Ampeg 810 cab comparison

JackTheRipper · #1 07-19-2011, 03:59 PM

I searched the forum for this, but didn't find anything recent so forgive me if it is redundant...

I have 2 Ampeg SVT-810 cabs. One I bought new in March of 2002; the second I bought used from Craigslist last week. The used cab has no decal on the back that would normally have the serial number, model, etc. I pulled 4 of the speakers from the used cab and they are all the 86-032-01 muddy sounding Eminence speakers with a date code of 2006 (IIRC). So the cab I bought used is apparently newer than the cab I bought in 2002.

They both have the particle board construction with some kind of sound baffling material and the board where the speakers mount is plywood. They also have the same connector plate on the back - same number/type/position of inputs.

I did a back to back comparison of the cabs and found that the cab I bought new has a slightly brighter sound than the apparently newer cab. I was a little surprised since I assumed they both had the 86-032-01 speakers. I didn't pull any speakers from the old cab - I might do that tonight to see if they are the 86-032-01 speakers.

The point of this post is to ask the latest info on speaker replacement for these cabs. Older posts that I found mentioned replacing the 86-032-01 speakers with Jensen MOD10-50s or Eminence Legend B810s. What's the latest consensus on this? Is there anything newer or better? I like the sound of the cab I bought new. The used one is ok, but I'd like to upgrade it to get a bit brighter sound of of it.

I am a little hesitant to use the Jensen's since I would be replacing a 100 watt speaker with a 50-watt speaker. But if it works, then I guess I would be ok with that.

Here is a pic of the cabs. The cab on the left is the one I bought new, the cab on the right is the one I bought from CL last week:

BTW, the amp setup for the test was the rack unit on the left: SansAmp RPM, SansAmp RBI, dbx 160A, Carvin DCM3000L.

--jack

jastacey · #2 07-20-2011, 08:46 AM

I've used my 810 with the Jensen Mods for many gigs, I' have used my Fender Bassman 1200 pro and my Bassman 300 Pro. with no ill effects .... as a side note, I only have had the volume on both amps to 4/4.5 and it was very loud & clean .... the photo below is before I went to 4 Jensen Mods .... it sounds good with just 2 by the way .....

amp-5 by jastacey128, on Flickr

JackTheRipper · #3 07-20-2011, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jastacey

I've used my 810 with the Jensen Mods for many gigs, I' have used my Fender Bassman 1200 pro and my Bassman 300 Pro. with no ill effects .... as a side note, I only have had the volume on both amps to 4/4.5 and it was very loud & clean .... the photo below is before I went to 4 Jensen Mods .... it sounds good with just 2 by the way .....

amp-5 by jastacey128, on Flickr

Thanks for the reply.

So you replaced 4 of the speakers with Jensen MOD10-50's, but you think replacing just 2 would have been as good? Where in the cab did you put the Jensen's? Are they the top 2 in the pic?

--jack

jastacey · #4 07-20-2011, 11:31 AM

I started with the top 2 ... I liked it and I did the next row under the first two, so the top 4 speakers are Jensen Mods ... the photo shows when i did the first two Jensen Mods

Here is some links to the threads on the Jensen Mod
SVT-810E speaker experiment

If you have a 1990's Ampeg 810...

Ampeg 8x10 Speaker Upgrade

JackTheRipper · #5 07-20-2011, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jastacey

I started with the top 2 ... I liked it and I did the next row under the first two, so the top 4 speakers are Jensen Mods ... the photo shows when i did the first two Jensen Mods

Thanks, I ordered 2 Jensen's from Fliptops. I'll install 'em and see whether I want 2 more.

--jack

JackTheRipper · #6 08-01-2011, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackTheRipper

Thanks, I ordered 2 Jensen's from Fliptops. I'll install 'em and see whether I want 2 more.

I got the Jensen's from Fliptops and installed them in the cab, replacing the top 2 speakers. Tried it out with the band on Friday and really like the way it sounds. I didn't do an a/b test with my other cab, but since I liked the result I didn't feel that I needed to.

Thanks to TB and the advice, I'm really happy with how this cab sounds.

--jack