Get this Bullsh*t..

Pacomc79

nailz100 wrote:

What kind of equipment do you need to bias the head yourself?

The bogner cabs are a bit more expensive, but might be worth it.

Yeah the bogner cab is great.

you don't have to go with a bogner cab, there are lots to choose from. Mainly your speaker choice and cabinet wood are the most important thing here. when you're ready let us know I'm sure one of us can rattle off something from any budget level that would work.

You need a bias meter but you also need to understand how to do it and I can't help you there sorry. I'd just take it to an amp tech.

mccreadyisgod

I would seriously recommend a Mesa 2x12. They've got a really nice, beefy tone, and they're built better than almost any other cab on the market. Their Black Shadow speakers are one of my personal favorites (and I'm a speaker junkie).

If not a Mesa, the Bogner would be okay, and so would any Marshall cabinet. If you want to get a really good budget cabinet, Peavey's sealed-back 1x12" cabs with the Sheffield speakers are CHEAP (I can get them new for around $125 US) and sound great. Take the Peavey logo off, and nobody will notice (especially with a Bogner sitting on top).

As far as biasing, I'd take it to a qualified tech in your area. Tube biasing isn't really a repair, it's maintenance, so there's no need to send it all the way to Bogner for biasing. It's actually quite easy, you just hook up a meter and adjust an amperage value. But if you're not 100% sure of what you're doing, DON'T try yourself... there are parts in the chassis that carry lethal voltage, even shut off and unplugged. And if you run into a problem that's not tube-related, head to FedEx and pony up.

Now, at a gig, you would be replacing the problem tube, which may or may not be obvious (glowing brighter is usually the best sign, or not glowing at all). Preamp tubes can be replaced without worrying about matched sets or all that. So, you can take a new preamp tube and swap it in, no problem. You can do this with a power amp tube, so long as the tube you're replacing is matched to the tube you're replacing it with (from a matched quartet). But you always want the two power tubes in the amp to be matched.

Pacomc79

mccreadyisgod wrote:

I would seriously recommend a Mesa 2x12. They've got a really nice, beefy tone, and they're built better than almost any other cab on the market. Their Black Shadow speakers are one of my personal favorites (and I'm a speaker junkie).

If not a Mesa, the Bogner would be okay, and so would any Marshall cabinet. If you want to get a really good budget cabinet, Peavey's sealed-back 1x12" cabs with the Sheffield speakers are CHEAP (I can get them new for around $125 US) and sound great. Take the Peavey logo off, and nobody will notice (especially with a Bogner sitting on top).

As far as biasing, I'd take it to a qualified tech in your area. Tube biasing isn't really a repair, it's maintenance, so there's no need to send it all the way to Bogner for biasing. It's actually quite easy, you just hook up a meter and adjust an amperage value. But if you're not 100% sure of what you're doing, DON'T try yourself... there are parts in the chassis that carry lethal voltage, even shut off and unplugged. And if you run into a problem that's not tube-related, head to FedEx and pony up.

Now, at a gig, you would be replacing the problem tube, which may or may not be obvious (glowing brighter is usually the best sign, or not glowing at all). Preamp tubes can be replaced without worrying about matched sets or all that. So, you can take a new preamp tube and swap it in, no problem. You can do this with a power amp tube, so long as the tube you're replacing is matched to the tube you're replacing it with (from a matched quartet). But you always want the two power tubes in the amp to be matched.

*pops top off beers*

nailz100

*drinks and slams beer down*....Canadian beer is like moonshine to you Yankees.

Thanks for the tips on tubes MIG and on Biasing....i'll keep all of it in mind. between you and Paco you guys should start a guitar tech shop. Is it harder to change the power tubes out than the pre-amp tubes?

I was actually thinking about a Mesa 2 X 12 closed back cabinet as well, I think their a little cheaper than a bogner....never heard of the Black Shadow speakers before, but its definately something i'll look into. Do most of the new Mesa 2 X 12's carry these kind of speakers?

mccreadyisgod

nailz100 wrote:

Is it harder to change the power tubes out than the pre-amp tubes?

I was actually thinking about a Mesa 2 X 12 closed back cabinet as well, I think their a little cheaper than a bogner....never heard of the Black Shadow speakers before, but its definately something i'll look into. Do most of the new Mesa 2 X 12's carry these kind of speakers?

Tubes are easy to swap... they just pull straight out, and the new ones pop straight in. You have to align the pins, but it's about as easy as replacing a light bulb. Power tubes are the same as preamp tubes, just a bit bigger.

The Black Shadow speakers are hard to come by these days... only used. But the new Mesa Rectifier 2x12" cab comes with two Celestion Vintage 30 speakers, which would fucking rock with the Bogner head. It's a great cabinet, and would definitely give you the sound you want.

nailz100

Still be kinda interesting to go on a hunt for a Cabinet with 2 X 12 black shadows in it....hmmm

mccreadyisgod

nailz100 wrote:

Still be kinda interesting to go on a hunt for a Cabinet with 2 X 12 black shadows in it....hmmm

Fucking buy this right now, don't ask questions, just bid.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43374&item=3776544492&rd=1

nailz100

I am actually considering it MIG, considering it is located in the next province from me and the shipping wouldn't be that much. I am a little concerned with how old it is, but sometimes older cabinets do sound better.

