need help deciding on an all eden setup

Killspringer · #1 04-13-2011, 05:55 PM

So, I took a nice almost new guitar in to a store in San Francisco today to see what I might be able to get for it. I was originally going for an Eden WT550 head with an Eden Nemesis 2x10 (they only cary the Nemesis 2x10 and Nemesis 1x15 cabs at this shop). But, I am worried I might soon be out of headroom with this size head. Here's the options the guy gave me in trade for my Gibson:

1. WT550 with Nemesis 1x15 cab and $100 in store credit
2. WT550 with Nemesis 2x10 cab and I owe $100 cash
3. Trade straight across for WT800

I am touring at the end of this month and my thought is either just get the WT550 and the 2x10 and that's the max output for my rig, or trade straight across for the WT800, get a cheap cab off craigslist, and upgrade to better cabs later. Not sure if I'm running out of headroom on the WT550 cuz of the head itself or the Nemesis cab, which is Eden's discontinued "budget" cab. I could walk away with a complete rig today, or go for the WT800 and have more options for combining cabs later on... The size of the 2x10 with the 550 is atractive indeed, but making a versatile and worthy investment is more important right now. My style is rock and I have a music man bass with 18v preamp and a somewhat loud drummer.

What say ye, wise TB forum folk?!? Which would you pick? Is the WT800 crazy overkill for a 2x10 rig?

here's the power ratings:

WT800 head - 880 watts @ 8 ohms, 2x440 watts @ 4 ohms
WT550 head - 300/500/750W @ 8/4/2 ohms
Nemesis 2x10 - 300w rms
Nemesis 1x15 - 300w rms

IntrepidCellist · #2 04-13-2011, 06:04 PM

WT550 can drive just as many cabs, and will get pretty freaking loud. Plus you can get more power into 2 ohms, whereas the WT800 can only really give you big power into 8 ohms (nice for a fEarful cab, but a bit limited for other things.)

Coop Soup · #3 04-13-2011, 06:10 PM

What are the 1x15 cabs going for? What about the WT550 and 2 1x15s. Those have a horn, right? It would sound massive!

TN WOODMAN · #4 04-13-2011, 06:17 PM

The 2-10 cab is $200 more than the 1-15? Coop Soup said it, get a 2nd 15. WT550 should be fine.

alexgeddy · #5 04-13-2011, 06:21 PM

Eden World Tour Bass Amplifiers - WT800

here's the link for edens power specs on the 800...good luck on ur choice

okcrum · #6 04-13-2011, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IntrepidCellist

WT550 can drive just as many cabs, and will get pretty freaking loud. Plus you can get more power into 2 ohms, whereas the WT800 can only really give you big power into 8 ohms (nice for a fEarful cab, but a bit limited for other things.)

The WT800 will bridge 4 ohms, and drive 2 ohms from either channel since the B and C models came out.

OP, I'd go with the 800 and look for better cabs than the Nemesis series.

christw · #7 04-13-2011, 06:24 PM

I would want more speaker cabinet than just a 115 or 210. WT550 + two 115's sounds like a good idea to me. If not to you then you might want to find out if they have any 410's at the shop that pair well with the WT550.

Killspringer · #8 04-13-2011, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coop Soup

What are the 1x15 cabs going for? What about the WT550 and 2 1x15s. Those have a horn, right? It would sound massive!

WT800 - $1500
WT550 - $850
EN 2x10 - $600
EN 1x15 - $400

2 15's will be too big for our van I think. Ideally I will (one day soon) have a 2x10 and a 15 regardless of the amp. 2x10@300w+1x15@300w=600watts total. My lust for headroom is telling me I want more than 600watts coming out of the amp...

christw · #9 04-13-2011, 06:35 PM

600 watts will easily push the 210 and 115 to their excursion limits and beyond. What you truly want at that point is more speakers.

Let me reiterate the possibility of trading for the WT550 and a 410 if they have any decent 410s at that shop. One will move about the same amount of air as a 210/115 or 115/115 but in a smaller package.

woody357 · #10 04-13-2011, 06:46 PM

Like someone has said the WT550 can handle a 2 ohm load, I have one that I mach up with a 4 ohm Epifani PS410, and I’ve never been told I wasn’t loud enough. I don’t know how much power you need on tour, but I would think your amp is just for stage sound, because I would think you would be coming through the PA. If not I stand corrected!

