Ampeg Heritage 8x10 REVIEW

JOE EDO · #1 10-27-2010, 12:20 PM

Last evening practice against a guitar, drums, vocal, in or practice space which has 10ft ceilings and is about 40x80 in size, concrete floors/ wood rafters.

Fired up the SVTCL 1/2 hour before we got started. Used My Spector NS-2 (drop D tune) and Music man Stingray 5 for the session. Running the SVTCL flat for the first song (For the Love of Money - ala BulletBoys version) Spector in hand all controls flat, SVTCL with master at 12 noon/ gain at 11
o'clock. From the first note, Ampeg ..Ampeg..Ampeg. In a band mix this cabinet made my 1999 CL sound better..and by better it seem to have more mids/ upper mids running flat then with my old 8x10 (2004 version-MDF construction.) I didn't find myself knob twisting for mids/ upper mids, or trying to cut unpleasantness out of the cabinet. Low mids were equivalent of someone dropping a concrete block on your chest from 20 feet. I wanted nothing more then maybe a little bass boost from the Spector...perfection. Went to the Stingray for an original tune and the 8x10 never flinched when hit with low B's (fast and moderate finger attacks). Again, the cabinet made each bass sound as it should and not a muddled mess when riding the low notes. Great practice session and everyone agreed that they could hear how hard I was working on my bass runs. A few comments were also made about how clear the mistakes sounded too

Last night when I got the rig home, I wanted to run a few more tests to see/hear just what the cabinet could handle. Oh yes, moving this cabinet is not as fearsome as those MDF cabinets. I did notice that Ampeg trimmed the weight of this beast down from 165 to 135 (on the digital bathroom scale) While it's still an 8x10, the 30 pound weight loss is very noticeable to this 47 year old geezer. Easy load into my Rav4..wheel, tilt, push. No lifting. Yeah..Yeah, still gotta lug the SVTCL, I will do so til I die. I'm sure the Hover-Round folks will make me an attachment to carry the CL when my time comes.

Running this cabinet test using my arsenal basses, I wanted to see just where the cabinet stared to whimper, shinned, and what it was lacking. For a sealed cabinet a weak point could be when the lows are boosted (abnormally). I used the SVTCL and also hooked up my Shuttle 6.0 Max. The Heritage 8x10 ate it up. Very similar low threshold as the Bergantino 6x10, which I used to own. Throughout the test I noticed the 8x10 does have that Ampeg "tone color" if you will. I do remember the Berg being a bit more hi-fi. However, I like the Ampeg "color" in this cabinet and it is conducive to being able to do a somewhat clean tone well too. This is coming from a guy who also uses two Genz Benz 112T Neo's.
I really liked the Shuttle Max into the 8x10. The cabinet responds very well to the GB Shuttle complex equalization circuits. A nice surprise as my old 8x10 just seemed to be lacking upper mids or "sheen" when boosted. The Heritage seems to have more in the upper registers and more so when upper mids/ highs are boosted. A very nice surprise! (Wow did those DR LowRiders go zing!)
Ampeg did their homework on this one. Not only did they answer the USA..USA chant, they gave us a winner to boot! Tone, construction, and looks (sparkly grill cloth ooooohhhh

) ....real tough tolex!!!

)
In my previous post there was a comment about price of this cabinet. Yes, I got a great deal from Bass Central on this cabinet shipped to my door (I don't want to disclose the price as Beaver is a friend and I don't want to get him in any trouble with his suppliers.) However, the Ampeg's construction and components are on par in comparison with a competitively priced Bergantino NV610 (which is going for 1199.00). As for me, I feel that the Ampeg cabinet fits my tonal goals a bit better (has 2 more 10's than the Berg up where it counts!)
The final factor is finding equipment that works for the application. For me in rock, blues, and country genres, you can't beat the Heritage 8x10 with a CL on top. In the end I find it was worth the money spent on a high quality cabinet that should retain a good portion of it's value in the used/ collectors market.

Disclaimer: Tone is subjective, just like volume. Do your homework when it comes to buying gear...believe what you hear.

JimmyM · #2 10-27-2010, 02:32 PM

pure evil, you are! better than the berg? that's saying something, since a lot of people consider the berg so highly.

MingusBass · #3 10-27-2010, 03:22 PM

I own a Bergantino NV610, but I still have been lusting after one of these puppies to go with my VR. I work for an Ampeg dealer...so price isn't really the reason I haven't pulled the trigger. I think the sounds are comparable, the NV610 is a good 37 lbs lighter and fits in my car(Olds Intrigue) much easier. That being said, that black sparkle grill is hard to resist.

Buster Brown · #4 10-27-2010, 03:57 PM

See!?!? I told you guys!!

Proud owner of #44!!

dose · #5 10-27-2010, 05:17 PM

I'm between this and the Bergie..... wish I could try both

JimmyM · #6 10-27-2010, 05:19 PM

all respect to jim bergantino but you DID see the heritage grillecloth, right?

paganjack · #7 10-27-2010, 05:22 PM

Well written review. Sounds like Ampeg got something right!

Buster Brown · #8 10-27-2010, 08:29 PM

I had all but given up on Ampeg. I did not approve of their corporate structure and their business model. Ampeg has ALWAYS had their fair share of problems, but the overseas move (at least for me) was the last straw.

When the company announced that they were going to regain some operations in the US, I was STILL skeptical, but willing to check them out.

When the Heritage line came out, I decided to give them the "last chance" type of deal - not really expecting much. I initially bought the heritage cab and paired it up with my 4Pro (an absolute workhorse for the past 7-8 years) and an amp that I completely trust.

I was blown away! To say that I feel that the HSVT is one of the finest cabs (at least to me) that Ampeg has ever built would be an understatement. I IMMEDIATELY purchased the CL head and have never looked back.

Folks, Ampeg IS doing this the RIGHT way. I realize that they are charging a lot more for the Heritage series, but at least to me, the proof is in the pudding. I have not been this happy with a cab and a head for more years that I can remembr, but that's MY opinion.

Now, with all the buzz about the B-15 and the countless pages of free publicity - Ampeg has (most likely) another winner on it's hands. Time will, indeed, tell!

JOE EDO · #9 10-27-2010, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dose

I'm between this and the Bergie..... wish I could try both

Try both if you can with the head and basses you will be using. However, remember what you hear solo won't tell the whole story. The rubber hits the road once you're in a band setting.
Finding the right gear is work as there really are no magic bullets or one size fits all. Once you find the gear you want/need figuring out how to apply to differnt settings/ bands/ halls is another life long learning process.

JOE EDO · #10 10-27-2010, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buster Brown

I had all but given up on Ampeg. I did not approve of their corporate structure and their business model. Ampeg has ALWAYS had their fair share of problems, but the overseas move (at least for me) was the last straw.

When the company announced that they were going to regain some operations in the US, I was STILL skeptical, but willing to check them out.

When the Heritage line came out, I decided to give them the "last chance" type of deal - not really expecting much. I initially bought the heritage cab and paired it up with my 4Pro (an absolute workhorse for the past 7-8 years) and an amp that I completely trust.

I was blown away! To say that I feel that the HSVT is one of the finest cabs (at least to me) that Ampeg has ever built would be an understatement. I IMMEDIATELY purchased the CL head and have never looked back.

Folks, Ampeg IS doing this the RIGHT way. I realize that they are charging a lot more for the Heritage series, but at least to me, the proof is in the pudding. I have not been this happy with a cab and a head for more years that I can remembr, but that's MY opinion.

Now, with all the buzz about the B-15 and the countless pages of free publicity - Ampeg has (most likely) another winner on it's hands. Time will, indeed, tell!

..and I can attest that my #4 cabinet is as solid as you say your #44 is. Looks like Ampeg is finially serious about QC too!

