Budda Dudes...SD18 II or SD30 II

[Junk Yard Dog]

I'm going with a Budda this weekend. Local GC has a SD30 combo for purchase, but I want a head instead.

My question is, do I what makes more sense for my application. If I use the head on top of a 4x12 and mic the amp, is 30 watts too much? I'm leaning toward the 30 since we may play shows that we don't mic in slightly larger rooms and I want the head room and power.

I've read that the 30 watt is not much more than the 18, but that it has a little more headroom and thump, which is what I would want.

Just wanting your thoughts and opinions.

Also, I could purchase the SD30 combo this weekend. How many of you put it on top of another 2x12? What ohms does it run normally and how would I run it with a 16 ohm mono 2x12 cab?

 

[mach5]

I was thinking of getting a Budda too. Although, I've never been a fan of most el-84 amps. I wanted a SD45 but I heard they're too freakin loud. I'd like to know the difference between the 45 & the 30 as far as sound and being able to get a good tone at gig and bedroom levels.

I bet that SD30 through a 4x12 would sound killer.

 

[plexirocker 68]

30 sounds like the ticket for you. Mine is never too loud [it can get up there] but it sounds great with less volume too. I use it in small clubs unmiced all the time. It's very versatile. It will hook up with any cab or configuration. It has all the ohm taps you'll ever need. No worries.

I went with a 2-12 combo and love it, 8 ohms but it also has a 4 and 16 tap. Very portable and reasonably weighted. I actually like it with a open back cab as opposed to a 4-12 closed back cab. But that's just a personnal preference type thing. I leave the 4-12 at home and never feel like I need it. If you want to simulate the BIG thump or whallop of a 4-12 just add a little boss e.q. to fatten up the lows and you'll be darn close with way less gear!! It works great, I do it all the time.

I'd sure go with the combo, think about it. Really no need for a 4-12 unless IYO it's a MUST have.

plexi

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

Great! Thanks for the above opinion.

I think the 30 is the way to go also. Here's my criteria:

1) I have to compete with another 4x12 on stage, sometimes mic'd, sometimes not.

2) I like closed back cabs better, and could then stick it on top of my soon to be OS PC Wave 2x12.

BUT, I could always take the combo and check it out. That's why I'm also thinking I could just put the combo on top of my 1936 2x12 or my Wave 2x12, and that way I could compete with the 4x12.

Hence my question for how to run the combo with another 2x12.

I assume if my 2x12 is 8ohms mono, I'd run the combo at 16 ohms?

Or if I run my 1936 at 16 ohms mono with the combo, I'd run that at 16 ohms?

I have no idea!!

 

[JoeG]

Great! Thanks for the above opinion.

I think the 30 is the way to go also. Here's my criteria:

1) I have to compete with another 4x12 on stage, sometimes mic'd, sometimes not.

2) I like closed back cabs better, and could then stick it on top of my soon to be OS PC Wave 2x12.

BUT, I could always take the combo and check it out. That's why I'm also thinking I could just put the combo on top of my 1936 2x12 or my Wave 2x12, and that way I could compete with the 4x12.

Hence my question for how to run the combo with another 2x12.

I assume if my 2x12 is 8ohms mono, I'd run the combo at 16 ohms?

Or if I run my 1936 at 16 ohms mono with the combo, I'd run that at 16 ohms?

I have no idea!!

I sometimes run my SD30 with a 1936 cab with 2 G12H Heritages (15 ohm each=8 ohm (7,5)). The speaker in the combo is 8 ohm and the cab is 8 ohm so I put the ohm switch at 4 ohm.

//J

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

OK, so is the cabinet load in the SD30 combo an 8 ohm load in parallel, making it 4 ohms?

Do lower/higher ohm loads make a difference in sound? Drastic or not?

 

[plexirocker 68]

The Budda combo load is 8 ohms. If you ran it with another 8 ohm cab then you'd set it at 4, or you could drive the 4-12 only with the correct load for the cab i.e. Marshall standard cab is 16 ohms.

If your other 2-12 cab was at 8 ohms then just run the combo and the 2-12 cab at 4 ohms and you'd have it. Running that load tends to sweeten amps IMO. It's still all good tone, no worries

If it was me and you wanted a real Bad Ass live tone I'd run the combo on your side and the other 2-12 cab on the other stage side. THAT would be killer in a live situation. Ad a little low end boost from a good graphic E.Q. and it would be mega big.

plexi

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

NICE! That's what I wanted to hear, but again, I'm not a huge fan of open back cabs, especially since I've heard these tend to lack a little in the thump dept.

We'll see...Hopefully they can order me a head ASAP!

Thanks!

 

[The Whiz]

Yeah with that amp, I'd go closed back cab. Definitely.

 

[Lawn Jockey]

You'll love it.

I've had my SD11 18 for about 6 years and I'll never part with it. This was after going through all of the other "boutique" amps available at that time.

Congrats!

 

[seeker]

I've got 2 SD 18 II heads I run in stereo through 2 closed back 2 x12's , it kick's serious butt. No lack of low end, and no excessive brightness.
You've got a line out with level control too, so you could run the SD 18 into another power amp if you needed more output for a bigger gig. The SD 18 w/ MV at 12:00 and drive at 12:00 is seriously loud...especially when going through more than just a 1x12.


H

 

[Andre357]

I own both a sdII 30 and 18.....both 1x12 combos.

The 18 watter is the thicker sounding of the two....more low end breath....more thump....thicker sounding in general....

A conversation with someone at Budda ( I think his name was Brandon ) confirmed my thoughts that the 18 watter sounds a bit thicker and has more perceived low end....they feel the same way.

also it is very loud and has plenty of headroom ( i gig with it 2 - 3 days a week ! )

They both sound great !! I love budda amps. Wonderfully voiced and more versatile than people realize ( I use mine in a GB band ! )

 

[BurnoutBright]

Questions for the SD II ( 18 & 30 ) owners. I just got my SD II 30 this week. I am still learning this amp. I used it at practice today and I had to use a hot plate at -8db so I can get the master volume at 12 and drive at 3. I only demoed the 18 at a store and if I remember right, I had the SD II 18 master volume at 11 and drive at 3 and I can get the amp to sustain and feedback very nicely. The SD II 30 at the above setting with the hotplate, the sustain and feedback had to be coaxed out. At the above setting, the amp is very very very loud. If i remove the hot plate I will over run the whole band. Does this sound about right? I did get this amp used, maybe I need to have it checked out. I expected this thing to sustain and feedback just like the SD II 18 at a lower setting, certainly at master volume 12, I expected this thing to feedback easily.

 

[IPlayHamers]

The SD18 is VERY loud and has alot of headroom for a 18 watt head. I just played the SD30 today and it's also VERY loud. I didn't really hear a difference with regards to headroom. I've heard the 18 through a 4x12 and it should be more than loud enough. The next logical step up would be the SD45 IMO.