215 or 610, Weighing it

Count Bassie · #1 06-06-2010, 08:16 PM

Aright... I have an old Peavey 215-D with Scorpions, soon to be replaced with Eminence Betas. But I have opportunity to trade an amp head I don't love that much for an Ampeg 610. I played reggae for years and love the impression of lows... but I want growl and some hi's presence as well- just for cutting through.

Any opinions on which cab you would keep?

Head: Trace-Elliot AH250SMX, Trace MK IV GP11;

Basses: Squier P-Bass, modded w/ old Duncan p'up and Thomastick J-Flats; Dillion VMB-500 5-string.

Thanks for advice, time, other valuable commodities!

christw · #2 06-06-2010, 08:23 PM

My GK 610 has loads of thump. I don't know anything of the head, but Ampeg 610s aren't to be scoffed at. (the classic thump is a P with flats and Ampeg amplification!). It was between my GK and a SVT610 HLF next to it and the GK just barely won. I already had an SVT810E anyways...

Count Bassie · #3 06-06-2010, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christw

My GK 610 has loads of thump. I don't know anything of the head, but Ampeg 610s aren't to be scoffed at. (the classic thump is a P with flats and Ampeg amplification!). It was between my GK and a SVT610 HLF next to it and the GK just barely won. I already had an SVT810E anyways...

I'm a little curious as to whether the LOUD-issue cabs are a lesser product than the US-made, St Louis cabs...

somedumbguy · #4 06-06-2010, 08:55 PM

Get the six ten, it kills.

Count Bassie · #5 06-06-2010, 08:59 PM

Okay, we have a pattern developing.

christw · #6 06-06-2010, 09:37 PM

I don't know what issue it was. I have a late 90's SLM 810e that kills but was too boomy. 4 MOD10-50's fixed that! The 610 HLF have a tweeter which helps a lot by clarifying the high end but can get sizzly if you OD your pre/power sections under heavy play. However, I liked the presence of a tweeter on both 610s I tried. (I didn't like the other cabs I demoed nearly as much, incluing Ampeg's attempt at clear hifi cabs, which I forgot the model of)

christw · #7 06-06-2010, 09:39 PM

Also, the tweeter being adjustable does the trick. I think the crossover is at 3 kHz ish which is right where the stock drivers give out if memory serves?

hrgiger · #8 06-06-2010, 09:40 PM

I only know about the 215D, those are flat-out one of the best cabs around IMHO, mine has BWs 1502 I think. I love the rich low end and the surprising top end. Never heard from anyone who had one that didn't feel the same, in fact one guy around TB has 2 of them stacked on their sides... Just don't over-look the gem you already have when infected with G.A.S...

Here's a guy who agrees:

Count Bassie · #9 06-07-2010, 03:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrgiger

I only know about the 215D, those are flat-out one of the best cabs around IMHO, mine has BWs 1502 I think. I love the rich low end and the surprising top end. Never heard from anyone who had one that didn't feel the same, in fact one guy around TB has 2 of them stacked on their sides... Just don't over-look the gem you already have when infected with G.A.S...

This is an answer I've been sort of quietly waiting for...

vin*tone · #10 06-07-2010, 04:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrgiger

..Here's a guy who agrees:

Na. He looks perplexed. Wondering why he can't hear himself.

Go the 610.

JimmyM · #11 06-07-2010, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Count Bassie

I'm a little curious as to whether the LOUD-issue cabs are a lesser product than the US-made, St Louis cabs...

they are a BETTER product than the slm cabs, at least the slm cabs from about 2000-2005 when they used chipboard and muddy speakers. and they're as good as the cabs slm was making before that.

Count Bassie · #12 06-07-2010, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hrgiger

Who is this anyway?

hrgiger · #13 06-07-2010, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Count Bassie

Who is this anyway?

Steve Severin - Siouxsie & The Banshees

georgestrings · #14 06-07-2010, 09:17 PM

I have an old Peavey 215D-BW that's currently loaded with Eminence Kappa LFAs, and it puts out more low end than any Ampeg cab ever made - including an SVT-410HLF I had for awhile... Also, for a 215 cab, it has pretty good highs, too - and would absolutely spank the SVT-610HLF for both low end and volume output...

Here's mine:

coreyfyfe · #15 06-07-2010, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Count Bassie

I'm a little curious as to whether the LOUD-issue cabs are a lesser product than the US-made, St Louis cabs...

Actually loud switched back to plywood instead of OSB that SLM was using the it's later years so the construction is probably better if not at least on par. The 610HLF is a nice cab. Ported so it gets pretty good low-end response, but it retains that ampeg 10's sound.

Jimmy beat me to it. That's what I get for reading three posts then replying.

Count Bassie · #16 06-07-2010, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

they are a BETTER product than the slm cabs, at least the slm cabs from about 2000-2005 when they used chipboard and muddy speakers. and they're as good as the cabs slm was making before that.

I'm glad to hear it! Not everything that's gone overseas has come back to such praise... this also appears to be a lesser-known tidbit among some bass players I know of.

And thanks for the ID there, hrgiger. I loved their rendition of "Dear Prudence".

So far I'm going to stick with the Peavey, as I think I've run into a deal on an amp I really want- so I'll forgo the 610 for now. I'll be looking into drivers to replace the Scorpions that are in the 215D now.

Any recommendations for replacement 15s for this box? This doesn't mean I won't change my mind and end up with the 610, by the way...

Count Bassie · #17 06-07-2010, 09:27 PM

Man, on a busy night you can miss three good posts while answering another! Hey George, got your rec for drivers, and there's a nice looking cab- I like the absence of the 'racing stripes' along the sides. Gotta do that...

I do love me 15s... I have Bag End S15-Ds also and this'll be another idea altogether. I'd been wanting one of these for a couple/few years now, and it was just about put into my lap by a freind who scoped it on CL. So all that said, I'll be keeping it a while, see how we do with it.

Thanks all, for the help and conversation!

redstrand · #18 06-07-2010, 09:28 PM

My Kustom 2x15 weighs more than my girlfriend.

Count Bassie · #19 06-07-2010, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redstrand

My Kustom 2x15 weighs more than my girlfriend.

You going to let her read this post?

georgestrings · #20 06-07-2010, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Count Bassie

Man, on a busy night you can miss three good posts while answering another! Hey George, got your rec for drivers, and there's a nice looking cab- I like the absence of the 'racing stripes' along the sides. Gotta do that...

I do love me 15s... I have Bag End S15-Ds also and this'll be another idea altogether. I'd been wanting one of these for a couple/few years now, and it was just about put into my lap by a freind who scoped it on CL. So all that said, I'll be keeping it a while, see how we do with it.

Thanks all, for the help and conversation!

Thanks, and you're certainly welcome... The Kappa LFA's were a huge improvement over the stock Black Widows that were in mine - killer low end, and an overall warmer tone, not to mention giving the cab a 1200 watt power handling capability(it's pretty much bullet-proof now)... I've also heard that 3015s would work well in a box like these, but haven't tried them yet... I can say that with the Kappa LFA's, that cab would compete well with 215s by Mesa, SWR, and Trace Elliot - so if you like your 15s, you might want to give this route a try...

Here's some other cabs of mine, to give an idea that I know a decent sounding cab when I play one: