Another What Kind of Rig Should I Get

Sterling.Price · #1 06-16-2010, 02:43 PM

I currently am playing an MM4>Sansamp BDDI>Effects Return on an SWR Workingman 4004>Hartke 410tp and 115tp and I've just outgrown my amp cab setup. The Hartke TPs are a bit underpowered and I also use an octave pedal/distortion/fuzz occasionally and I just can't seem to move enough air to cut everything through the mix. I play in a loud, though not abnormally so, rock band and I can't get a clear sound in the mix. I've adjusted eq settings, boosted mids, and spent countless hours tone tweaking into headphones at home and I've determined my tone issue starts when my signal gets to my head or my cabinets. I've had my head and cab for 7 years, and their not particularly nice, so its time to upgrade.

Now you have the back story, time for the challenge. I'm looking for the best bang for the buck to upgrade my head and cabinet. I want to upgrade one piece at a time and I think I want to start with cabs and upgrade the head afterwards since the BDDI can craft good tone and the SWR is 400 watts at 4 ohms so I'm not light on wattage. I've been looking at the Ampeg 610Hlf but I'm worried how that will produce the low end, especially from my octave pedal. I also am not sure how the 610 will respond being powered by SWR 4004 in the meantime until I have the funds to purchase a new head. Since the 610 is rated at 4 ohms that limits my ability to add an additional cabinet unless I get a two band power amp correct? Since I already have the BDDI would a power amp be the best option for upgrading after I get a cab?

waleross · #2 06-16-2010, 03:32 PM

For me its either the Ampeg 410HLF or the 810E. I just got rid of a 610HLF as a buyback at SamAsh...I lost money but that's ok, The problem with the 610HLF is that it's an in-between cab. Maybe you'll like it but that's my opinion. I still have (2)410hlf's and these can be moved around like little tanks and they sound good to me. You do then run 2 Ohms but that's ok.

Sterling.Price · #3 06-16-2010, 04:18 PM

Anyone else had the same experience with the 610 being to I'm between to be effective. Also, it was my understanding that finding a quality had that can handle 2 ohm loads can be expensive? Am i wrong?

Mark Olson · #4 06-16-2010, 04:28 PM

Have you tried ditching the sansamp and plugging into the normal input of your amp?

Having a good sound in a mix, for me at least, requires I have a nice solid midrange content to cut through and be heard clearly. The sansamp cuts mids like a knife, I don't even like it with the bass and treble at minimum for my mids.

How do you have the output of the sansamp set? It it feeding enough signal to be run into the effects return? I'm sure that it can, but that's one simple (if unlikely) thing that could be causing problems.

Sterling.Price · #5 06-16-2010, 04:59 PM

I'm fairly confident I'm running the right level but I'm going to double check that today. I was running my bass without the sansamp directly into the pre amp of the SWR, and that's what drove me to the sansamp. It's a budget amp series running into cabinet set who's primary selling point was being lightweight and mobile. I KNOW that the problem I'm hearing is a quality issue, hence looking to upgrade. Does anyone out there use the 610 with an octave pedal and or fuzz?

countrybass007 · #6 06-16-2010, 05:20 PM

If you decide to go with two 8ohm cabs, be sure and try the Orange OBC115. It's a great sounding 115 and works well with my 212 and my 210 cabs.

muddycreek · #7 06-16-2010, 05:58 PM

If you have a really, really good understanding of what you lack in tone, drag your whole rig into a local store and play it, and some other cabinets, and pay lots of attention to what seems to present whatever you lack the best. Pay no attention to the brand or types or number or size of drivers. Pay a lot of attention to tone. Pay a reasonable amount of attention to loudness. The decision will likely be made for you. But let us know what you got!

Sterling.Price · #8 06-16-2010, 07:02 PM

God i wish I could, but I literally live 5 hours away from a music store that would let me do that AND has a selection of amps worth checking out. The local store is great but doesn't have a deal with ampeg, orange, or eden, all brands I'm interested in. The place is loaded with fender, crate and budget level stuff. As much as I'd love to, this is going to be a purchase i make without an A/B side by side listen. I'm hoping to figure out what i want so I can start the web classified search and then start the price hunting. Don't know how comfortable i would be going into a store that i have little to no intention of spending money at since I'm going to look for used.

coreyfyfe · #9 06-16-2010, 07:49 PM

I liked the 610HLF well enough when I had it. It's ported with a tweeter, so you can get a good variety of tones playing around with EQ and tone attenuation, etc. The complaint I usually hear about the 610HLF (and the 410HLF for that matter) is that they're too boomy. I think people play them expecting the standard ampeg 8x10 sound and EQ for that (or whatever cab they are used to using) and don't account for the porting. If there's too much boom, turn down the bass knob. Not too hard right?