Old combo with new amp question

[Tiglitar]

Hey Guys,

I just picked up an old Marshall MG100FX combo amp with 212 speakers. The amp seems to be taken apart and probably had some parts taken for something else, so I am not even going to plug it in. But the speakers look like they are in pretty good condition.

They are two 8ohm speakers and the label on the output on the amp says 4ohms, so reading up it seems the way the speakers are wired up accepts the 4ohm from the amp.

I wonder if it would be worth getting something like a Bugera V55 HD amp head that has a switch to ouput 4ohms into these speakers?

Or maybe rewire the speakers to accept 8ohms and get something like an orange dark terror head? I do a bit of woodworking so would be cool to build them into a new cab just wondering if it would be worth it nor not?

I really dont know much about amps etc but would be keen to have a small valve amp for bedroom level volumes.

Thanks for any advice

[NippleWrestler]

You wouldn't be able to wire 2x8ohm speakers to a total 8 ohm load, you're gonna have to go with 16 or 4 total load if you want to use 2 speakers.

Just FYI a 1w tube amp is loud as fuck. Even a 0.25w tube amp is loud as fuck. Think more about headroom than volume, and of course the practicalities like weight, form factor, transformer cost etc rather than just wattage.

'worth it' is up to you and by what metric you judge it. If you're looking to make money then it isn't worth it, if you're looking for a fun project to just do something you enjoy then hell yeah, get after it.

[robthemac]

Solid state power amps aren't gonna care too much if they see 8 Ohm or 4 Ohms. If they're both 8 Ohm speakers, it'd be simple to wire them up as either 16 Ohms (series) or 4 Ohms (parallel). Going for the higher impedence mismatch is generally considered safer than lower.

The speakers in those MG amps certainly weren't great. But if you're keen for a project, making a 2x12 cab would be cool and easily upgradable with better speakers in the future.

[Tiglitar]

Thanks for that guys,

I am not chasing a certain tone, but I would like to have a valve amp sound generally and it would just be a project for myself to use and record with.

So basically with rewiring involved I could be on the look out for an amp head that sounds good to me (youtube reviews probably) and the options of either 4ohms or 16ohms?

[robthemac]

Thanks for that guys,

I am not chasing a certain tone, but I would like to have a valve amp sound generally and it would just be a project for myself to use and record with.

So basically with rewiring involved I could be on the look out for an amp head that sounds good to me (youtube reviews probably) and the options of either 4ohms or 16ohms?

Yep!

[jeremyb]

If you're interested in a hybrid valve amp and a Marshall fan, I have one of these for sale currently for cheaps: https://www.joyoaudio.com/product/209.html

$260 shipped to your door!

[vyfster]

I am not chasing a certain tone

Yet! Give it time and you will be

[robthemac]

Honestly, a used Marshall DSL-1 through a 2x12 sounds pretty huge and is very affordable. One of the most fun amps I've ever owned.