Help building a large rig.
 

It's time for me to upgrade my cabinets. Dealing with local craigslist that has a cab and a friend that is selling one, I have two options. As for sound, I can use my ears and decide, I just need help with volume.

I have an Ampeg SVT Classic head.

P and Jazz basses.


Option 1: SVT 810 cabinet. A newer model one, I think made in Vietnam.

Option 2: Schroeder 1215L This model below an Orange OBC 410. I know people advise against mixing cabs, but the friend who's selling it is an electrical engineer, and has worked for him for years, I trust him. He also refinished the cabs so they look good together.

The Ampeg might have more speaker area, but which rig should give me the loudest, mix cutting results?

I'm competing with two Mesa Half Stacks and a loud drummer. I want more than I need as opposed to not having enough.

:help:

Do the 810.

Just go with the 810 and be done with it.

SVT and 810 are real hard to beat together

I guess a big concern is the size of the 810. It's huge and heavy.

I'm more in favor of having two cabs as opposed to one.

The 1215 alone would be great for those small, Wednesday night dive bar gigs where no one shows up.

810 all the way.

I'm not a fan of option 2 at all, I'm a doctor.

Doesn't the SVT CL need a 4 ohm load? I know it's okay to run them into 8 ohms for a little while occasionally, but for a whole gig?

If the size of the 810 is a concern, I'd start looking at other options than option 2.

I only use the SVT head for large gigs. I have a SVT-7 for the smaller ones, or where my back hurts.

I'm not very strong.

Ampeg 810 & classic all the way

Just make sure you are using two 4 ohm cabs. Not safe to run the svt with one 8 ohm cab.

Yeah I know.

Try both options with your head if you have the chance! Then you can decide what works best for you. The 8x10 is a very good match for your classic head, but it is always BIG. After I fell down a flight of stairs with mine, though, I sold it. It is also overkill for some venues. For a long time I had Henry the 8x8 which is easier to move around and works really well as long as the sound guy is on your side to get the low notes out there. Now I have an SWR 6x10 I really like as well as a pair of LDS cabs (4x8 + 1x15) which are fantastic for most of the clubs I play and extremely versatile.

The 810.

The 810 is not as heavy as you think. Most of them have a handle and wheels (builtin "hand truck") and if you put wooden skids on the sides, loading them in a van is as easy as tilt and push. By comparison a 410 has to be lifted off the ground with your back and legs and craned over into the van. Much more work.

I guess the weight and portability will be decided when I look at them in person.

Just looking for the sound comparison.

One 810 sealed vs 410 + 1215 ported.

SVT head + 810 vs. anything = SVT wins
If you're looking for that kind of sound, and if size is no object.

Just so you're aware, you can be an EE and have no idea whatsoever about what makes a speaker cabinet good. Whole different area of study. I made a tiny epiphone practice amp "work" for me for years also. That doesn't mean it was the best option. Don't get something you're willing to put up with, get something that'll work the way it's supposed to.

I vote 8x10 UNLESS you can A/B them and decide which you like better