810 Dilemma

[bassboysam]

I need some opinions fellow TBers. I currently have a mid to late 70s SVT 810. While I like the sound of the cab, my band is simply too loud forcing me to turn up my volume. Since the cab is rated for 250 watts I find the speakers are struggling to keep up.

Should I keep the cab and just replace the speakers, maybe the eminence legend b810?

Should I just sell the cab and buy a newer Ampeg 810?

Should I sell and get a matamp 810 loaded with the legend b810 speakers?

Simply adding another cab is not an option as i don't have the room to transport two fridges.

 

[rmkesler]

Wow! That's hard to imagine. What amp are you using?

 

[icks]

A good practice doesn't need to be at high volume. Ask your band to play turn down their volume. It will be a shame to sell this vintage 8x10.

 

[craig.p]

Hate to ask, but getting them to turn down is not an option?

 

[bassboysam]

We are conscious of volume but even when we turn down there is too much speaker distortion, I think I just need more headroom out of my cab.

 

[BassmanPaul]

But what amp are you using??? People like to know these things before offering advice.

 

[73jbass]

An SVT 810 rated at 250 watts?

 

[billfitzmaurice]

An SVT 810 rated at 250 watts?

The '69 originals were rated at 240, and would fart out at 150, because they used guitar drivers. That's why two were used to handle a 300 watt SVT head. Over the years drivers improved; it seems that the OPs may be loaded with guitar drivers.
I'd keep it for its vintage investment value, get a more recent model to use.

 

[zachoff]

I'd just get a newer used 810. Probably cheaper than buying 8 Eminence drivers and way cheaper than a Matamp 810. I got my current '78 810 for $600.

 

[bassboysam]

But what amp are you using??? People like to know these things before offering advice.

Vintage SVT or a Matamp GT200

 

[One Drop]

Bergantino NV610 for the win. Keeps the old straightback clarity and punch and can handle lots of power.

 

[Mr. Foxen]

Get the Matamp, and load with B810. Of cut the lows somewhere in your signal chain, like drop everything below 70hz, that will give you more headroom, since the old SVT are rolling off round there anyway, an all the nice valve 'grrr' is higher than that.

 

[marlond]

Replacing the speakers would probably be more than getting a used "newer" Ampeg 810e.

You can't just get a used 810e for practice and gigs and keep the vintage for its vintage value and maybe recording?

 

[hyp.spec]

Replacing the speakers would probably be more than getting a used "newer" Ampeg 810e.

You can't just get a used 810e for practice and gigs and keep the vintage for its vintage value and maybe recording?

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That's $70 * 8 = $560 for replacement speakers.

I got my 810e (800w version) for $300.

People will tell you the Vintage with the Legends will be awesome and waaaay better than what I got... but I also 'saved' $260!

 

[bassboysam]

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That's $70 * 8 = $560 for replacement speakers.

I got my 810e (800w version) for $300.

People will tell you the Vintage with the Legends will be awesome and waaaay better than what I got... but I also 'saved' $260!

Yeah and with the weak US dollar it's even cheaper for me. I'm just wondering if the difference in power handling between the b810 and the stock speakers is significant enough. I'm guessing the stock speakers are rated at about 30 watts while the b810 is 100-150 watts. Is that enough to make a difference?

Also my cab is not the straight back 810 with the CTS speakers.

I considered the Berg but I would prefer an 810 over a 610... for now

 

[billfitzmaurice]

I'm guessing the stock speakers are rated at about 30 watts while the b810 is 100-150 watts. Is that enough to make a difference?

Watts are meaningless, what matters is excursion. The original SVT driver had 1mm excursion, the current version has 5mm. Each doubling of excursion gives 6dB additional output capability.

 

[bassboysam]

Watts are meaningless, what matters is excursion. The original SVT driver had 1mm excursion, the current version has 5mm. Each doubling of excursion gives 6dB additional output capability.

thanks Bill so looking at the B810 specs the max linear excursion is 4.7mm and max mechanical limit is 9.5mm. when you say "original SVT driver" are you referring to the CTS or the Emminence driver used afterwards?

 

[3rdcurve]

I rebuilt a 2004 model 810e with b810 legends and I can promise you that you will not run out of headroom. I have yet to find the limits of these drivers, after giving it every bit of my 500 watts it didn't break a sweat.

 

[bassboysam]

I rebuilt a 2004 model 810e with b810 legends and I can promise you that you will not run out of headroom. I have yet to find the limits of these drivers, after giving it every bit of my 500 watts it didn't break a sweat.

Good to hear. Doesn't seem like there are a lot of people that have used them.

How do they compare tone wise?

 

[3rdcurve]

I haven't done a side by side comparison, but I will say they are just all around fuller top to bottom.