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70's SVT cab... goodbye

M

MusicMan810

Apr 2, 2008
70
0
#1
So i got my hands on a 73 (I beleive to be) SVT 810 cab. I used it for one show with my old band and afterward I had a speakers farting out on me. I was using a Crest VS900 and sansamp rbi as an amp and Im guessing I pushed it a little harder than I should have. I had some issues with the power amp too so I just decided to buy a head to simplify things. So now Im using a Ampeg SVT450H with the cab. When I tested the head at the store it had pretty good volume and tone on a new 810. So now im using it with the master at the max and the gain just passed 12 o'clock on the 70's cab and volume wise its pretty weak. If i push the gain anymore then the cab starts to sound bad. I know the cabs are rated at 300 watts but it isnt very loud at all.

So now I think I want to get a new cab. What cab will match well with the SVT450? I play a spector legend which has a pretty bright tone to it so I was thinking of going with a 15" cab. The SVT15 cab is rated at 200 watts at 8 ohms. Do you think that will be enough for a gigging rig? Im not apposed to a 410 either though. I dont need anything mostorous but dont want to be too weak either though. I also drive a honda civic so downsizing would make sense.
 
#2
FWIW, the SVT450 isnt very highly regarded around here.

OTOH, fully 2/3's of talkbass either have or wish they had your 70's cabinet.

BTW, 67% of all statistics contain useless information, or are made up entirely, especially those containing internet-spawned acronyms like LOL.

YMMV.
 
#5
The original SVT 810's were rated not at 300w, but 250w! However, it seems that they were actually underrated (possibly so Ampeg could sell two 810's with every rig). Mine's been reconed, but I've had it way past clean volume level with my 69 SVT head and it still goes strong. I never tried to put 900w through it, though!
 
#7
no you read that right, 70's 810's are rated for 300 watt. Actually it may even be 250. Maybe a tube head will fix the volume problems? I dont know? I know that buying a new cab now is more practical now for me financially than a head. Like I said too, I need to downsize. I know the 450H is not the most popular head around here but it is what it is and I have one. Im not playing in a band now but I was thinking of searching for a new gig but the rig wouldnt fly now in a band setting. Not sure where the problem really is at. If the 450H would work better with a different cab I would be fine with parting ways with the 810.
 
#8
I always tried to be pretty careful with the crest amp on the cab but after the show I played I was scared I did some damage. But now I dont think I really did. It sounds good at master at max and gain at 12 oclock but its not very loud and anyhting past that then it starts to crap out. So Im guessing thats somewhere near the 300 watt rating. Is the amp to underpowered at the wattage to get the volume? Does that make any sense?
 
#10
MusicMan810 said:
Thanks for your insight, now I will go out and spend upwards to 2 grand on a vintage SVT head
Click to expand...

hey bro, i meant no disrespect.... however, my simple math tells me that you have a problem with either the head or the cab, and since the old 8x10's are pretty highly regarded, i ASS-U-ME that the notoriously seemingly underpowered and over-rated SVT450 might be a logical first place to look. and now that you mention it, a "real" SVT head probably *would* solve a lot of your troubles.......

i realize my sense of humor may be a little dry to some, but what are you gonna do? would smileys have made a difference? :):eyebrow::confused::hyper:
 
#12
8 new drivers would not be cheap and my cab looks pretty ragid and could use a restoration. So with all the money that would cost it would make more sense to just buy a new cab. Maybe Ill just bring my head into samash or gc to see if they have one of the ampeg 15 cabs and just see how it works.
 
#13
toobalicious said:
hey bro, i meant no disrespect.... however, my simple math tells me that you have a problem with either the head or the cab, and since the old 8x10's are pretty highly regarded, i ASS-U-ME that the notoriously seemingly underpowered and over-rated SVT450 might be a logical first place to look. and now that you mention it, a "real" SVT head probably *would* solve a lot of your troubles.......

i realize my sense of humor may be a little dry to some, but what are you gonna do? would smileys have made a difference? :):eyebrow::confused::hyper:
Click to expand...


You are right, but Im thinking of all the cash it would cost to buy a tube head.
cab = $300 - $400
head = $1000 - $1200

Plus with the age of the cab and the scare that I could have messed it up with the power amp setup... im leaning on the side that the cab could be a little jacked up. I already reconed one driver and it ran me $75. I dont want to to continually have to dump money into it. If the 450H can make a suitable rig Id work with it. I dont need a world class bass amp, if it works for my needs Id be happy with it.
 
#14
Im not sure I get the need for an 8x10 and the considering downsizing to just a single 15. What happened?

Also, I agree with most of the peoples here that, the cab probably isn't the problem, but that svt450 head. Allthough it says SVT in front of the head, it doesn't mean awesome.

BUT, alas, it may be the cab so who knows! The only way to find out, is by trying a different head with that cab, could you do that?
 
#15
LuckyCondlins said:
Im not sure I get the need for an 8x10 and the considering downsizing to just a single 15. What happened?

Also, I agree with most of the peoples here that, the cab probably isn't the problem, but that svt450 head. Allthough it says SVT in front of the head, it doesn't mean awesome.

BUT, alas, it may be the cab so who knows! The only way to find out, is by trying a different head with that cab, could you do that?
Click to expand...

Like I said, I drive a honda civic. Would like to transport my own gear without needing someone elses help. I dont really know anyone to borrow a head from and I cant exactly wheel my cab up in a gc. Plus if the 450H is underpowered, the cab still farts and cracks out when the power is pushed. So Im guessing its more of the cab than anything. Maybe like a 200 or 300 watt tube amp would give me more volume with less wattage but still how to test that and if it is true then thats big bucks for get one
 
#16
MusicMan810 said:
Like I said, I drive a honda civic. Would like to transport my own gear without needing someone elses help. I dont really know anyone to borrow a head from and I cant exactly wheel my cab up in a gc. Plus if the 450H is underpowered, the cab still farts and cracks out when the power is pushed. So Im guessing its more of the cab than anything. Maybe like a 200 or 300 watt tube amp would give me more volume with less wattage but still how to test that and if it is true then thats big bucks for get one
Click to expand...

solid state stuff sounds very farty when you push it! It doesn't break up like valve stuff. Playing a solid state amp on full is never a great idea
 
#17
MusicMan810 said:
What cab will match well with the SVT450?
Click to expand...

If your gonna gig 1 single cab as loudly as possible, you'll probably want to be shopping around for 4 ohm models to get the most available power from your amp. I think the Ampeg 410HLF should probably be on your list to try out. Your probably going to find 4x10's outperform comparable 1x15's.

ps: try to keep that fridge around, If you stick with playin Ampegs it might just come in handy some day... ;)
 
#19
I think I may go ahead and try out a 8ohm 15 cab. See how it works, Im just jamming out the house now. If it comes to it later I can always pick up another 8ohm cab. But I think I wanna stick to a 15 because my bass has a bright tone so I wanna get some more lows in the mix.
I think Ill hang on to the fridge becuase it is a peice of music history. I may restore it also but thats kinda pricey. It actually was carpeted once in its life and that is real raggid. Also the tweed front grille is all stained. Prepare for the shocker.... I bought it for $200. Had one driver reconed at $75 so I dont have all that much money into it.
 

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