Ampeg 8x10: Transportation Alternative?

A pair of 410's?

 

What kind of car do you have? My 810 fits comfortably in the back seat of my ford focus. No other cab will give you that sound IMO. A 610 might get close, but nothing beats a fridge.

 

OK, a pair of similar-sounding 4x10s.

Or woodshop up a pair of 4x10s with the same internal dimensions, bracing, & porting. Then borrow the 8x10's drivers into them.

 

yeah, just get the regular svt classic 4x10's with no tweeter. thats basically all the the 8x10 is, the each set of 4 10s in the cab are built into separate chambers, shouldn't notice any difference in tone, except maybe a little extra midrange

 

I think this is something you really have to answer for yourself. Go check some out at a shop.

 

SVT 410HLF classic X2. Goes from 140lbs to two trips of 85lbs.

 

To match the 810 you'll need a lot of speaker area and a sealed cab. You'll also need a cab without a horn or at least a defeat-able horn. I would check out the Markbass Classic series cabs if I were in your shoes. The 810 is almost half the weight, 610 is less than half of the weight, and they make 410's that are very light. Two of the 410s would kill. All those cabs are sealed with defeat-able horns. They also have more of that "rock" look that the Ampeg gear has in comparison to the normal Markbass gear.

When I went through much the same situation (needing to downsize from my 810), I decided to get Schroeder 21012R. It is different tonally (more of a slap happy funk tone) and doesn't have the same "push you across the stage" type feeling to it. However, it does get STUPID LOUD and can cover a lot of different styles of music. When I pair it with my SVT-CL it definitely gives a great rock tone and with my Little Mark II it can really bring the funk. When I dial in a bit of the VLE and LPF features on the LMII I can get a decent SVT into an 810 sound and feel out of the 21012R.

I also have a Mesa Powerhouse 212 that cops the classic rock and funk tones very well and is always well thought of in those venues image wise. There was a great review of it in the first Bass Gear Magazine that may be worth checking out. The Markbass Classic 810 was also reviewed by them in their most recent issue and got high marks.

When it's all said and done though, there are a bunch of reasons Ampeg 810's are still seen on stages across the world. Whether it's tone or image, nothing out there is the same. With that said, it comes to personal preference as to if something is better or worse.

By the way, I still have my 810 and take it to gigs every once in a while. However, out of 150 some odd shows this past year I think I had it at less than 5.

Hope that helps.

 

I doubt you'd find anyone to swap, but it sounds like the Bergantino NV610 is an alternative you should spend some time researching. here's a good search link: http://www.google.com/custom?domain...;S:http://www.talkbass.com;LP:1;FORID:1&hl=en

 

Wow, a Topaz. I used to have a 2 door Topaz. I wouldn't dare try to get a fridge in there. Maybe pick up a beater van or truck.

 

I wheel around in a 2007 Ford E-250 plain jane white cargo unit with a weathergard bulkhead and grates on the windows. Fridge cabs will stand up in the van and you can get quite a few right down the center standing up or even laying down on the edge. I've had 4 in very easily. Sure 10 would fit standing up.

I have one ATA case for the fridge. It was sort of a test. I can tilt it up and roll it into the van by myself, but two guys makes it easy. Then the cab doesnt get banged up.

Ford is almost giving away vans these days, when I got my 2007 I walked in, said I need a van, lets look... Took a couple for test drive and signed and drove away. They might even take a TOESPAZ in trade. While the thing doesnt get 20 around town, it does get 15 and it will get about the same heading across country. Mine has the 5.4 and I put a hitch receiver under the back to tow my various trailers. Snowmobile, enclosed MC trailer which could double as a band trailer, and a car trailer. When I want to be serious I grab my F-350 crew dually and its 5th wheel hitch. But no topper but there is an 18' X 8' garage on the 35 foot RV trailer.

Sure a guy is making a commitment to a vehicle, but they just about hand you the keys these days. I think mine was $24K after the rebate. The bulkhead about $800 and the window grates about $100. The worst part was installing the bulkhead. I now have 13K miles on it and its been to three coasts and mexico.

I bet a new TOESPAZ would just about set you back as much. Sure I only have two seats, but I hate other people for the most part anyways.

We play musical instruments, they are tools of our trade. Transporting these tools is just as important as having the tools in the first place. There is no duplicate for an 810 cab in tone. So why compromise your tools of the trade? A carpenter would not use a cheap level. a semstress a dull fabric knife. I'm am getting tired of all this I can't move my cabinets stuff... Even when I was a kid we used MOM's Station wagon to get around. I've owned maybe 7 or 8 vans in my life the biggest a 14' footer with a roll up rear door. This is the band business... Rip the seats out of the wife's mini van. BOB

 

I do like the get trans for your gear approach. My buddy took his entire drum set to the dealership to load it before he purchased a car.
Or Berg 6x10 which does equal an SVT cab and is far shorter.

 

I just got rid of an 810 today for the same reason, too hard to haul it... it wasn't an ampeg, just a carvin, but anyway.... when I had my escort wagon, hauling it wasn't that big a deal (still needed help loading it), but now that I have a T-bird... well, not much fitting in there :[
soo ... my suggestion.... keep the 810.... you won't find anything else like it... and save up for a beater mini van or truck like suggested, or a station wagon.

 

Two people to get the 810 into a van?

Wow. I move mine all by myself, and I'm no Hercules.
Take the seats out of the middle, if you can, and put the cab on its side and just push. If you're worried about rips, do what I did and make a cardboard slipcover. It'll cost you 30 minutes of your time and some duct tape, but you pretty much wrap, cut, and tape. Very easy, extremely cost effective.

 

My 810E fits in my Prius. I put a piece of carpet over the bumper and slide it right in.

 

Yeah thats right, those will fit in there too! I bought mine used and my friend took me to pick it up, and we took his prius to save gas money.

Its easy, you just gotta use your head.

 

Build yourself a trailer
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_7262_7262

Just add a wood box on top.

 

Wow! Now that is a cool idea! That's why I love this place. I'm gonna do that.