Anyone ever play one of these? Ampeg SVT 412HE

Selta · #1 07-29-2010, 06:35 PM

Curious if anyone has played these cabs before:
http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/msg/1864981731.html

I can't find a whole lot of info on them out there. That guy is selling a pair of them for what seems to be a decent price.
I currently rock an Avatar B410 Neo that I think just rules, so not really looking to change things up, but am half interested in trying them anyway

coreyfyfe · #2 07-29-2010, 08:37 PM

If it's really that new that's probably just a typo. They don't currently make a 4x12 bass cab, and haven't for a while.

Nevermind he says it's USA made so it's at least 3 or 4 years old and I think those were discontinued in 2005-7ish. I read his "only has two and a half hours on it" as saying it was still pretty new but this must have been sitting for some time.

jamzcl · #3 07-29-2010, 08:42 PM

He's listed those a couple times on eBay. I would LOVE to hear them.

They must've been stored in a time capsule or took those pics when he first got them with the tags still on, they haven't been in production for several years.

Buster Brown · #4 07-29-2010, 10:03 PM

I played one for a short time in the early 90s. It was (at best) an OK cab...I wasn't terribly impressed. Fairly heavy as well....

probably why Apeg quit building them in something like 95? maybe?

jamzcl · #5 07-30-2010, 08:05 AM

According to NAMM this cab was introduced in the summer of 2003.

Wow, the manual says they weigh in at 97lbs.

panama · #6 07-30-2010, 08:12 AM

get a back brace

funkytoe · #7 07-30-2010, 01:56 PM

I owned one. Bought it because it was one of the only 4x12 bass cabs that ran 4 ohms. Heavy and had a little too much hiss for me at idle. Supposedly inspired by and made for Geezer Butler originally. Literature said it would break up at lower volumes. I did not find that to be the case. Found I was better off with the SWR 12 pack.

Selta · #8 07-30-2010, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkytoe

I owned one. Bought it because it was one of the only 4x12 bass cabs that ran 4 ohms. Heavy and had a little too much hiss for me at idle. Supposedly inspired by and made for Geezer Butler originally. Literature said it would break up at lower volumes. I did not find that to be the case. Found I was better off with the SWR 12 pack.

Yay finally someone who owned one.

What can you tell me about the tone other than the hiss and no breakup at lower volume?

funkytoe · #9 07-30-2010, 07:08 PM

Sure. It had nice bass and low mids. Not alot in the way of highs, which may have inhibited the way it reproduced harmonics and distortion. It was a sealed cab with no tweeters. So, I could not get rid of the annoying hiss, and I'm not even sure where it was coming from. Overall, I could understand why Geezer might like it. Heavy lows, muted highs, and had nice breakup at HIGH volume. Sounded great for 70's classic rock. But, it just did not produce as well at low-medium volume. And any attempt to increase the speakers highs through your amps eq just seemed to produce more hiss.

Now the good news. They are pretty rare. I bought mine for $360 and was able to sell it for a little over $400 when I tired of it. Would I buy it again? -- No. But for the right price you may want to take a chance knowing it should be pretty easy to flip.

Again, if your not set on Ampeg gear, I think there are a lot better cabs with 12's for that hard rock sound. SWR 12 pack (or 12 Stack) and Aguilar DB 412 to name a couple.

rodl2005 · #10 07-30-2010, 07:23 PM

They were in the AMPEG catalog in 2006- I've got one in my den. This one shows 2 versions- one with a SLANTED front!!!! Dunno whether that was ever put out there tho.
I can't imagine it being bad, & I cant imagine WHERE that HISS is comin from. Shouldn't be 'any' really.
Interested to see what you think of it if U get to try/buy it.

coreyfyfe · #11 07-30-2010, 08:12 PM

I don't know about for bass but they made a slant-front 4x12 for the Lee Jackson guitar heads.

Selta · #12 07-31-2010, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkytoe

Sure. It had nice bass and low mids. Not alot in the way of highs, which may have inhibited the way it reproduced harmonics and distortion. It was a sealed cab with no tweeters. So, I could not get rid of the annoying hiss, and I'm not even sure where it was coming from. Overall, I could understand why Geezer might like it. Heavy lows, muted highs, and had nice breakup at HIGH volume. Sounded great for 70's classic rock. But, it just did not produce as well at low-medium volume. And any attempt to increase the speakers highs through your amps eq just seemed to produce more hiss.

Now the good news. They are pretty rare. I bought mine for $360 and was able to sell it for a little over $400 when I tired of it. Would I buy it again? -- No. But for the right price you may want to take a chance knowing it should be pretty easy to flip.

Again, if your not set on Ampeg gear, I think there are a lot better cabs with 12's for that hard rock sound. SWR 12 pack (or 12 Stack) and Aguilar DB 412 to name a couple.

I had a 12-stack for a little over a year... didn't much care for it to be honest. I might see if he'll come down a good ways on his prices and go from there. Sounds like it could be interesting, but not really what I'd want from a cab.