Questions from a Prospective Ampeg Buyer

Apiazza388 · #1 12-15-2011, 01:12 PM

Hello All,

I am thinking about upgrading my existing rig so i figured "why not join the talkbass forums for advice?"

Anyways, I play in a 70s funk/60s soul band and i recently decided that the gear i have now (especially my 4x10) could use an upgrade.

The gear I currently have are an SWR workingman's 4004 head through a matching SWR workingman's 4x10. (i play a fender classic series 60's jazz bass... that stays. love it) the 4x10 is about 7 years old now and the speakers are quite worn. they buzz constantly on stage.

I was thinking about gradually upgrading everything over time. Phase 1 would be to purchase a 1x15 (ampeg SVT15e) to help take a load off the 4x10s when playing live. Phase 2 would be to purchase a new 4x10 (ampeg SVT410he) to replace my existing 4x10, then phase 3 would be to upgrade to a new head (ampeg SVTCL). I would love to demo all this stuff for myself but I live in northern minnesota so it is a rarity to see any good equipment up here, I would have to drive 3 hours to the minneapolis area to do so.

Any thoughts/opinions/suggestions/past experiences for the ampeg gear i am interested in taking a look at?

CL400Peavey · #2 12-15-2011, 01:41 PM

Read the stickies and threads concerning mixing speaker cabs/sizes, there is a lot of info but it boils down to : mixing speaker cabs/sizes is a No-No.

That being said not many people here will disagree with you for upgrading to an ampeg rig. If you are going to get two speaker cabs I would recommend getting two 410's and not even bother with the 115 cab. Both the HE's and the HLF's get a lot of love, but I would say that more of the well informed players here tend towards the HE's. For me I have a vehicle to transport an 810, and actually find it easier to move that single cab than two separate cabs if I'm by myself.

Apiazza388 · #3 12-15-2011, 02:00 PM

That is good food for thought. Say if I were to not sell my 4004 and keep it to run a bi amp setup with the SVTCL powering the 4x10 and the 4004 powering the 1x15? still no?

CL400Peavey · #4 12-15-2011, 02:03 PM

Why run a 115 at all?

Apiazza388 · #5 12-15-2011, 02:09 PM

I personally prefer the 4x10 1x15 combination. essentially i would like to know what opinions are on these two specific cabinets (SVT410he and SVT15e)

CL400Peavey · #6 12-15-2011, 02:13 PM

What about the combo do you like, as in what benefits to you see in it over a 2x115 or 2x410?

fenderhutz · #7 12-15-2011, 02:15 PM

If you play in a 60's/70's funk style band you would probably dig a PF 500 and two matching 15 cabs. I own the PF 350 and two of the 15's and it doesn't hurt in full range or volume. One of the best sounding setups I have played in a long time.

JimmyM · #8 12-15-2011, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apiazza388

I personally prefer the 4x10 1x15 combination. essentially i would like to know what opinions are on these two specific cabinets (SVT410he and SVT15e)

The 410/115 combo became popular based on looks. People thought, "A 15 is bigger so it must put out more lows than a 410, and the 410 puts out more highs, so they must go well together." Problem is, that's not always true, especially with Ampeg. The SVT 410HLF puts out way more lows than any 115 I've ever heard, for example.

Also, there is the issue of possible phasing issues. Not all mixed cab rigs create major phasing issues, but they can definitely be a cause. What are phasing issues, you ask? It's where some notes will be louder than others while some notes will be quieter than others. Therefore, since you don't get those phasing issues with matched cab rigs, I and a lot of others on here feel it's best to match cabs.

So if I were you, I'd start with a 410HE, get a second for phase 2, then get an SVT-CL and run the classic SVT/810 rig. Two 115e's could also work, but IMHO the 810 rig is the way to go for maximum volume, tone, and looks (OK, sue me...I like good looking rigs

).

JimmyM · #9 12-15-2011, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

If you play in a 60's/70's funk style band you would probably dig a PF 500 and two matching 15 cabs. I own the PF 350 and two of the 15's and it doesn't hurt in full range or volume. One of the best sounding setups I have played in a long time.

BTW, I have this rig too, and it's totally awesome, but the all-tube SVT rig is king daddy as far as I'm concerned.

Apiazza388 · #10 12-15-2011, 04:51 PM

but is an 8x10 bassy enough? say more than an 410HLF or a 15e? ive also heard/seen reviews that say the 410HE is a good cab but not bassy enough... i really need to take a trip down to minneapolis to demo all this stuff... though i was originally from there so im going home for christmas in a week...

CL400Peavey · #11 12-15-2011, 04:55 PM

A 15 isnt any bassier than a 10 based only on diameter. its about all the other specifics.

christw · #12 12-15-2011, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apiazza388

but is an 8x10 bassy enough? say more than an 410HLF or a 15e? ive also heard/seen reviews that say the 410HE is a good cab but not bassy enough... i really need to take a trip down to minneapolis to demo all this stuff... though i was originally from there so im going home for christmas in a week...

The 15e can't match up to any of the other cabs you listed. It's roughly equivalent to a sealed 210 cab in performance. Consider it half of a 410HE. With a proper amp, I've got plenty of low end out of an 810. Never liked the 410 or 610HLF cabs voicing. I own plenty of Ampegs myself and prefer the sealed cabs to the boomier and darker ported ones (HLF series).

Your head can't even push an 810e to it's limits and you'd get more useful volume from the 810 and that amp than any other cab listed by a long shot.

Apiazza388 · #13 12-15-2011, 05:08 PM

well noted. christw: (just out of curiosity because i don't have a lot of knowledge on the subject) why is it that you prefer the sealed cabs over ported?

ill rephrase that: what do you think the advantages of using sealed cabinets are?

JimmyM · #14 12-15-2011, 05:26 PM

I like the sealed cabs because you don't get as much low end rumble as the ported cabs. You get the good rumble that you need to feel it, but you don't get the lower rumble that can create mud in a band mix.

However, despite being sealed, the PF115he and PF210he both go lower than the 810e and I like them a lot, so it's not always the case with sealed cabs that they won't go low, nor is it always the case that you'll get low end mud with cabs that go lower. But the 810e and 410he are tuned a little higher than the others and I like it.

will33 · #15 12-15-2011, 06:10 PM

Something to consider...the SVT doesn't have an 8ohm tap. If the OP has more than a handful of gigs where a single 410 would handle it, and I assume he does seeing as that's what he's using now, he might end up dragging around an extra 410 as dead weight a little more often than he'd like to. Consider this when checking out the pf heads.

christw · #16 12-15-2011, 07:08 PM

I'll defer to Jimmy. I agree with the man 9 times out of 10 about Ampegs. I just now disagree that the SVT is enough amp. I'm in a loud band again.

JimmyM · #17 12-15-2011, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christw

I'll defer to Jimmy. I agree with the man 9 times out of 10 about Ampegs. I just now disagree that the SVT is enough amp. I'm in a loud band again.

Hey, if Cliff Williams could do AC/DC with two SVT's and two 810e's (he uses 4 Pros now but he used to use tube SVT's), I think you can play a 500 seat room with one

christw · #18 12-15-2011, 08:24 PM

Touché.

True story, I can't afford another 810 to match my current one, let alone another SVT right now. I'm hoping these holidays treat me well. My family have always been more than good to me and I don't want to take that for granted but I think I'll end up talking to John (Worrell) about a bass after I sell some gear early next year.