Maybe you might want to rethink what cabinet you're going to push. IMHO a 210 is good for something small, but if you are worried about being heard in a big gig 210 with 115, or 410

Killspringer · #11 04-13-2011, 08:21 PM

Thanks for the advice everybody! I guess I should mention that I'm hoping to get by with a 2x10 and head most of the time, with the option of expanding. The nicer Eden 2x10's (not the nemesis cabs but the XLT and XST) are rated to 500watts @ 8 ohms. This is what I eventually want, paired with a 15:

Eden D Series Cabinets - D210XST

So... i think the WT800 might give me the headroom I need. I know people are saying the 550 is enough, but from listening today, I could tell things were getting a little mushy down below A on the E string with the 550 into either cab at the volume I think I need. Might just have to cough up $400 more in cash to walk away with the WT800 and the Nemesis 15", with the plan to get a top of the line 2x10 when I can save the money. Gonna rest on it for a few days and go in to the shop on Tuesday. Appreciate any more feedback!

Killspringer · #12 04-13-2011, 08:23 PM

ps - the good Eden 4x10s are rated to 1000w. if i ever did want to grab a top of the line eden 4x10, sounds like the WT550 would be a little short on headroom. thoughts?

raymondl3 · #13 04-13-2011, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killspringer

ps - the good Eden 4x10s are rated to 1000w. if i ever did want to grab a top of the line eden 4x10, sounds like the WT550 would be a little short on headroom. thoughts?

I don't think so. I have an old WT-500 and recently bought a used Schroeder 410R that is rated at 1200watts @4 ohms. I'm pushing it with one side of the amp, which is only 250-300 watts and it is loud as f@#k.
How loud is your band? I've played with a sort of loud band using the 500/115XLT and it was loud enough, but just barely. Personally I would go with the 550 and a 4 ohm 410XLT or XST. That should be more than enough volume and you won't have to schlep 2 cabs, although you could add another later. I've found that impedance matching makes a big difference with the Eden amps, for me and despite word to the contrary, for volume.

Killspringer · #14 04-13-2011, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raymondl3

I don't think so.

I'm just going by these power ratings:

Eden D Series Cabinets - D410XST

Eden D Series Cabinets - D210XST

Our band isn't super loud like hard rock or metal, we're indie rock with bass, drums, rhodes and organ, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, three-part vocals. The drummer plays at full volume. Ideally I would have a good amount of headroom, as I want to preserve the "grind" of my pickups.

Please post your age alongside your definition of "loud"

raymondl3 · #15 04-13-2011, 09:32 PM

I would go with a 410 if it's in the budget. I was playing loud funk and classic rock, not Black Label Society loud, but loud enuff. Also since you have several instruments and vocals, you could use the extra headroom to make the band sound big.

4Mal · #16 04-13-2011, 10:40 PM

Eden power ratings can be considered conservative. I have an older Wt800 which is rated at 300 a side into 8 and it can level small buildings... Personally I really dig the 800 a lot. The biamp feature - which most folks here discount, really works. I use mine to drive a 12.6 cab biamped and it will rip any 2x10 I've ever heard.

Killspringer · #17 04-13-2011, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raymondl3

I would go with a 410 if it's in the budget. I was playing loud funk and classic rock, not Black Label Society loud, but loud enuff. Also since you have several instruments and vocals, you could use the extra headroom to make the band sound big.

you know... after looking at the eden spec sheets again, the 4x10 is the same size at their 1x15: 25"h x 23"w x 18.5"d. might just have to tell the band tough ****, I'm bringing a big cab with us.

thanks again for everybody's help! I'm going in again on Tuesday to have another listen before I commit to anything

IntrepidCellist · #18 04-13-2011, 11:11 PM

If you can swing it, bring a 4x10. You can find D410XLTs on Craigslist (and here) pretty often for $300-500.

Alex1984 · #19 04-13-2011, 11:13 PM

Hmm, if you checked around, a lot of people seem to advise against pairing 10s and 15s when used in full-range operation. Also, if you check the sensitivity ratings, the 10s are quite a bit more sensitive, meaning the volume out of each would be unbalanced. 210 and 115 would make a better pairing if you had to. I'd stick with a 550 rather than the 800, never needed that kind of power.

newbold · #20 04-14-2011, 03:02 AM

I'd go for the WT550 and a really nice 115. They play really well with others (115's) and will do things that a 210 won't and can't. Especially for Rock. If you can bring a second matching 115 on tour then you'll have a killer rig.