Speaker Cab Question

I have two amps that I use with an external cabinet. One is a Fender Champ 600 (just don't like the sound with the small internal speaker) which requires a 4 ohm load and one is my Crate V18 head (was a combo, made my own head cabinet for it) which requires an 8 ohm load.

Currently I have been using the leftover Crate V18 combo cabinet with a Weber Alnic Sig 12 speaker as my external cabinet for both. I know I should be matching impedances and wanted to find a way to match the 4 ohm load for the Champ and also give me other tonal options while keeping it low cost.

My first question is could I wire a home made 2 x 12 cabinet in such a way as to direct connect to individual 8 ohm speakers (i.e. only drive one at a time for use with the Crate V18) and then also run them in paraller to give a 4 ohm load for the Champ? Or do something similar but with two separate 1x12's? In that case how would you connect the two cabinets together for hooking up to the Champ.

Space is also at a premium, so a 2x12 would probably take up less overall space than the separate 1x12's. I know I could do one 4 ohm and one 8 ohm to solve the problem, but I like the ability to mix and match and try different combinations for tonal options.

More questions likely to follow as I get your feedback.

Thanks in advance.

-axenut

A 2x12 is a good idea but the V18 will prefer the 2x12 and the Champ probably only wants 1x12.

So a pair of 4ohm speakers then. 4+4=8 in series. Problem there is most speakers are 8ohm or 16ohm.

It is possible to run a 2x12 as 4ohm switched to 16ohm with 8ohm speakers, or individual 8ohm. This takes two jack sockets and a DPDT switch (cf Marshal cab jack plate). One jack is series, one jack is parallel and the switch splits them into left and right individual.
You should easily be able to arrange one jack powers one 4ohm speaker and a second jack runs 2x4ohm=8ohm speakers in series.

Does neither of your amps have alternative output taps on the OT?

A 2x12 is a good idea but the V18 will prefer the 2x12 and the Champ probably only wants 1x12.

So a pair of 4ohm speakers then. 4+4=8 in series. Problem there is most speakers are 8ohm or 16ohm.

It is possible to run a 2x12 as 4ohm switched to 16ohm with 8ohm speakers, or individual 8ohm. This takes two jack sockets and a DPDT switch (cf Marshal cab jack plate). One jack is series, one jack is parallel and the switch splits them into left and right individual.
You should easily be able to arrange one jack powers one 4ohm speaker and a second jack runs 2x4ohm=8ohm speakers in series.

Does neither of your amps have alternative output taps on the OT?

Jefrs, thanks for the input. I agree the two 4 ohm speaker situation would be the best, as you mentioned though it's difficult to find 4 ohm speakers at least in the 12" size.

As for the alternative output taps on the OT question, excuse my ignorance, but how do I check for this?

Thanks,
axenut

Either extra socket(s) on the back of the amp for "ext cab", they will be labelled, and it will refer to the total load, or occasionally the OT has one or more unused taps. Now if you are not sure what you are looking for, do not poke around inside the amp.

Either extra socket(s) on the back of the amp for "ext cab", they will be labelled, and it will refer to the total load, or occasionally the OT has one or more unused taps. Now if you are not sure what you are looking for, do not poke around inside the amp.

Only one socket to connect a speaker cab on both amps. Not sure if the Champ 600 is labeled, but I know the speaker in the amp is 4 ohms and you use the same jack to connect the exernal cab to. The V18 has only one jack labeled 8 ohms. Other than that I am not sure what to look for on the OT. When I get home I'll take a careful look at the OT, without touching anything :eek: