Ampeg 410 HLF . . . Don't understand

bassnj · #1 12-01-2011, 07:19 AM

Don't seem to understand a lot of the comments here about the Ampeg 410HLF. Lots of folks seem to think the cab is muddy and doesn't have much mid-range. I know that when it comes to using one's ears, things can be subjective, but still . . . I find it to be a punchy little sucker, and pretty damn versatile.

It could be my philosophy about these things. Yes, the cab is pretty damn bassy, but I'd much rather have to dial that back than dial it in. I've played single 410 rigs where I've had to nearly dime the bass knob out on the amp. Never had to do that with the Ampeg 410HLF. My bass knob usually sits at around 10 or 11 o'clock on my amp, and it really works. As for mids . . . it all depends which bass I'm using. With a Warwick Corvette Standard strung with DR High Beams, I have mids for days, regardless where my EQ is. With my Stingray 5, not so much, but I just sweep my mid's until I hit a sweet spot. With my Spector Euro 5 . . . well, that thing cuts through nearly any damn mix.

Like I said . . . I guess a lot of it is subjective. For example, tons of folks like the Markbass 'sound,' but I hate it. I will say, though, that the cab does feel like I'm hauling a stack of cinder blocks around.

tdub0199 · #2 12-01-2011, 07:27 AM

It's a ported cab, there for it is a lot boomier than non-ported cabs, a sealed cab will have more mids....

KJung · #3 12-01-2011, 07:29 AM

It would not surprise me if you 'hate' the 'Markbass sound' (which is warm, but relatively even, in general) that you might like the 410HLF. Very different thing.

Any time you have a relatively extremely voiced piece of gear like the HLF, you are going to see a 'love hate' sort of thing. Same thing with the fridge, the TC RH heads, etc.

Play what you like, and don't worry much about what other people think. TB is very useful for tone descriptions (i.e., when the 'lovers and haters' describe a piece of gear relatively the same, like with the HLF410, then you are getting to the 'truth'). Whether someone 'likes' that tone or not is purely subjective and not that useful for those looking for info to help with a buying decision.

And, by the way, I HATE the 410HLF

deepbluesuk · #4 12-01-2011, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdub0199

It's a ported cab, there for it is a lot boomier than non-ported cabs, a sealed cab will have more mids....

....like the 410HE?

tdub0199 · #5 12-01-2011, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deepbluesuk

....like the 410HE?

Yes, that would be a sealed cab....

Marial · #6 12-01-2011, 07:59 AM

Well, I like my 410HLF too, but being an idiot, can someone answer a question for me? What does the dial on the back do???

Tunaman · #7 12-01-2011, 07:59 AM

Why wouldn't you put these comments on the HLF thread thats ongoing now? Discussing the same thing in 2 separate threads is a tad odd

jgroh · #8 12-01-2011, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marial

Well, I like my 410HLF too, but being an idiot, can someone answer a question for me? What does the dial on the back do???

Turns the tweeter up or down. I turn mine off.

jgroh · #9 12-01-2011, 08:04 AM

Well I have and like my 410HLF...and I use my Markbass head on top of it! =)

Essen · #10 12-01-2011, 08:04 AM

I'm glad you like it. And a lot of my friends like it too. Personally I found the cab to be to deep/boomy. With the tweeter on there was (IMO) a huge gab between the very deep bass and the very bright high end. With the tweeter of I had a hard time to get any treble without it sounding harsh. In studio it sounded fine, but at high volume gigs and rehearsals, I couldn't really hear my notes clearly, even with a lot of eq'ing.

Though to it's defence, I used it mainly with a SVT450, which IMO is not a very good head, so that didn't help any of it.

My guitarists say they miss that deep bassy sound, but I think that's just their preferred bass sound. And I like a lot of bass too, but I want it to be more focused, in a more even sounding cab.

deepbluesuk · #11 12-01-2011, 08:13 AM

Anyone used the HLF with a GK 700RBII?

tdub0199 · #12 12-01-2011, 08:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deepbluesuk

Anyone used the HLF with a GK 700RBII?