Buster Brown · #11 10-27-2010, 08:48 PM

YOU GOT #4!?!?!?!?

Damn it all!!!

JOE EDO · #12 10-27-2010, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buster Brown

YOU GOT #4!?!?!?!?

Damn it all!!!

Hey, with only 400 of these being made anything from 1 thru 400 is honorable. Might have to start a Heritage club on TB. No handing out of numbers necessary

dose · #13 10-27-2010, 10:19 PM

Right now I'm running an SVT II non pro through a Eden 410XLT and 410 XST.
And it's beating the XLT to death a higher volumes(XST) can hold it's own.So was thinking about just getting a new cab all together and only lug one monster around in stead of two.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOE EDO

Try both if you can with the head and basses you will be using. However, remember what you hear solo won't tell the whole story. The rubber hits the road once you're in a band setting.
Finding the right gear is work as there really are no magic bullets or one size fits all. Once you find the gear you want/need figuring out how to apply to differnt settings/ bands/ halls is another life long learning process.

Classickbass · #14 10-27-2010, 10:31 PM

It's good to see someone say something nice about Ampeg other than Jimmy.

So how much do these cost? I have an American 810E already but am curious.

Nevermind, $1299 is not bad really. And the black grill cloth is bada$$.

jvdb · #15 10-28-2010, 03:45 PM

But are they better than the straight backs?

JimmyM · #16 10-28-2010, 03:47 PM

they do handle more power than the straight backs. but this is the crux of the biscuit for me. wish i knew...

JOE EDO · #17 10-28-2010, 06:49 PM

Someone want to ship me their straight back for a comparison? Just from what I know about straight backs the speakers are not as roubust as the newer 8x10's. I believe that lends them to being a bit more sensitive and sweeter sounding. I am curious to know if the internal cubic feet of the straight back vs. the newer cabs. That could also play a role in the straight backs tonal lore.
Getting into comparisons.. I did see a post from Tom B. where he stated that the new SVTCL Heritage head gave his 1974 SVT a run for it's money.

shoot-r · #18 10-30-2010, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOE EDO

Someone want to ship me their straight back for a comparison? Just from what I know about straight backs the speakers are not as roubust as the newer 8x10's. I believe that lends them to being a bit more sensitive and sweeter sounding. I am curious to know if the internal cubic feet of the straight back vs. the newer cabs. That could also play a role in the straight backs tonal lore.
Getting into comparisons.. I did see a post from Tom B. where he stated that the new SVTCL Heritage head gave his 1974 SVT a run for it's money.

I played a G.K. 800 head through a straight backed 810 SVT cab for many...many......many years.
Wish I had that cab back!
The straight back sounded clearer to my ears than the newer Ampeg 810 cabs.
Does the Heritage Series 810 have different speakers and different construcuion than the standard Classic Series 810E or 810AV cabinets?

JimmyM · #19 10-30-2010, 01:24 PM

yes. it's lighter and the speakers are us made by eminence as opposed to the chinese eminences in the regular model (i actually like those speakers...not as much as the cts's but they're pretty darn good to my ears). i find it highly coincidental that as soon as the heritage cabs came out, the eminence legend b810 speaker came out...i have a theory that's what they're using but i don't know for sure.

JOE EDO · #20 10-30-2010, 02:13 PM

Just got back from practice..is it possible for a cab to sound better and better? Seems like the cab got more "airy" and I had to actually back the mids off a bit. I also had a chance to walk around the room a bit more than the first time I played the cab. Wow, this sucker just blooms at 25 - 35 feet. Used my Fender Jazz 5 with Nordstrands..beejeeuz that low B was tight (and everything in between was speakin!) The more time I spend with this cabinet the more nuances I'm stating to hear. I did boost the bass knob to about to about 1 o'clock for a bit more fullness. Our sound man was there today too and said he can't wait to stick a mic infront of that black sparkly box. Maybe next week...