Good cabs for under $500

MOTORHEADBANGER · #1 11-03-2010, 05:39 PM

Hi. I recently decided to go out and buy a tube head. I love the tone of old Marshalls and Ampegs so I decided to buy a Bugera 1960 guitar head. It is a 100-150W replica of the old Marshall Plexi Super Lead and sounds marvelous with bass. I know that it is a "Bugera", but I have read great reviews on this head and at $250 used you can't really beat it. For some SVT tones to mix in I use a VT Bass pedal.

I am looking for some good efficient speaker cabs that would add up to about $500 used. I play everything from Metal to Jazz. I mainly use my trusty Trace Elliot 1084 8x10, but it is just very hard to move around, though I love the sound, so I am selling it. Is their anything out there that can move massive air like an 8x10, for about $500 used?

zachoff · #2 11-03-2010, 06:07 PM

Ampeg 810.

I'd probably go with a 610 if you're dead set against an 810. Berg NV, SWR Goliath, Mesa... Whatever's clever.

nato101010 · #3 11-03-2010, 06:09 PM

500$?

I would think Peavey 4x10 cabs are suited well.

superbeast101 · #4 11-03-2010, 06:10 PM

I've found Ashdown cabs to be pretty good value for money, and you can get those or Hartke cabs in 4x10 over here in australia for about $5-600 so in the US it should be much less. That being said.. I think ebay will be you're best bet for a good deal and there will be plenty to choose from

WingKL · #5 11-03-2010, 09:19 PM

I don't know if you can get something used for that price that would move air like an 810 except for another 810 but if you're handy with a saw you might want to consider building one of Bill Fitzmaurice design cabs. An Omni 15 Tallboy may do the trick.

dhomer · #6 11-03-2010, 11:14 PM

I heartily second the BFM suggestion. For about the same $$ you could build a fEarful as well... Having someone else build them might be over budget, but DIY you could pocket some change off that $500 bill..

MOTORHEADBANGER · #7 11-04-2010, 06:11 PM

As much as I love 810's, transporting them is not fun, especially some of the places I play. I found an older (probably late 90's) Sunn 410h cabinet for $180. I wonder how that would perform. Also what about the Ampeg SVT410HE cabs? I have found many of them for around $300 used. I figured either two 410's or a 410 and a 1x15 might come close.

superbeast101 · #8 11-04-2010, 06:13 PM

Yeah those ampeg cabs are definite quality if you can get one at a reasonable price that would be the go

SactoBass · #9 11-04-2010, 06:18 PM

$500, eh?

Hmmm....well, if you can borrow $100 from a friend, then you could afford to have Don Oatman at Low Down Sound (LDS) build you a brand new fEarful-based 15/6 cab. It comes loaded with an Eminence Kappalite 3015LF woofer and an 18Sound 6.5" mid-driver. The cab is 30" high, 20" wide, and 16" deep, and weighs 45 pounds. It would provide as much SPL as any 6x10, and almost as much as an 8x10, with better low end freq response.

Just an idea......

xjeremiahx · #10 11-04-2010, 06:20 PM

You can always find TONS of used cabs real cheap.
I see 810 Ampegs on CL here in chicago around the $500 mark.
The Ampeg SVT410HE cabs are just too damn heavy imo. They don't sound bad, but 1 of those cabs weighs 91lbs, whereas a 6x10( i use an SWR) weighs only 115 lbs and it has casters...
I snagged my cab used for $500 actually, so I'd recommend browsing your local craigslist to see what else is out there.
also, used.guitarcenter.com has a bunch of stuff out there cheap.

IntrepidCellist · #11 11-04-2010, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SactoBass

$500, eh?

Hmmm....well, if you can borrow $100 from a friend, then you could afford to have Don Oatman at Low Down Sound (LDS) build you a brand new fEarful-based 15/6 cab. It comes loaded with an Eminence Kappalite 3015LF woofer and an 18Sound 6.5" mid-driver. The cab is 30" high, 20" wide, and 16" deep, and weighs 45 pounds. It would provide as much SPL as any 6x10, and almost as much as an 8x10, with better low end freq response.

Just an idea......

Not the best idea for a 100-150W tube amp. You need serious wattage to push that kind of setup. I'd think he'd be better off with a traditional more mid-voiced 4x10 or 2x15.

Another good possibility is an old Eden D410XLT. Turn down the tweeter, and you'll have the old "touring standard" for $500 or less. They're heavy, but they sound great and have a mid bump right where you need it to get through a mix.

jeff7bass · #12 11-04-2010, 07:13 PM

Get an Avatar B212 NEO.