Pacomc79

nailz100 wrote:

I am actually considering it MIG, considering it is located in the next province from me and the shipping wouldn't be that much. I am a little concerned with how old it is, but sometimes older cabinets do sound better.

Just ask if the speakers are blown. That cabinet is fine. People are lusting after 40 year old stuff man. old shmold. Bob would be appalled you are discriminating against this cabinet because of it's age

nailz100

No discrimination here Paco....I've already put in that question. Hopefully he/she gets back to me soon because I heading out of town for a gig this weekend. Who's Bob anyway?...i'm not on a "first name" basis with everyone here yet.

Pacomc79

nailz100 wrote:

No discrimination here Paco....I've already put in that question. Hopefully he/she gets back to me soon because I heading out of town for a gig this weekend. Who's Bob anyway?...i'm not on a "first name" basis with everyone here yet.

"Who's Pearljam" = Bob.

mccreadyisgod

nailz100 wrote:

I am actually considering it MIG, considering it is located in the next province from me and the shipping wouldn't be that much. I am a little concerned with how old it is, but sometimes older cabinets do sound better.

That's actually one of my dream cabinets... it's the inspiration for my forthcoming custom cabinet (2x10" sealed bottom with a 1x12" open top).

As far as the speakers go, he lists it as being stored and hardly any play, no gigs. The cones look good, and he doesn't list any problems/issues (buzzing, etc) so I'd think it's a safe bet. He's got a 100% feedback rating on 72 transactions... it looks like a great deal. The fact that it's in Canada and just next door will make shipping really reasonable... hell, you could almost drive to get it.

That cab is worth at least $350 US... probably closer to $400. If he says it's in good shape, and works, buy it. If you don't like it, I'll buy it from you.

Pacomc79

mccreadyisgod wrote:

That's actually one of my dream cabinets... it's the inspiration for my forthcoming custom cabinet (2x10" sealed bottom with a 1x12" open top).

As far as the speakers go, he lists it as being stored and hardly any play, no gigs. The cones look good, and he doesn't list any problems/issues (buzzing, etc) so I'd think it's a safe bet. He's got a 100% feedback rating on 72 transactions... it looks like a great deal. The fact that it's in Canada and just next door will make shipping really reasonable... hell, you could almost drive to get it.

That cab is worth at least $350 US... probably closer to $400. If he says it's in good shape, and works, buy it. If you don't like it, I'll buy it from you.

It's in Canada but it ain't exactly next door, unless he's got an airplane

mccreadyisgod

Pacomc79 wrote:

It's in Canada but it ain't exactly next door, unless he's got an airplane

Well, North Dakota is next to Montana... but it would take me 14 hours to reach the border...

Believe me, I know what it's like.

nailz100

Ok, here's the deal. While I was out of town playing a gig, I got my cousin to bid on the auction and also look at any e-mails that the seller might have sent me. So, right when I am about to bid on the 2 X 12 cab that you are drooling over MIG, my cuz reads the e-mail and the seller tells me that it is rated at 4 Ohms. Well I read up on the shiva head (extensively over the last couple weeks) and in the manual it says that the head has (2) 8 ohm jacks and a 16 ohm jack. Now from what I understand what the manual said was you can run (2) 4 ohm cabs in sequence into (1) 8 ohm jack or (2) 8 ohm cabs into the 16 ohm jack. The thing is that I want only (1) cab. If the cabinet would have been rated for 8 ohms I would have bought it. I don't think I would have been able to run that cab by itself into the Shiva head. Now I might be wrong, but I didn't want to risk it.

Pacomc79

nailz100 wrote:

Ok, here's the deal. While I was out of town playing a gig, I got my cousin to bid on the auction and also look at any e-mails that the seller might have sent me. So, right when I am about to bid on the 2 X 12 cab that you are drooling over MIG, my cuz reads the e-mail and the seller tells me that it is rated at 4 Ohms. Well I read up on the shiva head (extensively over the last couple weeks) and in the manual it says that the head has (2) 8 ohm jacks and a 16 ohm jack. Now from what I understand what the manual said was you can run (2) 4 ohm cabs in sequence into (1) 8 ohm jack or (2) 8 ohm cabs into the 16 ohm jack. The thing is that I want only (1) cab. If the cabinet would have been rated for 8 ohms I would have bought it. I don't think I would have been able to run that cab by itself into the Shiva head. Now I might be wrong, but I didn't want to risk it.

and thus is the problem with Mesa cabs, many are 4 ohms. you did right. that's unfortunate you couldn't use that cab but you made the right decision.

nailz100

I know, it sucks man....I was so stoked to buy that cab, and I would have got it with the price I was going to bid in at. Everything should be rated at 8 ohms....god damn it! I am set on getting (1) cab though....either a 2 X 12, or a 1 X 12 if it is loud enough and sounds good enough....I am probably going to end up with a 2 X 12. I think that 4 X 10 groove tubes cab is still available from the seller, but its a little more than I want to haul around to shows.

mccreadyisgod

I can't believe Bogner doesn't offer a 4-ohm option... shame...

Actually, you probably could've re-wired the cab for 16-ohms with very little trouble... just switched it from parallel to series.

Oh well, you'll find something.