A Glowing Ampeg 410HLF ?

recreate.me · #1 06-07-2010, 02:03 PM

Our band played a show with an edmonton band last night called The Famines, the band is a 2 piece (guitarist and drummer). The guitarists rig however is a bassman into a 2x12 and at the same time its into an Ampeg V4B into an Ampeg 410 hlf.

It was a great sound but the mystery to me is the ampeg cabinet seemed to have a light inside of it that was pulsing to the notes played.

I asked around at the show and no one really knew if that was just a light he added but my drummer told me that ampeg has LEDs installed that light up whenever the cab is overpowered or the frequencies get to high or something (he wasnt sure why) but basically they glow to drain the excess energy so the speakers dont blow..

Two questions: 1) is that true its a stock thing ampeg installs in these cabs?

2) if its stock, has anyone been able to get these to consistently flash with a bass, thats getting a good tone at good volumes?
(i know it seems like they should only flash when you do something wrong but this guitarist was getting a great sound from his set up and they flashed every note)

Thanks!

kaputsport · #2 06-07-2010, 02:05 PM

There is a lightbulb in the cab (I am guessing) to protect the tweeter from overpower. PA speakers have them as well.

recreate.me · #3 06-07-2010, 02:10 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ8xG...eature=related

Thats a link to the video, its all bad quality but it gets across what i tried to describe.
It was actually a really cool effect, I'm trying to figure out how it can be used when played with a bass without sounding terrible. It seems like its a bad thing haha

Spraeg · #4 06-07-2010, 02:19 PM

I've never heard of stock cabs having these, but I've seen mods to do that (I'm actually considering putting one in the new cab I'm building)

JimmyM · #5 06-07-2010, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spraeg

I've never heard of stock cabs having these, but I've seen mods to do that (I'm actually considering putting one in the new cab I'm building)

a fair amount of tweetered cabs have it these days. not so much older ones but i've seen it before in newer ones.

recreate.me · #6 06-07-2010, 02:33 PM

Can you give me some more info on that mod? It seems really cool!

eff-clef · #7 06-07-2010, 02:41 PM

It's called a limiter bulb. It has been in Bass cabs and mid/high P.A. cabs for 20 years to absorb excess current to protect the tweeters, and horns. They are dome lights that they use in cars believe it or not! Eden and SWR started it in the Bass world followed by Peavey,Ampeg,Genz-Benz and the rest. You usually see it(the light) coming from the ports or speaker surrounds. It happens when you are slapping the crap out of your Bass or if there is a high pitched squeal. The first time I saw it I was doing my best Flea slapping and I thought the damn cab was catching on fire! I got on Eden's website and read the manual and it explained it there.

coreyfyfe · #8 06-07-2010, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by recreate.me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ8xG...eature=related

Thats a link to the video, its all bad quality but it gets across what i tried to describe.
It was actually a really cool effect, I'm trying to figure out how it can be used when played with a bass without sounding terrible. It seems like its a bad thing haha

Turn off your tweeter and then crank the treble on your amp. It's stock part of the tweeter cross-over built into those cabs. I lent my 610HLF as the backline for a show we did once. The band after mine turned the horn off (don't ask me why, it was a punk band, P bass with a pick...) and then the band after them was my friend who does a lot of tapping and noodling on a 6 string warwick. He kept turning up the treble on the amp and on the bass to hear the high parts and the amp was lighting up like a fireworks show. Pretty cool effect, but it went away once I turned the tweeter back up and the treble down.

jgroh · #9 06-07-2010, 08:11 PM

I have an 410HLF and there is a light inside. It went off one time just after I jacked up the output accidentally on an effect I was running.

Wes Whitmore · #10 06-07-2010, 08:49 PM

hrgiger · #11 06-07-2010, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by recreate.me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ8xG...eature=related

Thats a link to the video, its all bad quality but it gets across what i tried to describe.
It was actually a really cool effect, I'm trying to figure out how it can be used when played with a bass without sounding terrible. It seems like its a bad thing haha

Man that dude drinking beer is just mesmerized by your flashing cab. Everytime it blinks he takes a drink! Now if they could just get it to flash 'Bud Light'...

spaz21387 · #12 06-07-2010, 09:09 PM

I like the way the glowing cab looks arent there stage lights that flash depending on the beat of the music or something like that... maybe you can hide one under your speaker grill cloth

xray · #13 06-07-2010, 10:36 PM

Good thing those guys had a "lite" show - Go Ampeg.