Ampeg B-410HLF front ported, likes/dislikes?

easternbull · #1 11-18-2010, 01:05 AM

I have found a barley used ampeg B-410HLF, for only 450€(680€new). Was thinking this would be a good cab for my low C,G,C,F tuning. Not a lot of reviews to be found, would not be pushing this cab too hard, mostly practice/jams and tiny gigs.

Was inititally thinking of getting a smaller 2x10 cab, but this is a pretty good deal. I know these cabs don't have the same quality tone as the svt or classic series, but here are a few new cabs in the same price range:

Ashdown ABM410H
GK 410MBE
TC Electronics RS410
Warwick WCA411PRO

and a few new 2x10

GK NEO210
Trace Elloit 1028
SWR workingpro 2x10
Warwick WCA211PRO

The main complaints I've found regarding the B 410HLF, were when the cabs were pushed too hard(tweeters braking, farting out etc). I thought this would not be an issue becuse the cab would be used at low volumes.

Here are the heads I will be using the cab with
Ashdown little bastard and a Trace Elliot v-type 600h. The used market over here is crap, mostly beat up hartke gear etc. So I thought be a good deal (2year warranty), even if it's a big cab for jamming. When working in my home studio I would just DI both heads.

The cab is on hold and he is waiting for my decision, help me decide.

Cheers.

easternbull · #2 11-18-2010, 05:39 AM

bump,

Need som help here fast!

Alexander · #3 11-18-2010, 05:56 AM

I am not a big fan of those cabs - I find the low end is nice, warm and fat but seems could get out of control quick in a bad room. The highs were a bit brittle and the mids are very scooped\muddy\undefined, even with a very mid-present head. At low volume or in a "less-than-busy" mix, it might be right up your alley. But at volume in a busy mix, it isn't my favourite. I really wanted to like it though since that bottom end was so nice...

Hope this helps

easternbull · #4 11-18-2010, 06:09 AM

Thank you soo much for the feedback, I realy apreciate it.

Anyone else out there?

zenlowend · #5 11-18-2010, 06:19 AM

I have this cab in my practice room hooked up to a late 70s acoustic tube head and it works great. For some of our songs I'm tuned to C G C F and this cab handles the low C with out a problem. For our live shows I play through a 73 SVT / Berg NV610. For practice and small shows the 410HLF is just fine but if you want perfection go with the berg. I have yet to find a cab that can even come close to the berg and I tried them all, well all I could find that would let me hook up my svt and "test drive" them. If you can, get the berg....highly recommended! I'm sure you already know this but make sure your strings are large enough to handle the low tuning. I use GHS Boomers 50-115 for our C G C F. If they are not large enough, especially your low C, any cab you get will sound like crap.

easternbull · #6 11-18-2010, 09:30 AM

Thanks for the feedback,

Yep I've been drooling over those bergs for the last month but the price tag is just out of my range at the moment, maybe if i sold one of the heads in the future I could fork out for a berg.

And yes I'm using thicker string dean markley blue steel strings, anything else just feels wierd after using these strings for the last 12 years, the tone you get with these is superb IMHO.

So still cant decide weather to go with the B 410HLF or not.
I have started looking at some ashdown ABM cabs, good price and they would fit the little bastard, and the founder used to run/own trace elliot before the gibson takeover.

thanks again for the help.

jnewmark · #7 11-18-2010, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alexander

I am not a big fan of those cabs - I find the low end is nice, warm and fat but seems could get out of control quick in a bad room. The highs were a bit brittle and the mids are very scooped\muddy\undefined, even with a very mid-present head. At low volume or in a "less-than-busy" mix, it might be right up your alley. But at volume in a busy mix, it isn't my favourite. I really wanted to like it though since that bottom end was so nice...

Hope this helps

+1. When I owned this cab, those were my thoughts exactly, even when I raised the cab up on a crate. Just a bucket of mud.

joshwilkesbooth · #8 11-18-2010, 09:45 AM

I use a 410HLF and I've never once had an issue with it.

AlexanderB · #9 11-18-2010, 12:37 PM

I was very interested in its more expensive sibling, the SVT-410HLF, but was disappointed when I tried it. On paper it looked good; plenty of lows, high power handling and slightly scooped mids. When I finally had a chance to try it (with my Markbass LMII and four string Precision) it turned out to be too muddy sounding, overbearing in the 60-150 Hz range, and sounded "compressed" even at moderate SPL. The enclosure panel vibrations were also vibrating surprisingly much. The deepest lows (below 50Hz or so) were also somewhat rolled off, making the lowest notes sound somewhat hollow in comparison to the rest.

/Alexander

easternbull · #10 11-18-2010, 01:00 PM

thank you for the reviews guys! such a big help.

I decided not to go with the Ampeg B 410HLF, so I'm still looking, researching ashdowns ABM210 at the moment

If I got a cab in the 300-400€ range I would still have enogh cash to get a "real" meistersinger analog chorus pedal.

Cheers guys

adamb1026 · #11 11-18-2010, 01:26 PM

I've been using this cab with the Ampeg B2-RE head, was a £700 deal two years ago.

I do admit sometimes I feel the clarity of my 130watt Ashdown Electric Blue is better than the Ampeg. However, in a band situation, the Ampeg's beefy sound and low end is brilliant, cutting through the guitars and sitting with the kick drum nicely.