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A second SVT 210 AV or a new cab?

#21
Great, thanks for the continued comments. I am also super interested in hearing anyone who uses them with either a PF500 or a GK legacy 500 which are two amps I am considering moving onto to (again, limited choices and these are local-although another point we have terrible return policies for most stores in AUS compared to you guys and often retailers won't take them back if you change your mind!). While I said and and still do like the tone with the TH350, I also agree with @Timmah that I find it dark and cloudy at times, lacking a bit of definition. However I also appreciate this could be me, my bass, eq, room etc.
 
#22
It really depends on the sort of music you are playing, OP. Those 210AV cabs just do not have the low end response needed for anything other than midrange heavy rock tones. I had a pair of them, and happily ditched them for a pair of 112s (MarkBass). Haven't looked back. The 210AVs are great for home playing, and maybe little acoustic jams, but they don't really hack it at gigging level, in my experience. I did probably close to a hundred gigs with that stack (and the mini SVT-AV head that paired with them), and it just couldn't stand up to the demands; buzzing became a real issue, and the lows weren't anywhere near enough. I thought it was me, or the room(s), or something else. It wasn't. It was the cabs. And I love Ampeg gear, so really wanted them to work.

I'd really, really, really suggest you consider another route.
 
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#23
BassTheory said:
Great, thanks for the continued comments. I am also super interested in hearing anyone who uses them with either a PF500 or a GK legacy 500 which are two amps I am considering moving onto to (again, limited choices and these are local-although another point we have terrible return policies for most stores in AUS compared to you guys and often retailers won't take them back if you change your mind!). While I said and and still do like the tone with the TH350, I also agree with @Timmah that I find it dark and cloudy at times, lacking a bit of definition. However I also appreciate this could be me, my bass, eq, room etc.
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I had a PF500 and got rid of it . Worked great with those cabs . The PF 50 T is the perfect amp for those cabs . . IMHO . I can get as loud as I want with just that head . PF 500 wasn't any louder . Plus that little tube head is just a gem .
 
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#25
I'd really, really, really suggest you consider another route.[/QUOTE]

Thanks, I was close to talking myself out of them anyway, hence the post I guess. Even though some people love them and it sounds like it will be loud enough for my current needs, I think I'm up for a change. We are currently playing, errr, jazz (the guitar) grunge? Sounds kinda like early radiohead meets nirvana, so yeah happy with rock tones but still want some more lows and I run dirt on a lot of the songs and every chorus so far.
 
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#26
sloppy_phil said:
It really depends on the sort of music you are playing, OP. Those 210AV cabs just do not have the low end response needed for anything other than midrange heavy rock tones. I had a pair of them, and happily ditched them for a pair of 112s (MarkBass). Haven't looked back. The 210AVs are great for home playing, and maybe little acoustic jams, but they don't really hack it at gigging level, in my experience. I did probably close to a hundred gigs with that stack (and the mini SVT-AV head that paired with them), and it just couldn't stand up to the demands; buzzing became a real issue, and the lows weren't anywhere near enough. I thought it was me, or the room(s), or something else. It wasn't. It was the cabs. And I love Ampeg gear, so really wanted them to work.

I'd really, really, really suggest you consider another route.
Click to expand...

2 210AV user here and I concur with this statement. They sound marvelous but just not quite enough low end thump. They also don't quite cut it in a loud or outdoor setting. almost but....
 
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#27
I rocked the PF500 + 2x210av for a while playing your standard cover band sets. Plenty loud enough for smallish venues. We play country pubs, not city nightclubs. If you're after big low-end, its not there, but the PA can add that.

I use an Aguilar TH500 now and love the sound with the little stack but I am always very gentle with them, if I think it is going to be a loud show I use a bigger cab, the little Ampegs could probably do the job but I like to play it safe..
 
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#33
lowendrv said:
Most of the time I run one or two AV 112s with a PF 50 T , V4b , Demeter 400D or GK 400 RB . Sound great with whatever I throw at them .They are great cabs for the money .
Also have two 210 AV's . Vertical 4x10 is cool . The 210 AV's have steep low end roll off . Great for small venue stuff .
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Good option to the 210AVs, IMO. The 112AV has a similar tonal profile to the 210AV but gives you a tad more in the low end and a bit more up top as well as a bit more power handling. I switched from 210AVs to 112AVs because of that. Can't go wrong with either cabs though, IMO.
 
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#34
BassTheory said:
Great, thanks for the continued comments. I am also super interested in hearing anyone who uses them with either a PF500 or a GK legacy 500 which are two amps I am considering moving onto to (again, limited choices and these are local-although another point we have terrible return policies for most stores in AUS compared to you guys and often retailers won't take them back if you change your mind!). While I said and and still do like the tone with the TH350, I also agree with @Timmah that I find it dark and cloudy at times, lacking a bit of definition. However I also appreciate this could be me, my bass, eq, room etc.
Click to expand...

