Who gigs with a single Ampeg 115e?

vin*tone · #1 06-29-2011, 04:10 PM

Hey TB.
I'm tempted to pick up an Ampeg 115e. Love the tone but am put off by its low power rating. Every time I hear one it makes me wonder why I spend too much money on other options.

I dig old school tones - mostly a 51ri P with flats, rarely play below E - and if I have a tweeter in a cab, tend to turn it nearly off. My main band plays old school funk and isn't too loud but we do occasionally gig without a PA - this is when I'd run into trouble.

Should I just buy a used one and see how it travels?

How many of you successfully gig with it?

okcrum · #2 06-29-2011, 06:29 PM

Are you talking about a B115E?

If so, I do it a lot. Even used one or two of them with an SVT-CL. Sounds great. If you'll use it on the road get an SVT-15E - the tolex is more rugged.

vin*tone · #3 06-29-2011, 07:09 PM

Yeah sorry - I meant the SVT 115e but the B115e is relevant. i guess they would sound very similar (?) and put out the same volume.

bassgod0dmw · #4 06-29-2011, 07:14 PM

I've used an SVT 115e on a few occasions with a Mesa M2K Basis head. It wasn't bad by any means, but it certainly wasn't all that loud. The cab is fairly small & light though, so it was nice to use.

carl h. · #5 06-29-2011, 10:20 PM

Just did a modest outdoor (200-300 people) gig with an SVT115e classic powered by a PF-500 tonight. Worked very nice. Plenty of power, good tone and it balanced out nicely against 2 guitars, drums, and a keyboard through the PA. For mid sized stuff, it is a nice rig.

brandon.miller · #6 06-29-2011, 10:29 PM

I did a gig with mine in a decent sized auditorium type room a few days ago with an SVT-3 PRO and my 115E and thought it balanced out well. I love the tones I can get out of it. Plenty of power for my needs. I really like that it weighs a lot less then some of my other cabs too!

MarcusPocus · #7 06-29-2011, 10:32 PM

I do small stuff with mine. It sounds the best with my 70 v4. Dripping with mojo. When I put up against the over powering guitarist, though, I need another cab and more amp.

WhoDidTheElf · #8 06-29-2011, 10:41 PM

I use it when I play at the coffee house or just jamming with my guitarist friend. Absolutely perfect for the situation.

But if I'm doing anything that requires getting through a drummer and guitar it just doesn't quite cut it by itself.

carl h. · #9 06-29-2011, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhoDidTheElf

I use it when I play at the coffee house or just jamming with my guitarist friend. Absolutely perfect for the situation.

But if I'm doing anything that requires getting through a drummer and guitar it just doesn't quite cut it by itself.

Try adding an amp!

WhoDidTheElf · #10 06-29-2011, 10:50 PM

Heh.

I don't mean to say you can't get any volume out of it, it just gets drowned out quite easy.

Sartori · #11 06-30-2011, 12:20 AM

It was my only cab for a while, and at that time I was playing with a black metal band, using the SVT 350H to power it.

Currently a Mesa D-180 through the SVT-15E is my gig rig for the folk rock band I'm in. I've never had any problems being loud enough.

vin*tone · #12 06-30-2011, 02:06 AM

hmm thanks. Sounds like it's worth a try.

Carl- I imagine your 500 watter might get it into farting territory? Or is the 200 watts generous?

(It actually says 200 watts, 400 watt peak. Most other cabs ratings only give 1 figure which I imagine is RMS)

Sartori · #13 06-30-2011, 02:38 AM

What amp are you intending on powering it with?

For me it's excelled with a medium power tube head.

vin*tone · #14 06-30-2011, 03:19 AM

Good question... I have a Mesa WA right now but I'm thinking of swapping that out for an RH450.

carl h. · #15 06-30-2011, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vin*tone

hmm thanks. Sounds like it's worth a try.

Carl- I imagine your 500 watter might get it into farting territory? Or is the 200 watts generous?

(It actually says 200 watts, 400 watt peak. Most other cabs ratings only give 1 figure which I imagine is RMS)

300 watts @ 8 ohms seems to be a good match - the PF is 500 watts @ 4 ohms. So far I haven't needed to really max it out, and it has been plenty loud. Last night I wasn't too sure if I was feeling the bass drum or the Bass more on the outdoor stage, and I was standing 18 inches in front of the drums - directly in front of the BD.

OneWayPunk · #16 06-30-2011, 01:10 PM

I'll be using mine tomorrow night with a 70 watt Gibson tube head for some country stuff. It's more than enough volume, great tone, and fairly lightweight.

Fly Guitars · #17 07-01-2011, 06:14 AM

Yes, I use this cab - nice and light. You don't even need to put the wheels on it. Sometimes I use it with the ampeg SVT410HE for larger venues, but it will do smaller things alone.

vin*tone · #18 07-01-2011, 05:24 PM

Thanks for the comments guys. I just pulled the trigger on an RH450 so will try and find a 115e to audition when it arrives.
This should give me a little more power to play with that the Walkabout.