Nope, I use an Ampeg 810E with my GK 1001RB II though.....

Marial · #13 12-01-2011, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgroh

Turns the tweeter up or down. I turn mine off.

Thank you!

georgestrings · #14 12-01-2011, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deepbluesuk

Anyone used the HLF with a GK 700RBII?

Yup - that's a killer pairing, IMO...

- georgestrings

Eric Moesle · #15 12-01-2011, 08:59 AM

I'm still distracted by the OP calling it a "punchy little sucker". That cab is unusually LARGE for a 410... and low, but not punchy... if you dig that sort of thing.

Barisaxman · #16 12-01-2011, 09:16 AM

"PUNCHY" is simply a matter of EQ on the input. The appropriate amount of low-mid will make almost any cabinet punchy, unless the driver/cabinet design has an inherent dip in frequency response. I have NO issue making my HLF punching, and taming the deep lows with the abundant EQ options on my Mesa MPulse600. When playing outdoors, I tend to kick up the super low end, as the lack of reflections that are present on small indoor stages give the cab some breathing room. Love my HLF...love my rig !

MattyH · #17 12-01-2011, 09:28 AM

I disagree with the ones disagreeing. My Stingray 5 and Jazz basses through my HLF will "Punch" you in the face. So good.

The problem I have is that I do weddings, and I'd say 80% of the venues are not made for live band sound. Sometimes its all reverb bass, sometimes it's all one muddy note, and sometimes you don't hear the bass at all. But when I get those venues that are built just right, this amp its amazing. It always sounds amazing next to me, its the rooms that mess with the tone

As for it being boomy, I lucked out. I pair it with the Hartke LH1000. I keep the tone flat. Thats around Bass - 0, Mid - 10, Highs - 2. The cab still pounds out the bottom end at a perfect amount. Love my rig. I really want to pair it with an RB1001 or 700. But, being a 4ohm cab I can pair it with the Hartke with another cab, unbridged, parallel, and not have to worry about an explosion. I'd need a 2ohm head, or one I can run unbridged like I do the Hartke. I never make big stacks with my Ampeg cabs, but I like to have that option! I could always use the Hartke for a Stack rig, and the GK for a single cab. I hear the GK head/Ampeg pairing is killer.

Bottom line, I love the 410HLF.

Eric Moesle · #18 12-01-2011, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barisaxman

"PUNCHY" is simply a matter of EQ on the input.

I really really disagree with this statement. Anyone who has played through many different models of speakers and configurations will tell you than you can't just EQ your way into "punch" that some have and others lack. Also, there are different KINDS of "punch" that some cabs have that others don't.

Each cab has its own flavor and its rare if you can EQ one cab to sound just like another.

bassdie · #19 12-01-2011, 09:38 AM

I have a 410 HLF and I found that with standard tuning it was a great cab with plenty of low end. I found it pretty punchy but that was a rick with a solid state amp with a 7band EQ that allowed me to really dial in punch. Once I switched to lower tunings and an Ampeg V4 on top I started to lose some serious low end so I switched to an Emperor 2x15, couldn't be happier.

If you are running standard or slightly below standard tunings the HLF is a pretty cool sounding amp, my only gripe with it is that it is big and heavy (weight wise not tone wise) for a 4x10.

Barisaxman · #20 12-01-2011, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric Moesle

I really really disagree with this statement. Anyone who has played through many different models of speakers and configurations will tell you than you can't just EQ your way into "punch" that some have and others lack. Also, there are different KINDS of "punch" that some cabs have that others don't.

Each cab has its own flavor and its rare if you can EQ one cab to sound just like another.

You can disagree...but punchiness is nothing more than emphasis of a certain range of frequencies. Some cabinets will obviously have a response that, by design, is tougher to EQ those frequencies to a sufficient level to create your definition of "punch"...but any cabinet with reasonable frequecy response can do so. After all...at the end of the day we're simply manipulating a sound wave.