Ampeg 810 - AV vs Heritage?

[beans-on-toast]

One would expect that with different speaker models, the voicing will be different. Both will improve as they loosen up.

To my ears, the Heritage stood out as the best sounding 810 that I've ever played through.

 

[JimmyM]

Here is a link to an old post I made where I did put up some photos, etc.

Wow, Tom...you really documented the hell out of those two cabs! Thank you for reposting that. I had totally forgotten you did that. You can look at the speakers and tell the Heritage has a higher class of speaker. The frames look stronger and the cones look like they're better paper.

The two cabs definitely sounded different. The Heritage had more low mids going on and was more smooth up top. The 810e had more upper midrange clarity.

I see...now that you explained it further, I'd buy into that. I would definitely agree that the upper midrange in the 810e and av is more present, while the Heritage is more smooth up top. It would take a direct AB to discuss the lows and low mids with you more in detail, though. But come to think of it, I do tend to back off the mids at 800 hz and add bass when I use an 810e on my backlined gigs. Sounds great, too, but the Heritage totally nails the classic flatback/CTS vibe as far as I'm concerned. But I don't have to tell you, do I?

 

[jdubbass38]

I was sold on the heritage 810 till I found this guy at the local pawn shop. An almost new light wear "Loud" era 810e; I was able to get down to $400 and could not pass that up. All I can say is wow...I new the v4b sounded great but I did not know it could get better! This cab has seriously low and mid punch to it, exactly what I was hoping for! Honestly it the best tone I've ever had! I thought my 610 was punchy, this 810 has more punch than I could hope for! I will be calling fliptops tomorrow ording some blue and silver sparkle!

 

[JimmyM]

I'd find four hundy hard to turn down, too.

 

[jdubbass38]

I'd find four hundy hard to turn down, too.

Thanks Jimmy...I'm feeling pretty good about this one, best decision I've made tone wise in a wile! The v4b just sounds amazing thru this cab!

 

[jdubbass38]

I don't want to get into brand wars, and no disrespect to the fender SB it does have some good tones....but I A/B the v4b and SB thru the my 810 hoping my SB would Comp the V4b tone...I would then be happy and keep the amp but honestly it could not. Yes it can out gun the v4b power wise but honest to goodness the v4b can get way rounder, deeper than my SB. It comes down to personal taste I guess but just shows how good the v4b in my opinion really is!

 

[rodl2005]

I don't want to get into brand wars, and no disrespect to the fender SB it does have some good tones....but I A/B the v4b and SB thru the my 810 hoping my SB would Comp the V4b tone...I would then be happy and keep the amp but honestly it could not. Yes it can out gun the v4b power wise but honest to goodness the v4b can get way rounder, deeper than my SB. It comes down to personal taste I guess but just shows how good the v4b in my opinion really is!

Fair enough. Each to their own of course. But seriously. ...I've never heard the SB being described as "thin" !!!
We all hear differently & I respect your choice. I sure do love my V4B
I woulda been happy with the SVT-VR I was scoping at the time, but went with the SB.
All good. I love my SB ...would've loved the VR had I home that route.
Great deal on the 810 btw. Congrats!

 

[Bass 45]

The R n R Hall of Fame chose Heritage

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[jdubbass38]

Fair enough. Each to their own of course. But seriously. ...I've never heard the SB being described as "thin" !!!
We all hear differently & I respect your choice. I sure do love my V4B
I woulda been happy with the SVT-VR I was scoping at the time, but went with the SB.
All good. I love my SB ...would've loved the VR had I home that route.
Great deal on the 810 btw. Congrats!

Thanks...your exactly right...it comes down to personal preference. Again I've had great tones from the SB, lots of fun dialing in different sounds but...it's that ampeg tone I'm used too and keep chasing. Yes the SB can get close but the SVT or in our case the v4b is going to do the v4b / SVT tone the best. I'll clarify my thin comment...when I A/B them this evening... I tried both channels with bass turned up to 7-9 with deep switch pulled. I felt the v4b could get the same deep lows...but then I hit the deep rocker switch on v4b and it just becomes even thicker. Just seems in general that ampeg colors the tone darker, warmer, rounder...I can't describe it but I hear it.

 

[JimmyM]

The R n R Hall of Fame chose Heritage

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

And The Villages

 

[Kevan Campbell]

Not any more. The guy who runs Fliptops.net recently found a place to do a new mill run. It's apparently not 100% identical to the old stuff, but even the old stuff has inconsistencies from one manufacturer to another.

Just wondering, had anyone seen this new mill run in person?

 

[DD Gunz]

I would love a V4B but it doesn't have enough juice for my needs. One day I will pull the trigger though.

 

[jdubbass38]

I would love a V4B but it doesn't have enough juice for my needs. One day I will pull the trigger though.

What type of music do you play? What size amps do your guitarists use? The v4b is really loud they an 810 cab!

 

[DD Gunz]

What type of music do you play? What size amps do your guitarists use? The v4b is really loud they an 810 cab!

Currently in an 80's rock cover band. Think Guns and Roses and Motley Crew. My guitarists have 100 watt JMC 900s and 412 cabs. It gets loud. I use an 810 all the time with a Heritage SVT or GK 1001RB with a VT bass pedal. The V4B would be enough for 80 percent of our gigs. Sometimes we play outdoor gigs with no FOH though. In that case, I need the horsepower of the bigger heads.

 

[blujosh]

ir regards to the the current Classic and Heritage 810E cabs, if you had to describe one as sounding more "neutral" or "flatter", which would you say is the one?
@JimmyM & @tombowlus maybe you have an opinion, since you both seem to have extensive experience with both?

 

[JimmyM]

ir regards to the the current Classic and Heritage 810E cabs, if you had to describe one as sounding more "neutral" or "flatter", which would you say is the one?
@JimmyM & @tombowlus maybe you have an opinion, since you both seem to have extensive experience with both?

Couldn't say what they'd read on a scope, but the Classic sounds a little more upper middy while the Heritage is more smooth in the upper mids. And it sounds closest to the 73 cab with CTS's that I have and it has black sparkly grillcloth, so for me it wins But both cabs sound excellent, IMHO. No wrong answer there.

 

[tombowlus]

Couldn't say what they'd read on a scope, but the Classic sounds a little more upper middy while the Heritage is more smooth in the upper mids. And it sounds closest to the 73 cab with CTS's that I have and it has black sparkly grillcloth, so for me it wins But both cabs sound excellent, IMHO. No wrong answer there.

+1 The Heritage has more oomph in the low mids, and sounds more smooth and somewhat subdued in the upper mids. The SVT-810e has a bit more cut and grind, but sounds slightly thinner compared to the Heritage. I find it easier to dial in more oomph than cut/grind, though, so I do somewhat prefer the "standard" 810e, but I can most definitely see where others would prefer the Heritage.

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

I literally just bought the 810 AV because I love how it looks and after reading this thread I am having second thoughts

I like grind a lot though so maybe I am okay...

 

[JimmyM]

I literally just bought the 810 AV because I love how it looks and after reading this thread I am having second thoughts

I like grind a lot though so maybe I am okay...

It's still an excellent cab. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

 

[Alexander]

You’re more than okay - that cab kicks!