I found that with my Aggie head I was often running the gain and drive somewhat high in order to get the volume I needed from the 210AV rig, and this resulted in a midrangy, muddy tone thanks to the HPF/LPF of the drive control. It was often too much of that focused, narrow tone when paired with the tight voicing of those cabinets. My GK, on the other hand, provided a good foil for that voicing, since it’s own sound is more wide and scooped.

That being said: I love those cabinets but they don’t get all my gig time these days. As a matter of fact, I only bring them out in extraordinarily boomy rooms and Chicago-style blues gigs. If you’re doing heavy stuff that needs extended lows, these probably aren’t the thing for it. When I started playing heavier music and using a 5-string, I switched to a Gene Benz Neox212 and a Mesa Walkabout, both of which just have more to offer down low.

Knowing your gig situation now, I might encourage you to go for a GK cabinet, although maybe a 212 option instead of 112, which probably wouldn’t be enough of a volume gain for on your 210. They’re bright, efficient cabinets and a 212 will be significantly louder than your 210AV, and your Aguilar should do a nice job of warming up the sound for a rock tone.
 
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#35
As mentioned by other posters, I have kept and still love my stacked Ampeg 2x10s . They do sound great at home practicing or with a light to medium volume gig. But... ( IMHO)they aren't up to the task when it comes to a louder gig. If I could go back in time, I would have just cut to the chase and bought a Mesa Subway 15 ( they make most heads sound good)and saved up for a second one. (The Ampeg 2x10s are staying though because they do sound excellent when stacked.)
 
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#37
You beat me to the punch. I was about to suggest you look at the bergs as we can get them here and the prices are better than the subway gear. I got a nxt112 and enxt112 last week, which will end up similar to your 212 when I use them both. Goodness knows when I’ll need them both just the one is loud!!

You’ll be very happy they are so detailed and yet still thump. I also got a b|amp as well - after an hour of fiddling got my head around the menus and options. Gotta say, the overdrive is the closest to a pushed valve amp that I’ve ever heard from a ss amp - same sort of grind I get out of my v4b, and leaves the underlying fundamental still strong. In comparison the nxt cabs make the markbass 102 that I was previously using sound like there was a thick blanket over the cabinet muffling it

Mine arrived to regional vic the next day from Sydney - George is on the ball!

Enjoy your new toy I think you will be blown away.
 
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#38
1coil said:
You beat me to the punch. I was about to suggest you look at the bergs as we can get them here and the prices are better than the subway gear. I got a nxt112 and enxt112 last week, which will end up similar to your 212 when I use them both. Goodness knows when I’ll need them both just the one is loud!!

You’ll be very happy they are so detailed and yet still thump. I also got a b|amp as well - after an hour of fiddling got my head around the menus and options. Gotta say, the overdrive is the closest to a pushed valve amp that I’ve ever heard from a ss amp - same sort of grind I get out of my v4b, and leaves the underlying fundamental still strong. In comparison the nxt cabs make the markbass 102 that I was previously using sound like there was a thick blanket over the cabinet muffling it

Mine arrived to regional vic the next day from Sydney - George is on the ball!

Enjoy your new toy I think you will be blown away.
Click to expand...

Awesome, that is great to hear! Yeah George was awesome when I spoke to him, I reckon the new cab will kill it. I was also entertaining the idea of the b/amp, same price as the GK anyway, I guess for the only issue is I can't try it as I'm in Hobart whereas I have played the GK here in town. I do really dig the GK grind so I'll probably be happy with it, but yeah, your description of the B/amp sounds as good as all the other reviews. Maybe I should just all out Berg!
 
#39
BassTheory said:
Awesome, that is great to hear! Yeah George was awesome when I spoke to him, I reckon the new cab will kill it. I was also entertaining the idea of the b/amp, same price as the GK anyway, I guess for the only issue is I can't try it as I'm in Hobart whereas I have played the GK here in town. I do really dig the GK grind so I'll probably be happy with it, but yeah, your description of the B/amp sounds as good as all the other reviews. Maybe I should just all out Berg!
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The GK legacy 800 is approximately half the price of B/Amp here in the UK. For the same money the Bergantino is the better buy IMO and possibly the best solid state bass amplifier on the market. I wish that I could afford one to drive my Berg cabs.
 
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#40
Sparky Mark said:
The GK legacy 800 is approximately half the price of B/Amp here in the UK. For the same money the Bergantino is the better buy IMO and possibly the best solid state bass amplifier on the market. I wish that I could afford one to drive my Berg cabs.
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Yeah right, that sucks about the price over there, I thought we had bad prices. Weirdly here I can get the Berg Forte HP for a few hundred more than the GK. Even cheaper than the Subway 800 even. So looks like a no brainer. I just wasn’t really aware of Berg stuff until now as it’s not in stores but the guy who imports them gets great prices as there is no middle man I guess.
 

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