sad panda.

 

[Heritage Softail]

Think of is as if the cabinet is the capacity of the bus, and the ohms of the head are the people you want to put in it. You can get 8 ohms or people into a 16 passenger bus or 16 ohm cab.

Not gonna be good with a fixed 8 ohm head and you rewire the cab to 4 ohms.

Matched is best.