Vintage SVT with two 810

[matskull]

Hi guys, I've got a vintage SVT rig with its matching 810 cab from 1978, it sounds good but I even though I reconned the speakers 2-3 years ago one of them is already distorting.

I red somewhere that the vintage SVT rig were designed to be used with 2 810, is that true?

How does it sound compared to 1 cab only? Does it retain clarity or does it get super boomy?
I tried it once but it was with a modern SVT cab which didn't sound the same as my vintage cab so it wasn't a fair test, I'm talking about 2 vintage ampeg svt810 cab played together.

I saw one online and even though I'm broken it is tempting me...

Thanks

[AwkwardLoudness]

The early blue grill cloth 810 cabs (1969 - 1972 I think) with CTS speakers were meant to be used as a pair with a single SVT amp. All of the later Ampeg 810 cabs can be safely used singularly with an SVT, but a pair can be used if desired.

Soundwise, the rig will be louder directly in front of the rig with two cabs compared to only one cab. Horizontal dispersion of sound would be reduced.

[JimmyM]

If you're looking to push an SVT balls out, definitely get a newer cab or a second vintage cab. If not, just be careful with your volume after you get your one speaker reconed again and you'll be fine.

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by matskull

I red somewhere that the vintage SVT rig were designed to be used with 2 810, is that true?

Yes, but the original 69-72 version used 30 watt guitar drivers.

[matskull]

Originally Posted by AwkwardLoudness

The early blue grill cloth 810 cabs (1969 - 1972 I think) with CTS speakers were meant to be used as a pair with a single SVT amp. All of the later Ampeg 810 cabs can be safely used singularly with an SVT, but a pair can be used if desired.

Soundwise, the rig will be louder directly in front of the rig with two cabs compared to only one cab. Horizontal dispersion of sound would be reduced.

Do you know what the wattage of a 78 cab is? It's loadedwith eminence speakers if my memorie serves well.

How come will the sound move differently? Is it because of phase issue?

[matskull]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

If you're looking to push an SVT balls out, definitely get a newer cab or a second vintage cab. If not, just be careful with your volume after you get your one speaker reconed again and you'll be fine.

I had a SVT810e in 2007 maybe... it was made in USA, it was definitely louder than my cab and it had a lot more lows to it but it didn't have those cutting hi-mids that my vintage cab has, I couldn't afford to keep both of them so I sold the newer one.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by matskull

I had a SVT810e in 2007 maybe... it was made in USA, it was definitely louder than my cab and it had a lot more lows to it but it didn't have those cutting hi-mids that my vintage cab has, I couldn't afford to keep both of them so I sold the newer one.

That's the speakers they used back then. In 2000, Eminence switched cone suppliers for Ampeg speakers and the resulting speakers had no high end and reduced upper mid content. They've since fixed that problem when LOUD moved Ampeg to China. I like the new cabs a lot. I'd be lying if I said I thought they sounded as good as my flatback, but at least they now sound more like the vintage cabs.

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by matskull

I had a SVT810e in 2007 maybe... it was made in USA, it was definitely louder than my cab and it had a lot more lows to it but it didn't have those cutting hi-mids that my vintage cab has, I couldn't afford to keep both of them so I sold the newer one.

That's because drivers can be made to put out more low end or they can be made to have higher midrange sensitivity, but they can't be made to do both. When you sacrifice the lows to get the mids then you have to use more drivers to get the same low frequency output capability.

[matskull]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

That's the speakers they used back then. In 2000, Eminence switched cone suppliers for Ampeg speakers and the resulting speakers had no high end and reduced upper mid content. They've since fixed that problem when LOUD moved Ampeg to China. I like the new cabs a lot. I'd be lying if I said I thought they sounded as good as my flatback, but at least they now sound more like the vintage cabs.

That's good to know, thanks.

[Selta]

Originally Posted by billfitzmaurice

That's because drivers can be made to put out more low end or they can be made to have higher midrange sensitivity, but they can't be made to do both. When you sacrifice the lows to get the mids then you have to use more drivers to get the same low frequency output capability.

Bill, I learn so much from your posts. Can you rattle off any good reads for speaker design/theory (something a like The Art of Electronics, but for Speakers)?

[matskull]

Am I right to think that a vintage SVT with 2 vintage 810 can be push harder without sounding as much "congested", I've got a feeling that with 2 cab worked less hard the bass would breath more but we could still hear the distortion of the amp's tubes.

I just wish I had some stuff to sell or trade so I could just buy the one I saw on the local classified, it's not too expensive.

[JimmyM]

They will definitely stay cleaner as you get louder on the amp. However, depending on your settings, you could still send the speakers past xmax and cause them to distort as well. It's not a magic bullet but it does help.

[ZachM]

Originally Posted by Ray Salamon

Bill, I learn so much from your posts. Can you rattle off any good reads for speaker design/theory (something a like The Art of Electronics, but for Speakers)?

Me too, I would love to know a good resource to begin learning more in depth about speakers and how they function... If you could recommend something that would be fantastic!

[matskull]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

They will definitely stay cleaner as you get louder on the amp. However, depending on your settings, you could still send the speakers past xmax and cause them to distort as well. It's not a magic bullet but it does help.

Good to know, thanks.