Blocking the Ports on an Ampeg HLF 410

recreate.me · #1 07-02-2010, 08:50 PM

I just recently bought an Ampeg hlf 410 and i love it, but i find that it is indeed really low.. Most Ampegs claim to get down to 55hz and this states 28hz, i was wondering if blocking the ports along the bottom of the cab can bring that back up to around 55hz.

The amp is really clear, and sounds great but there's always that undertone of BOOM that i want to get rid of, and i have tried EQ changes and bass changes, and string changes and was looking to maybe plug those things so it acts more like the HE.

What do you guys think? Anyone do this before?

Craig_S · #2 07-02-2010, 08:57 PM

Sell it and get a different cabinet.

billfitzmaurice · #3 07-02-2010, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by recreate.me

The amp is really clear, and sounds great but there's always that undertone of BOOM that i want to get rid of, and i have tried EQ changes and bass changes, and string changes and was looking to maybe plug those things so it acts more like the HE.

The HE uses different drivers that are made to work in a sealed cab. If you want the sound of the HE get the HE.

MarkA · #4 07-02-2010, 09:29 PM

Where I am, I've seen a few SVT 410 HE cabs selling for around $300 in nice shape. Maybe you can find someone who'll let you A/B one against your HLF, using your head -- you might even find someone wanting an HLF who's willing to trade plus kick in some cash!

Bill, would plugging the ports on the HLF have the potential to damage the speakers in any way?

JimmyM · #5 07-02-2010, 09:38 PM

i'm not bill but power handling will be somewhat reduced. bill would know more about that than me and could go into the science, but it'll affect the tuning of the cab.

btw, i'm starting to like the 410hlf. i've had some newer ones supplied on my gigs lately, and they're really not bad if you turn off the tweeter. they also seem to be brighter than the older ones. still don't like it being all squatty, and i have to cut more low end, but i like it better than i used to.

joeydavidson · #6 07-02-2010, 09:47 PM

Maybe you should just give it some time, you might get more accustomed to the sound of the HLF, I think blocking the ports would neuter the cab and it won't sound right.

recreate.me · #7 07-02-2010, 10:05 PM

Yeah it's going to get a lot more time because it actually took me months to find ANY used ampegs in my area. If I could find an HE I would glady trade but it's not available haha I got this cab for 400 cnd so I thought it was worth it haha

thanks for tips though, I turned the horn off and dropped the bass and it's pretty good sounding.

otis_thick · #8 07-02-2010, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by recreate.me

I just recently bought an Ampeg hlf 410 and i love it, but i find that it is indeed really low.. Most Ampegs claim to get down to 55hz and this states 28hz, i was wondering if blocking the ports along the bottom of the cab can bring that back up to around 55hz.

The amp is really clear, and sounds great but there's always that undertone of BOOM that i want to get rid of, and i have tried EQ changes and bass changes, and string changes and was looking to maybe plug those things so it acts more like the HE.

What do you guys think? Anyone do this before?

If you plug them it will raise res some BUT as it was posted earlier you will have use a lower volume....when you plug it you a making a square balloon....too much pressure POP goes the drivers...you should be able to filter the Ultra lows with a good steep EQ...I have seen spiral port pugs that slow the air but not stop but I can't remember the brand name....Good luck!

xray · #9 07-02-2010, 10:18 PM

In my experience the lows were a lot more noticeable in small room / environment, but once you moved it to a larger, more open environment it was a lot more tolerable. My problem was I only had one cab and had to use this as well for practice and it rattled the house something fierce even at low volume. I loved the cab but my wife didn’t so I had to settle for something less.

IMO: it’s the best cab I played through and I loved the fact that it was 4 ohms.

will33 · #10 07-02-2010, 10:55 PM

The 410HLF seems to have a lot of power down around 60-100hz. Not subwoofer lows but low for a bass guitar. Combine that with lacking mids/highs and they sound low and strong. To me they sound like mud but plug in a Pbass and a lot of power and it's not too bad.

Sealing the ports would negate any and all thought that went into making them sound the way they do. Also, oftentimes, putting speakers that are designed for a vented box into a sealed box of the wrong size( like plugging the ports) leads to early farting out not so good tone. Just my experience.

recreate.me · #11 07-02-2010, 11:31 PM

Well that's good to hear it gets better in a bigger room. So far in being played for band practice in a bedroom, no shows yet but I have 2 next week so we'll see!

Also I'm using a highway one jazz with dimarzio area j's in it with dean markly strings, I have a MIM pbass but I prefer the feel of the jazz. So I should be using the p?

joeydavidson · #12 07-03-2010, 01:21 AM

It took me a long time before I was comfortable with my cab - 610hlf, I was going to give up and sell it and go back to using Mesa cabs but when I took it to band practise I knew that there was something good going on with it, I really like it now, it was just a matter of fine tuning my amp, bass and pedal controls. It sounds nice recorded too.

Modulus1906 · #13 07-03-2010, 10:25 AM

I have the newer Heritage model 410-HLF, and it does get really low. However, I'm running it with an EBS TD 650 and have found that if you are carefull not to boost the bass too much, it's actually pretty tight in the low frequencies. I run my bass control at about 10 o'clock and bump the mid to about 1 o'clock at 400 HZ, and I get a pretty tight crispy sound. I love the cabinet, but don't try to boost the bass as you would most other cabinets. I think the "boom" you hear is the fact the the bass on that cab can really drown out other frequencies if you don't adjust the bass on your head correctly.

Suffice it to say that you need to be running a head that's capable of outputting tight bass or else you won't even be able to EQ the "boom" out the the cabinet. Again, I'm running the newer Heritage model with Eminence drivers so it may sound a bit different, but I'm assuming you can tame your cab with the right head and the right head adjustments. PEACE!!