Peavey Renown Black Widow Speaker Impedance

[TomCarlos]

Mates....

I picked up a very old Peavey Renown 2x12 combo amp (for near scrap cost). It's working but in need of some serious cleaning.

Starting with the Black Widow Speakers- I am guessing these are the older (and shallow type basket) 1201-4. There is no marking on the speaker for the model. Each speaker is 4 ohms (measures 3.5 ohm). So together, we have a 2 ohm load. That seems kinda odd... having a 2 ohm load. I think someone must have swapped these speakers out long ago. The speakers sound good so they have some value. But again, I am thinking this isn't what came stock.

In reading the Renown manual, it looks like the internal load should be 4 ohms. But just in case anyone knows of a case where the amp was shipped with anything other than 8 ohms speakers, I would like to hear from you.

Thanks, Tom

[Chuck H]

Some of the Renown amps had 2ohm and 4ohm jacks. Everything I've read seems to indicate 4ohms and that's how the amps left Peavey. Those are almost certainly not stock unless there was a mistake at the factory. So, does this one have a 2ohm jack? If so, what does the manual say about running at 2ohms? Other options would be to wire the speakers in series for 8ohms and accept the power loss or replace the speakers.

[TomCarlos]

Thanks Chuck....

The manual says that you can use an extension cabinet of 4 ohms. When you plug into the Aux jack, it activates the 2 ohm tap on the Output transformer. Yes, this amp has an output transformer. You can see the specs on the photo. It says do not use 2 ohms on the 4 ohm tap. But you can use 2 ohms on the 2 ohm tap. So I guess that is what someone must have done... swapped out the speakers and used the Aux output (originally). But that is not how I found the amp wired up.

Ok... interesting lesson learned today.

[Chuck H]

I guess the question then is whether or not the main 4ohm speaker load is supposed to be plugged in when another 4ohm load is plugged into the aux jack.?. Hopefully the manual makes that clear because I'm not certain the 2ohm jack should be in use at all without the main speakers plugged in and providing a 4ohm load. You may need to employ a dummy jack just to implement jack switching functions. I really don't know enough about it at this point but I thought I'd mention some of the possibilities since they were (are) common with amps like that.

[TomCarlos]

Thanks again...

Like you said... I can run the speakers in series for an 8 ohm load or pull the speakers and use them somewhere else. I have other 8 ohm sets I can drop in this amp. The Widows are hella-heavy. This amp weighs a ton! The case is in horrific shape but after cleaning the pots and jacks, this amp still has life remaining.

I think this is the very first solid state amp I have seen that has an output transformer- so it took me for a loop. I appreciate the reply.

[Justin Thomas]

Any reason why not to plug one 4ohm speaker into each jack? Just disconnect the speakers from each other? Just a thought...
The way I read the manual says to me it's wired like a standard Fender...
Justin

[g1]

If you are not going to use an extension cab, I would just plug into the 2 ohm jack as is.

[TomCarlos]

That is a possibility Justin... Thanks for the idea.

[Leo_Gnardo]

Thanks again...

Like you said... I can run the speakers in series for an 8 ohm load or pull the speakers and use them somewhere else. I have other 8 ohm sets I can drop in this amp. The Widows are hella-heavy. This amp weighs a ton! The case is in horrific shape but after cleaning the pots and jacks, this amp still has life remaining.

I think this is the very first solid state amp I have seen that has an output transformer- so it took me for a loop. I appreciate the reply.

Thats actually an autoformer. One winding, with taps at 4 and 2 ohms. Those huge heavy McIntosh SS amps late 60's thru 70's had 'em, some you could select anything from half an ohm up to 32 and deliver full power. Today I'll give yez all a break and not put up a photo of the Dead's "Wall of Sound" powered by several 4-racks of Mac 2300 amps. Each 2300 weighed about 150 pounds, most of it iron.

Some of the other Peavey guitar amps of the period also had autoformers, generally 8 and 4 ohms. And you could buy them separate, in case you wanted to do like the Macs, get every watt you could to your speaker array. Peavey didn't charge an arm and a leg for 'em either, I think the price was only about $40 but tap choice was limited, the big 4/2 ohm 200W and a smaller 8/4 ohm unit.

Black Widows were the poor man's JBL. Darn good speakers! You'll be able to crack glass with that Renown. My ears are ringin' all the way over here.

[Chuck H]

Yay Justin! Stellar idea to plug one 4ohm into each jack. This assumes that Peavey intended a 4ohm load on each jack for 2ohm performance (consult the manual or find a schematic?). It's amazing how the elephant in the room gets overlooked sometimes.

[Leo_Gnardo]

Yay Justin! Stellar idea to plug one 4ohm into each jack. This assumes that Peavey intended a 4ohm load on each jack for 2ohm performance (consult the manual or find a schematic?). It's amazing how the elephant in the room gets overlooked sometimes.

Yes please look and make sure there's a switch activated by plugging into the 2 ohm output, and that it works properly. This sort of setup you see on mid 70's-onward Fender large amps (Twin, Dual Showman Reverb, like that), SVT bass amps, even some of the Fender HotRod/Blues/Deluxe/Deville series. Hassle is, sometimes the switch contacts are dodgy on older amps, and even the newer ones I sometimes find failing to make contact because of light corrosion. If the contacts are burnt up - pitted, you'll need to replace. If not, clean 'em with a shot of no-residue solvent, even burnish if you dare.

[TomCarlos]

I'll check the speaker jacks and clean! Thanks again everyone.

[Jazz P Bass]

Why don't you pick up the phone & call Peavey?

Ask for Glenn.

[Chuck H]

Why don't you pick up the phone & call Peavey?

Ask for Glenn.

Yup. They'll talk to you all right. Rare and exceptional customer support. I don't know any names but if Glen is the tech I spoke to he's going to give you TOO MUCH info and leave you with a headache from trying to keep up

[Justin Thomas]

Why don't you pick up the phone & call Peavey?

Ask for Glenn.

Probably the best answer yet...

Justin