Cabinet vibration in Ampeg SVT-15E

jmlee · #1 07-10-2011, 08:24 PM

Hi all:

Hoping someone may have some experience with this. Amongst my cabs I own an Ampeg SVT-15E: a simple, relatively low power (200 watts) 15" cab that I use as a bottom under a 210 cab for louder gigs on electric.

Here's my beef. For years I played through an Ampeg B15-S Portoflex and got to love the sound of a tube amp with a single 15. So, once in a while I like to put my Traynor YBA-200 tube amp on top of the Ampeg 15 and play my P-Bass like it was 30 years ago. But...the SVT-15E cabinet itself vibrates like a son of a bitch and shakes the crap out of the Traynor (which is gratefully build like a tank). I put a glass of water on top of the cab and whoo-hoo! Bouncy, bouncy! Now, if I put the Avatar 210 in between the SVT-15E and the Traynor, no problem. The Avatar cab doesn't vibrate noticeably at all--even when pushed hard.

So...Anybody else out there have an Ampeg SVT-15E and does it vibrate like mine does? If not, I'm wondering why not. If so, is this cab just made out of too light/poorly braced plywood?

Thanks,

Mike

carl h. · #2 07-10-2011, 08:27 PM

No vibration here, well, not enough to move more than air.

billfitzmaurice · #3 07-10-2011, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmlee

. If so, is this cab just made out of too light/poorly braced plywood?

This is one example of how a well braced cabinet looks inside:

Make yours so and your problems will likely be over. And if it's not lined with damping do that while you're at it.

project43 · #4 07-10-2011, 08:34 PM

Mike,
You are not alone! I had one for awhile, and man did it vibrate! At one gig I tried using my GK 200 micro amp. It bounced around like it was trying to make popcorn. I got rid of it as I was tired of having to constantly reglue the tolex in different spots. Plus, I never really thought it was a great sounding cab to begin with. Frank

jmlee · #5 07-10-2011, 08:41 PM

Hey, I'm with you on the tolex seams letting go! And you're right...on its own it doesn't sound great. Tried it once on its own playing upright for a western swing thing and it was just nasty.

rodl2005 · #6 07-10-2011, 08:46 PM

Do as Bill suggested & simply add some good bracing to the innards. Should make a lotta difference.

punchclock · #7 07-10-2011, 08:50 PM

I've got a ampeg b200r cab that shakes & rattles something fierce!
apparently that was a common issue with the B200. maybe more people will chime in on their experiences with the svt-15 & see if those issues were common with it too.

jmlee · #8 07-10-2011, 08:54 PM

Well...that presumes that I think it's worth my while to disassemble this particular cabinet and do the bracing work. It would be interesting, though, just to find out what sort of construction was used in this cabinet to start with.

Given that Frank had the precise same problem I have, it's surprising me that *Ampeg* didn't brace this thing worth a darn to start with. It's been a long time since I had any Ampeg gear in the pile and this really isn't encouraging me to go any further down that particular alley.

Mike

tribebass · #9 07-18-2011, 10:08 PM

I have kind of the same problem. Did not notice anything when I had the SVT15E as a bottom cab, but I just got a Markbass LM head, and a friend has bought my old rig (SVT450H+SVT410HE+SVT15E) but I got to keep the 15 until I get a new (lighter!) cab. I can not have the small head on top of the SVT15, I have it on a table next to the cab to keep it safe.

If you disassemble the cab, please post pictures and report the results. It would be very interesting to see.

Marko5657 · #10 07-18-2011, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

This is one example of how a well braced cabinet looks inside:

Make yours so and your problems will likely be over. And if it's not lined with damping do that while you're at it.

I have a GK 212MBE that’s now just a rattle trap. I’ve got something else to gig now, but I plan on saving the 212 by doing this.

And I'll add some damping while I'm at it...

tribebass · #11 07-18-2011, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marko5657

I have a GK 212MBE that’s now just a rattle trap. I’ve got something else to gig now, but I plan on saving the 212 by doing this.

And I'll add some damping while I'm at it...

Damn! I was just looking at the MBE series as an alternative for light weight and compact size cab. Do you think there is an issue with your cab only, or is this a MBE series problem?

Edit: I will start a new thread for the GK instead of being rude and going OT in this one