Would I be crazy? Schroeder to Mini Ampeg question...

learning_towalk · #1 01-23-2011, 07:46 AM

Ok so I've had my trusty Schroeder 1210r for years. I love it...but sadly with my back even 42 lbs is getting a bit much (which is sad considering that I'm only 25). I've been considering testing the waters and getting two of the Ampeg SVT210av (micro 2x10 cabs) simply because they are 25 lbs each which would be easier for me to transport. Am I crazy for considering a switch from Schroeder to the SVT210av. I've searched the forums, but haven't read about anyone comparing the 2x10's to their Schroeder stuff (specifically the 1210r)...Any help/comments would be appreciated.

Forgot to mention...my rig is generally:

one of three 5 string jazz basses or occassionally an Eastwood Classic 4>Boss TU2>Sansamp VT>Markbass Compressore>Markbass LMIII>cab

Music styles: Worship, country, fusion, rock...yeah I'm all over the place gig wise lol.

JimmyM · #2 01-23-2011, 12:43 PM

doesn't sound crazy to me. liking the sealed 810 is a prerequisite to liking the 210av, but i think it's a fantastic little medium duty cab. super light, and with a slight low end boost, really captures the tone of a vintage 810 in a small cab.

Tacopastorius · #3 01-23-2011, 12:57 PM

Those SVT210AV cabs are super neat, and they sound great. You can pick them up one handed without even straining.

JimmyMystery · #4 02-09-2011, 03:52 PM

I was wondering if this might work.

1) Ampeg Micro-VR driving an 810E?
or
2) Same as above except run the XLR out of the Micro-VR into a QSC RMX-1450poweramp to power the 810E. (For those gigs without PA support)

My wife reminded me of bills and brought me back to reality!
Sucks having champagne dreams on a water budget!!
I already have the 810E and the QSC poweramp.

Would I still maintain the tone of just the Micro-VR and the 210AV by using option 2?

kosmicwizard · #5 02-09-2011, 04:01 PM

Awesome JimmyM and JimmyMystery in the same thread! Cheers.

JimmyM · #6 02-09-2011, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyMystery

I was wondering if this might work.

1) Ampeg Micro-VR driving an 810E?
or
2) Same as above except run the XLR out of the Micro-VR into a QSC RMX-1450poweramp to power the 810E. (For those gigs without PA support)

My wife reminded me of bills and brought me back to reality!
Sucks having champagne dreams on a water budget!!
I already have the 810E and the QSC poweramp.

Would I still maintain the tone of just the Micro-VR and the 210AV by using option 2?

hey, i have a wife too...i can relate...she totally destroyed my dream of having a heritage b-15

1. the micro vr works GREAT in an 810.

2. haven't tried it but i think you can.

JimmyMystery · #7 02-09-2011, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

hey, i have a wife too...i can relate...she totally destroyed my dream of having a heritage b-15

1. the micro vr works GREAT in an 810.

2. haven't tried it but i think you can.

I have considered selling/trade my entire rig for a smaller Ampeg rig, but after last night I was informed I was chosen as the new bassist for a working club band. They also informed me of several outdoor private gigs this year without PA support for bass guitar. (Just vocal PA)

Looks like a trip to GC tomorrow to trade my rack stuff for a Micro-VR and one SVT-210AV. Great for practice and with my 810 and xtra poweramp should fill in the bottom for the gigs without PA support.

Thanks Jimmy for your input. I have read LOT'S of your post's here on TB. Good stuff. Thanks again.

Jimmy Mystery

Wes Whitmore · #8 02-09-2011, 06:21 PM

Good luck finding one...they are continually backordered lots of places. You can find floor models in some places. You might have to order one and wait. I think Music123 had one in stock a couple of days ago though...
Our local GC has a floor model, but it has a tear in the tolex. They won't order in another one until it's sold. For some reason they only are allowed to have one cab in the store at a time (thats what the salesman said). This is the same GC that carries Gallien Krueger but hasn't had an MB micro head in stock for 3 years...frustraiting as a shopper.

Wes

JimmyM · #9 02-09-2011, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyMystery

I have considered selling/trade my entire rig for a smaller Ampeg rig, but after last night I was informed I was chosen as the new bassist for a working club band. They also informed me of several outdoor private gigs this year without PA support for bass guitar. (Just vocal PA)

Looks like a trip to GC tomorrow to trade my rack stuff for a Micro-VR and one SVT-210AV. Great for practice and with my 810 and xtra poweramp should fill in the bottom for the gigs without PA support.

