GK Fusion 550 with Ampeg SVT410HLF - distortion

deserted · #1 10-21-2010, 05:51 AM

I recently purchased a GK Fusion 550 and run it with AMPEG SVT410 cab. I am really happy with all aspects of this AMP. However I attend a rehearsal today and found that at volume (gain midway, volume 3/4, everything else at 12 O'clock, Low and High switches off) the SVT410 cab did not seem to handle the power of the Fusion 550. This was particularly evident with finger playing. The distortion was quite bad specifically in the low end on the E string. I was really surprised and quite unhappy with this because at lower volumes the sound is sublime. I now need to decide what to do.. If any Fusion 550 users out there could recommend GK cabs that will not distort badly at higher volumes. The Bass is set up well with new strings.
Any ideas are welcome... I am a neophyte still...

BrentSimons · #2 10-21-2010, 10:29 AM

Hmmm. Bad speaker cable maybe? Or a loose jack on the amp?
Brent

sammyfallen · #3 10-21-2010, 10:35 AM

I had similar issues when using a bad speaker cable...

jelwood · #4 10-21-2010, 02:48 PM

That amp is too much for that cab to handle. Get a GK neo 412 and you will have eargasms with every note you play no matter how hard you crank the head. You're welcome.

tombowlus · #5 10-21-2010, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammyfallen

I had similar issues when using a bad speaker cable...

Could be a blown driver in the 410HLF, too.

JanusZarate · #6 10-21-2010, 02:55 PM

I've had nothing but bad experiences with that particular cab at higher power settings. Usually, if I'm going the Ampeg route at a gig, I'll opt for an Ampeg 8x10.

I've used single SVT-410HLF cabs with a few different GK heads in the past, including the Fusion 550. The outcome has never been all that enjoyable. I'm not sure if it's a power issue or something else, but they never seem to fare well at high volumes with those heads. Even weirder: the last time I ran a pair of 410HLFs, a speaker on the lower cab in the stack blew out, and I hadn't even turned up enough to be heard with a live drum kit yet. Note that I seldom scoop mids or crank the bass past 12:00, so I'm not sure what the problem is with those cabs.

I had issues with Ampeg heads on them too, so I don't think it's a GK head thing.

As far as a matched GK recommendation... Neo 410, 212, or 412. I personally run a Neo 410, and the Fusion 550 / Neo 410 matchup has been my go-to rig for gigs across the country. Word of warning: your bandmates might constantly ask you to turn down (at least, they always do with me!

).

cbass1 · #7 10-21-2010, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deserted

found that at volume (gain midway, volume 3/4, everything else at 12 O'clock, Low and High switches off) .

yo, that is a lot, turn down your gain a bit, you may be overdriving that amp a bit, see if that cleans things up.
Turn that volume down too, you should not be pushing that hard. poor cab

joeydavidson · #8 10-21-2010, 05:19 PM

You have the amp turned up too much for that cab.

jza57 · #9 10-21-2010, 07:07 PM

Is your cab an 8 ohm cab ? If it is then you are only getting 1/2 the power to the cab and will distort or break up sooner . I have heard that Ampeg 410 cabs are bass heavy , you might try cutting the bass tone down a bit . Good Luck

bassyRyan · #10 10-21-2010, 10:10 PM

The Ampeg HLF cabs have never sounded good in ANY combination, IME. That's including Ampeg heads, Hartke heads, SWR heads and more Amperg heads. Need make/models? The HLF series are designed to fail, IMO. They don't even match the recommended heads Ampeg used to push with them. (B2RE, SVT450, SVTCL)

Garbage.

deserted · #11 10-22-2010, 04:43 AM

Fantastic feedback, thanks.. I can see that I am pushing the limits of the Cab. I have always wanted to experience a clean low with volume, so will test run some of the NEO 410 Cabs.

Wes Whitmore · #12 10-22-2010, 06:38 AM

It matches the SVT3, and that's where I see them the most.

It's a big cab, and that tends to make people think it takes big power, but it says 400 watts right on the back of it (500 if its an HLN). It seems efficient/loud to me, but it just doesn't take that heaps of power before you can start hearing the speakers straining. It's an old design. You either like how it sounds or dont. I liked it better than the GK212 Neo, which was super easy to carry in comparison.
Wes

milosinka1 · #13 03-20-2012, 04:19 PM

Hello! I have had same problem with my GK 700rb on Ampeg svt 410 hlf speaker.You probably should activate -14db input pad on your control panel, and crank the gain little bit more to achieve bigger sound. That resolved my problem with distortion.

Gearhead17 · #14 03-20-2012, 05:17 PM

The 410hlf puts out A LOT OF LOW END even with your GK head running at modest settings, reduce the low end content and see what happens.

**B-string** · #15 03-20-2012, 08:35 PM

The G-K NEO410 will certainly do the job, the NEO412 will loosen nails with the Fusion 550. At those settings with a NEO412????? Learn sign language!