Bass cabs/B212 NEO - scroll down for colors.

http://www.avatarspeakers.com/

Here's the head;

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/p...FeTY5wodjmidMQ

Since the head can run at 4, 8 + 16 ohms, I would get the 4 ohm Avatar cab.

pbasswil · #13 11-04-2010, 07:36 PM

So many possible solutions;

but I'll just mention the cabs that have my attention at this moment:

The Gallien-Krueger MBE series. These are super-lightweight, and quite efficient. They are built to a price, but their basic function is beyond reproach. (They're the cab-only version of the GK ultra-lite MB combo series -- E is for Extension cab.)

I've heard the MB210 combo -- it's punchy as hell, loud for a 2 x 10", and crazy light. Of the various configurations, the 210 is a bit shy on high mids.

The MBE212 is a 2 x 12" extension cab that can take 600 watts in either 4 or 8 ohm versions -- and can be had brand new for $400. By all accounts it's a balanced, really loud cab that takes EQ very well. And how about hauling around this potent one-cab solution; would you believe: 38 lbs??!

Their 1 x 15", the MBE115, can make good use of 400 watts in the 8 ohm version. I understand its freq extension is a hair more old school at both ends (not quite as deep, or quite as much high-end definition) but it's by no means an old school 15" dull thud, either. No one has described it as anything other than sweet sounding. RMC sells these brand new at a miraculous $225.

Depending on your tonal and volume needs, either one or a pair of either of these could be your low budget, high quality solution.

A crazy-light 4 x 10" MBE is also in the works.

waleross · #14 11-04-2010, 09:27 PM

My main cab is an 810E but I did get a Basson 210 (B stock ) for $450 after finding out on this Forum that the company is now out of business.Crazy I know since it alone weighs over 100lbs but it puts out as much as my 810 IMO.

SactoBass · #15 11-04-2010, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IntrepidCellist

Not the best idea for a 100-150W tube amp. You need serious wattage to push that kind of setup. I'd think he'd be better off with a traditional more mid-voiced 4x10 or 2x15.

Ya you're right. That wouldn't be sufficient wattage to drive a fEarful 15/6. I retract my suggestion. I should have read the OP's first post more thoroughly.

Gizmot · #16 11-04-2010, 10:05 PM

Find something that you like the sound of. The only cabs I'd stay away from are the Hartkes with aluminum cones. Aluminum softens every time it moves and that means their sound quality changes markedly as they're used. The off-axis response of them is funky too.

kranahan · #17 11-04-2010, 10:53 PM

ampeg 810, 610, 410hlf are all around 500 and below. i just scored the 410hlf for $350 so it is possible to get a good cab at a decent price. i do have my aggie db 410 for sale... ha.

JimmyM · #18 11-04-2010, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOTORHEADBANGER

I am looking for some good efficient speaker cabs that would add up to about $500 used. I play everything from Metal to Jazz. I mainly use my trusty Trace Elliot 1084 8x10, but it is just very hard to move around, though I love the sound, so I am selling it. Is their anything out there that can move massive air like an 8x10, for about $500 used?

sheesh! you don't ask for much, do you? your choices are pretty much limited to two 410's or an 810. the cabs named off so far won't do it. if i were you, i'd probably just stick with the trace.

gizmot, the cones in a hartke cab do not move. the foam surround and the voice coil move, not the cones themselves. and the off axis response is going to be funky in any 810. that's a result of the width of the drivers causing beaming, and is not limited at all to hartke.

MOTORHEADBANGER · #19 11-06-2010, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

sheesh! you don't ask for much, do you? your choices are pretty much limited to two 410's or an 810. the cabs named off so far won't do it. if i were you, i'd probably just stick with the trace.

gizmot, the cones in a hartke cab do not move. the foam surround and the voice coil move, not the cones themselves. and the off axis response is going to be funky in any 810. that's a result of the width of the drivers causing beaming, and is not limited at all to hartke.

I know that I am basically asking for a miracle. The only problem is that the Trace is close to 200lbs and usually it is just me loading it in and out of things. Of course the overall size doesn't help either. I am thinking of 2 410's. I found an old Sunn 410H for $180 and an Ampeg SVT 410HE for $200. That'll also leave me with some cash left over.

D.M.N. · #20 11-06-2010, 02:47 PM

Well, if you have any carpentry skills and can borrow another $100 or so, I'd say go build yourself a Sunn 2000s cab. Big 'ole 2x15, and if you can find them, load it with either JBL K or E140s. In fact, you can buy a cab based on this design from Monolith Loudspeakers and load it with those speakers. For me, building one was definitely a great choice gear wise. Totally suits my sounds. And the original head the cab went with was only 120w, so you're right in the range for what this cab was designed to do. Just my opinion.