Thanks Jimmy for your input. I have read LOT'S of your post's here on TB. Good stuff. Thanks again.

Jimmy Mystery

thank YOU. btw, i second wes' comment. call first and make sure they have it since it does seem to be backordered a lot.

JimmyMystery · #10 02-09-2011, 11:36 PM

Good thought about calling ahead considering my closest GC is about 75 miles from home. I will ring them tomorrow morning and hopefully they have it in stock.

Thanks for all the help! Greatly appreciated.

Respectfully
Jimmy

honeyiscool · #11 02-09-2011, 11:40 PM

Micro VR sounds great, and the cabinet is wonderful. It has enough tone that it's not only my primary bass cabinet of choice, it's also my guitar cabinet of choice.

JimmyMystery · #12 02-10-2011, 01:31 PM

On my way to GC. I'll post again later with results! Micro-VR and cab in stock! Hootie Hoooo! Sorry, just a kid in a candy store. Hope you all have a great day!!

silky smoove · #13 02-10-2011, 01:38 PM

I saw the name 'JimmyMystery' on the front page and thought that someone was giving Jimmy a hard time, so I immediately dove into this thread, only to find that JimmyMystery is a legitimate poster with well-written and respectful posts... All of my hopes have been dashed

gmarcus · #14 02-25-2011, 07:44 AM

Seems to hold up fine here....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOOMBctWqu8

burnunit · #15 02-25-2011, 07:56 AM

I have 2 12" Schroeders gathering dust in my garage since I picked up this Micro VR stack. I gigged with it last night in a small bar, no PA support and did not have to push it at all.

Don't get me wrong, the Schroeders are great, but I'm an Ampeg convert now.

Wes Whitmore · #16 02-25-2011, 08:45 AM

I can't say enough about the cab, but the head is really nice from what I have demo'd. The SVT210AV doesnt have a tweeter, and even the 10"s don't extend as high as most other 10s I have played though, but high enough to give you all of the note definition you need, but low enough that you don't get fret clank, finger noise, etc. Don't let me paint a picture that this thing is missing anything in the way of tone, and it isn't a subwoofer. You just have to listen to it in a quiet setting and compare it to your favorite tweeter equipped cab at moderate volume and you will hear it plain as day.
It is a small sealed format cab that sounds very even on whatever note you play. It's punchy, sounds great on my drop D songs. It doesn't boom as you work down the E string, and the bass doesn't deminish as you work your way down the neck on the E string. The cab takes a reasonable amount of power for a 2x10 cab without falling out of line. At least the 200watts, maybe more since I have pegged the MB200 just testing limits and it sounded great. Ask almost any speaker designer and they will tell you that you picked the least efficient type of enclosure design out there, but who cares...it sounds fantastic for a lot of types of music, and blends in so well with a band that I sold everything else I had because I just don't use them anymore. Is it loud enough? It is for me. Not for you..then buy more of them. Adding the second one really added some beef. There is nothing wrong with getting multiples of the cab if you can find them in stock. I have been getting mine new from GC for $250 each. I'm just buying them now and leaving them at the house, practice space, and gig trailer so I don't have to move them up and down stairs. If I ever need the volume of an 8x10, I'll have it.
Wes

learning_towalk · #17 03-13-2011, 09:00 PM

Great info guys. I had some time before a gig last night to run by GC to try out a mini VR rig...great great sound but a single 210 was farting pretty bad with a Low B...can any of you guys that have the 2 cab rig tell me how they handle the low B with the 410's as compared to 210s? thanks!

learning_towalk · #18 03-17-2011, 12:58 PM

I bit the bullet...have two of them on the way! Tracking says Saturday

JimmyM · #19 03-18-2011, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by learning_towalk

I bit the bullet...have two of them on the way! Tracking says Saturday

cool! hope you enjoy them. didn't see your 5er question before, but to my ears it sounds really good with a 5 or my boss oc-2 octave box, and even better with two of them. your mileage, of course, may vary.

learning_towalk · #20 03-20-2011, 03:22 PM

Got them yesterday...got to run them at church today. To say the least, I'm impressed! Not quite as focused and tight in the lows as my Schroeder, but not farty at all either. They sound great and are very light! I play with a medium attack and don't play hardrock or anything, so they handled my Low B just fine. Great cabs, especially for the pricepoint. Here's a pic from this morning: