Well I've made a start

[djgordyp]

After all this time I've made a start on building a rig. Don't laugh, but last night I bought 2 amplifiers for £30. These belonged to the guy I used to do discos with. His widow has never managed to get them sold. There is still another five amps still in the house.
unfortunately from checking on the net, the two amps are different wattages. The first is a carlsboro Marlin 1042. From what I've read, this is a 120 watt amp (4 channel pa amp). This amp served us well for many years and should still be working. The second is also a Carlsboro, this one is a slave amp and is marked M130 and puts out 200 watts. This one has never been used (as far as I can remember) and should also be working. My plan was to use both, one for the left channel and one for the right. Seeing as there is such a power difference I would probably be better just sticking with the slave amp. Unless it would be possible to adjust the volumes to match.
Maybe this time next year I will have the speakers and then I will be able to test the amps.:D :D

[Have a disco]

oh dear these will prove to be very weak for the purpose you intend??

[DJ James Lake]

Might be handy for powering headphones :D :D :D

[djgordyp]

oh dear these will prove to be very weak for the purpose you intend??
Time will tell I suppose. Like I said, the Marlin 1042 was used for many years with no problems, and it is the smaller of the two at 120 watts. I might not fill the biggest of function rooms but would be adequate for most lounges around here. Not only that but I don't believe in causing deafness anyway. And they are only intended to be temporary anyway. Providing I can get other bits and pieces gathered up.

[Excalibur]

Time will tell I suppose. Like I said, the Marlin 1042 was used for many years with no problems, and it is the smaller of the two at 120 watts. I might not fill the biggest of function rooms but would be adequate for most lounges around here. Not only that but I don't believe in causing deafness anyway. And they are only intended to be temporary anyway. Providing I can get other bits and pieces gathered up.

There are many more powerful amps available at sensible money. HOWEVER, for ten years at least, I ran with an amp no bigger than the Marlin, and never felt underpowered. Go with what you have got, but be prepared to change sooner rather than later. Good luck.:)

[djgordyp]

Go with what you have got, but be prepared to change sooner rather than later. Good luck.:)

That is the intention. But it will be a while of yet before I can put them into use there are still quite a few bits and pieces needed yet. On the website I got the information from, a reviewer said it is quite loud for its size. Carlsboro seem to have been the bees knees way back in the seventies.First of all I need to take it apart. There is something loose inside it. I think it is something to do with the reverb unit.

[JAMdisco]

If it is the reverb unit (old type spring reverb) just take it out - unless your thinking of using the reverb (can'tthink why though).

Like you said, it should be ok for small functions but it's always better to have a bigger amp running at half power than a smaller amp running flat out all night.

Like Excalibur said - change as soon as you can afford it.

[djgordyp]

Indeed I can't think of a use for the reverb either lol. It must be a spring type for there was always a rattle from this amp.

Now for tonights question. As I mentioned in my first post, the other amp is a slave which is rated at 200 watts from what I can gather. If I could get the volume levels to match, would it be sensible running one speaker from each amp? Alternatively, there is a slave out on the back of the Marlin, so would it be wise inputting this into the bigger amp?

[Excalibur]

Indeed I can't think of a use for the reverb either lol. It must be a spring type for there was always a rattle from this amp.

Now for tonights question. As I mentioned in my first post, the other amp is a slave which is rated at 200 watts from what I can gather. If I could get the volume levels to match, would it be sensible running one speaker from each amp? Alternatively, there is a slave out on the back of the Marlin, so would it be wise inputting this into the bigger amp?

Second route is better, one pair of speakers per amp.

[djgordyp]

I want to be sure about this and don't want to be damageing the slave. In theory then the Marlin could be used as a preamp. Is there a limit to the amount of power I could drive into the slave?

[Excalibur]

I want to be sure about this and don't want to be damageing the slave. In theory then the Marlin could be used as a preamp. Is there a limit to the amount of power I could drive into the slave?

Back up a bit there Sir. The Marlin is not to be used as a preamp as such, it has a facility for passing on a signal to another power amp. Never use the Marlin without speakers attached. Like I said before, feed the Marlin with the signal from the mixer, into a line input. From the slave output of the Marlin, feed the input of the slave. Both amps MUST have a pair of speakers attached. I can just feel the minefield we're entering, since I am fairly sure the Marlin is a Mono amp. and it's a safe bet the slave is. If, you've only got one pair of speakers. it would be possible to run one per amp in this mode if the figures add up. Be careful!

