New Asian SVT 410HLF or Used USA SVT 410HLF

[ivokbg]

Hi guys!

I have only recently registered to the forum but have been reading it for a long time.

My band is getting ready for its first giggs so I'm looking for a good bass rig. Currently I don't own any bass amplification so it will be my first.

I'm almost 100% the head will be PF-500, I'm just waiting for a re-stock at Thomann.de


Now for the cab...I like a really tight and focussed bass sound, one that really cuts through. Don't like it boomy or flubby. Altough many people say the SVT 410HLF are really bass heavy cabs I think it's the right way to go since almost every metal bass player is using it. Plus you can always turn down the bass when you have it and don't need it, but you can't turn it up when you need it and don't have it.

Now the real problem is that I have two options in very similar price range. I can buy a brand new asian SVT or go with used one USA made for around the same price.

Pros for asian made - it's brand new and has 1 year warranty.

Cons for the asian made - a lot of people say the tolex is easy to peel off plus the speakers are chinese made Emimences.

Pros for the USA made - it's made in the USA which should mean quality, but would it? Speakers should be USA Eminence.

Cons for the USA made - I read here ot TB that late USA made /2000-2006/ sound very dark and are actualy made from OSB /particle board/ not plywood. And actually a lot of people say that the quality really dropped during the last years of USA production.


Should I go for the brand new asian or the used USA made?

Any suggestions and comments will be really appreciated


Btw where are the latest SVT cabs made? Vietnam or China?


10x

[CL400Peavey]

If those are the only choices you are looking at, I would go for the asian made one. It is lighter, and i hear the newer cabs are not as dark.

That said, for:

tight and focussed bass sound, one that really cuts through. Don't like it boomy or flubby.

I encourage you to look at other options, instead of the HLF. For what you want, I would pair two PF-115he's with a PF 500.

[JimmyM]

I'd totally go newer. The Asian cabs use speakers that aren't quite as dark as the USA models, and they're made out of real birch plywood, whereas the USA cabs were all made of OSB until mid-2006.

[georgestrings]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I'd totally go newer. The Asian cabs use speakers that aren't quite as dark as the USA models, and they're made out of real birch plywood, whereas the USA cabs were all made of OSB until mid-2006.

Yeah, I probably would, too - I've owned 3 of the SVT-410HLF cabs, one 'nampeg and two USA - and they all sounded good... The 'nampeg was a tiny bit brighter, a tiny bit lighter, and appeared to be as well made as the others...


- georgestrings

[ivokbg]

Originally Posted by CL400Peavey

I encourage you to look at other options, instead of the HLF. For what you want, I would pair two PF-115he's with a PF 500.

In my head metal music is played with 10 inch speakers. My logic being 10s react faster than 15s and they would sound more punchy and defined. I'm I right or wrong here?


Hence I can get the SVT 410s for about 600 EUR, the PF115 is rated at about 450 EUR for just one piece. 900 euro for two 15s is way over my budget and I don't think just one 15 will cut it.

[Marial]

'Nampeg'... love it.

I've had my nampeg 410 HLF for a couple of years and while the tolex is a little beat up from being hauled from gig to rehearsal space, it's held up pretty well. It 'can' be dark, but I love a warm tone. I run a nampeg SVT 4 Pro through it, and I can dial in a truly cutting tone if I want to.

[Bmorefoozler]

Try the 410HE then, sounds much more like the description of tone you desire. Don't be concerned with it's 8 ohm impedence either, it will have little to no impact.

[hover]

I rock a N'Ampeg 410Hlf and I love it. Mine was a transition model with USA drivers. Booms when I need it to, stays tight enough for articulation, and as said, is lighter and made of good quality ply. I should know, I helped source it when I worked at EAW / Mackie. My cab is not "dark" in tone, I really feel tho acoustically dead, the OSB killed / absorbed a bit of the tone.

As with the line in general, I wish they went a little smarter on the back handle design...I hate hunching over.

I use mine with a PF350, and I just love it.

[CL400Peavey]

Originally Posted by ivokbg

In my head metal music is played with 10 inch speakers. My logic being 10s react faster than 15s and they would sound more punchy and defined. I'm I right or wrong here?

Definitely wrong here. Driver size has nothing to do with response. Its about the design of the driver and the cab built around it. The HLF is one of the lowest tuned cabs in commercial production.

Hence I can get the SVT 410s for about 600 EUR, the PF115 is rated at about 450 EUR for just one piece. 900 euro for two 15s is way over my budget and I don't think just one 15 will cut it.

Yes that does bust your budget.

I would look at other cabs then. The sealed ampeg 410 mentioned would be a better match.

[georgestrings]

Originally Posted by CL400Peavey

Definitely wrong here. Driver size has nothing to do with response. Its about the design of the driver and the cab built around it. The HLF is one of the lowest tuned cabs in commercial production.



Yes that does bust your budget.

I would look at other cabs then. The sealed ampeg 410 mentioned would be a better match.

Agreed - I play 10s or 15s for metal, depending on which one of my cabs I happen to have with me at the time - it works fine either way, although I do prefer 10s for heavier stuff, and 15s for classic rock, blues, modern country, etc...

I never notice any "response" difference with either driver size... The sealed Ampeg 410 won't get as loud, nor take as much abuse as the -HLF version - I could easily see myself blowing out one of the sealed types...


- georgestrings

[joelb79]

The sealed SVT-410HE sounds more like what you want tone wise. JMO, FWIW. I can't see the PR-500 giving that 8ohm cabinet too much of a beating and volume wise it will be about the same as the 410HLF without the added boom from the ports, which adds a LOT of boom IMO.

[ivokbg]

Btw are the SVT 410 HLF still made in Vietnam or is it now China?

The thing is the only Ampeg cabinet my local dealer has is the HLF. Funny, huh? Well, that's Eastern Europe At least the price is like 30% lower than anything I've seen in Europe, including big online stores. Go figure...

Another cabinet I can easily get locally is the new Warwick WCA 410. These are new and there is almost no information on them over the internet. But they have no wheels, no variable horn on them and this carpet-like hairy thing they have instead of tolex is just disgusting to me. I can't image how it would look like after 2-3 years in dusty places and spilling beer on it. Very sexy metal grill tho...

[JimmyM]

Vietnam was only 2007 and part of 2008. They're made in China now.

[mcm]

Usa