Acoustic 370 head, which cab should i get?( please move to amps)

dudestevens · #1 08-23-2011, 11:27 PM

Hey guys, I'm a new bass player although I've been playing guitar for a while and I need some help picking out a cabinet.

I have an acoustic 370 head that and am going to playing some small club shows in a kind of heavy garage rock like band. Should I go with a 4 x 10 or a 1 x 15 cabinet? Acoustic or Ampeg? Maybe in the near future I would get a matching twin and stack them. If you have any other suggestions let me know. thanks.

dudestevens · #2 08-23-2011, 11:43 PM

also, been practicing with an ampeg 8 x10 but we really have no way of transporting so need something smaller.

Jim Carr · #3 08-23-2011, 11:48 PM

Gotta move over to amps....mods will help.

Oren Hudson · #4 08-24-2011, 05:59 AM

Any Acoustic user will tell you to go with an Acoustic cab. Probably never truer that a builder (old) Acoustic truly matching heads and cabs to be the best and most effecient. I know of many players who have done the side by side with mixing head and cab and still swear that nothing worked and sounded as good as mating Acoustics. Reguarding the size - the 301 cab is a fridge. Maybe you could find a Acoustic 106 cab. It's a 2-15 standard size cab. The advantage with your aforementioned small club gigs is that with the direct radiaiting cab, your volume could be lower for that usage.

craig.p · #5 08-24-2011, 06:02 AM

No biggie on that 810. I think the 370 would've been woefully underpowered for it. You will need a cab that's pretty efficient. That's the spec I'd pay closest attention to while you're shopping around. (For what specs are worth -- which is a whole 'nother matter.)

punkrocko · #6 08-24-2011, 07:09 AM

A 370 head will light up an 810 fridge, take my word for it.

The 370 has a bright switch that really helped the 301 cabs, but when not engaged the head is perfectly usable with any cab. I tried it with my Hartke AK410 and it sounds great.

My advice to the OP:

Get a budget. Decide how big, or small a cab you can transport. Audition cabs in your area that meets these criteria.

IMO: I think a pair of 115 cabs would work great. Maybe some old Peaveys, or TL606 boxes.

Gaolee · #7 08-24-2011, 01:28 PM

I have used a 370 head through an old Peavey 410 with good results. It doesn't sound as good as through a vintage Acoustic cabinet, but sometimes overkill is just overkill.

Buster Brown · #8 08-24-2011, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craig.p

No biggie on that 810. I think the 370 would've been woefully underpowered for it. You will need a cab that's pretty efficient. That's the spec I'd pay closest attention to while you're shopping around. (For what specs are worth -- which is a whole 'nother matter.)

Uh.....NO.

I carry a 370 as a back up for my HSVT and occasionally I play through the 370. The 8X10 SCREAMS with the 370.

So, at least in my case, it works like a charm....

As to the OP...perhaps a 4X10?

craig.p · #9 08-24-2011, 04:33 PM

Well, we must be talking different cabs. Mine was from the mid '70s and it was the worst power sponge I've ever used in my life. It said, "Bring it on" to the 370 head I once tried it with, and it couldn't. The 370 went back the next day, having cost me time, aggravation, and gas money. About all I can say is that maybe the folks who have had good success powering these cabs with a 370 are using different variants/vintages.

lfh · #10 08-24-2011, 04:39 PM

One important thing to keep in mind is that the 370 was designed to operate with low impedance loads. It just loves running at 2 Ohms. Hence two 4 Ohm cabs (preferably identical) would be nice in your case.

Buster Brown · #11 08-24-2011, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craig.p

Well, we must be talking different cabs. Mine was from the mid '70s and it was the worst power sponge I've ever used in my life. It said, "Bring it on" to the 370 head I once tried it with, and it couldn't. The 370 went back the next day, having cost me time, aggravation, and gas money. About all I can say is that maybe the folks who have had good success powering these cabs with a 370 are using different variants/vintages.

Well, I use a Ampeg 6X10HLF - A HSVT 8X10e - The 6X10 being a SLM cab and, of course, the HSVT is a New cab.

I power the cabs with a 4Pro (USA) and a Heritage SVT-CL (2010 model) Like I said before, on occasion, I have used the 370 (for the hell of it, basically) and both the 6X10 and the 8X10 purr right along. Obviously, I have not used both cabs together (well, on a couple of occasions) but not with the 370.

is the 370 as "loud" as the 4Pro and the CL? Well, to be honest, no. But is there a HUGE difference? Not to these old-assed ears!