[djgordyp]

Back up a bit there Sir. The Marlin is not to be used as a preamp as such, it has a facility for passing on a signal to another power amp. Never use the Marlin without speakers attached. Like I said before, feed the Marlin with the signal from the mixer, into a line input. From the slave output of the Marlin, feed the input of the slave. Both amps MUST have a pair of speakers attached. I can just feel the minefield we're entering, since I am fairly sure the Marlin is a Mono amp. and it's a safe bet the slave is. If, you've only got one pair of speakers. it would be possible to run one per amp in this mode if the figures add up. Be careful!
Thanks for the advice so far. Like I said, I wasn't sure (read, haven't a clue:D ). The safest option would be to go with the slave only then as it is the more powerful. Seeing as they date back to the seventies they are both mono. There is two speaker outputs on the back with a rating of 4 - 16 ohms. It states on the back that maximum power is achieved when speaker rating of 4 ohms is achieved. Am I right in thinking then that I should use two 8 ohm cabinets.
I am already thinking that the answer to my next question will be no. To test that the amp is working, would it be possible to use an ordinary hifi speaker providing the volume is kept very low. Failing that I'll just have to find someone who'll let me use one of their speakers. Then again I suppose there's no rush. After all, it took me over a year to get this far :o :) :)

[djsteve10]

Why not just make matters easy and save your cash up...might take a while but get a decent amp to power all the speakers.

[Excalibur]

Thanks for the advice so far. Like I said, I wasn't sure (read, haven't a clue:D ). The safest option would be to go with the slave only then as it is the more powerful. Seeing as they date back to the seventies they are both mono. There is two speaker outputs on the back with a rating of 4 - 16 ohms. It states on the back that maximum power is achieved when speaker rating of 4 ohms is achieved. Am I right in thinking then that I should use two 8 ohm cabinets.
I am already thinking that the answer to my next question will be no. To test that the amp is working, would it be possible to use an ordinary hifi speaker providing the volume is kept very low. Failing that I'll just have to find someone who'll let me use one of their speakers. Then again I suppose there's no rush. After all, it took me over a year to get this far :o :) :)

Yes to 8ohm speakers, no to Hi Fi. Mixer amp unnecesary if you use a mixer ( which you will have to do for a disco. Mixer amps are well suited for things like quizzes, where you're not cutting from source to source. If money is tight, the only answer is Class-D for speakers. Even the CD128's will give you 250w rms per cab for less than £100 per pair.

BTW Totally agree with Steve 10.

[djgordyp]

Why not just make matters easy and save your cash up...might take a while but get a decent amp to power all the speakers.

Now why didn't I think of that lol. Still need to buy quite a few more cd's and would need 4 scanners although 2 would do to start.

I've heard the class D are good value for money. I was also looking at the Prosound 250w speakers they are cheap (£90 I think) and lightweight as well. I've read somewhere on this forum I think that the sound quality from them is quite good as well.

On the music front. In the mid to late 90's there was a 3 disc compilation called 'The Ultimate Party Animal'. If any of you know it do you know where I might find it.

[Excalibur]

Now why didn't I think of that lol. Still need to buy quite a few more cd's and would need 4 scanners although 2 would do to start.

I've heard the class D are good value for money. I was also looking at the Prosound 250w speakers they are cheap (£90 I think) and lightweight as well. I've read somewhere on this forum I think that the sound quality from them is quite good as well.

On the music front. In the mid to late 90's there was a 3 disc compilation called 'The Ultimate Party Animal'. If any of you know it do you know where I might find it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultimate-Party-Animal-Various-Artists/dp/B000C5E6QW/ref=sr_1_1/202-6676119-9298247?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1194554975&sr=1-1

[djgordyp]

seen that one on amazon but I'm just after finding the one I'm on about on ebay
http://product.ebay.co.uk/Ultimate-Party-Animal_EAN_5029243004724_W0QQfvcsZ1277QQsoprZ40398 79

[Excalibur]

seen that one on amazon but I'm just after finding the one I'm on about on ebay
http://product.ebay.co.uk/Ultimate-Party-Animal_EAN_5029243004724_W0QQfvcsZ1277QQsoprZ40398 79

Et Voila.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultimate-Party-Animal-Various-Artists/dp/B0000075RM/ref=sr_1_2/202-6676119-9298247?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1194555636&sr=1-2

[djgordyp]

Et Voila.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ultimate-Party-Animal-Various-Artists/dp/B0000075RM/ref=sr_1_2/202-6676119-9298247?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1194555636&sr=1-2

Actually this one appears to be even better even though it does have firestarter on it.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/School-Disco-Presents-Number-1s/dp/B000BGFC6A/ref=pd_sim_m_h__shvl_title_1/026-3990311-4801253?ie=UTF8&qid=1194555636&sr=1-2
Think I'll go for that one as well.
One last question. Can any of you recommend a book similar to a dummies guide, relating to amps/speakers/sound.
Excalibur, really appreiciate you taking the time to answer my questions and so on.